Lifelong Spurs fan David Bass will be more than 800 miles away from Bilbao when his beloved club line up for the Europa League final against Manchester United tomorrow (8pm).

Instead, the top jockey will be at his ‘other’ club, Forest Green Rovers, as they chase a place in the National League play-off final.

Southend United are the visitors to The New Lawn Stadium tomorrow (7.45pm) and Bass, who is three short of 600 career winners, is hoping for a football double to go alongside the many race doubles he has ridden over the years.

“I’m hoping to watch Spurs on an iPad while I watch the Forest Green game,” Bass told The Local Answer.

“I’ve been a Spurs fan since I was a boy but I’m really into Forest Green now, I really enjoy going there when my racing commitments allow.”

Forest Green haven’t played a game since completing their league programme with a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United on Monday 5^th May.

Steve Cotterill’s side finished the season in third place, four places and 15 points ahead of Southend, who booked their place in tomorrow’s semi-final with a 4-3 extra-time win at Rochdale in a play-off qualifying round tie on Thursday.

This season's league games between the two clubs ended 2-2 – the most recent at Nailsworth in March – so the supporters of both teams will be expecting another close game.

Southend, who were once managed by Bobby Moore and were playing in the second tier of English football in the early 1990s, will be roared on by 700-plus fans who will be hoping their side can book a spot in the final at Wembley on Sunday 1^st June against the winners of tonight’s semi-final between York City and Oldham Athletic.

Forest Green boss Cotterill knows what it takes to win a place in the Football League via the play-offs however – he did it when he was manager of Cheltenham Town in 2001 – and Bass would love to see his adopted club walk out at the home of English football next month.

“I’ve been to Wembley before,” he said. “I watched Spurs play Barcelona in a Champions League tie when Spurs were playing their home games there.

“Kane scored a goal from outside the box but Messi put on a masterclass, he was brilliant, Barcelona won 4-2 and Messi scored twice.”

That game seven-and-a-half years ago was a big occasion and Bass is desperate to see Forest Green back in the big-time by returning to the Football League.

Club chairman Dale Vince is a green energy tycoon and like Bass, who is happy to describe himself as an eco-warrior, he is a vegan.

“I’m not a die-hard fan but I’m very interested in the club through Dale Vince and what he is trying to do,” said Bass.

Vince is trying to create the most sustainable football club in the world and Bass continued: “It would be very good for a club like Forest Green to get back into the Football League.

“On the field, obviously, but it would also be a chance for them to grow their image and popularity.”