SOUTHEND United midfielder Michael Timlin wants to make it a summer to remember by securing promotion with the Shrimpers, just days before his wedding.

Timlin, who performed heroically to help Phil Brown’s side make Saturday’s final with Wycombe Wanderers, will marry fiancée Sorrel less than two weeks after tomorrow’s clash.

And the 30-year-old hopes to be able to make it a double celebration.

“It’s obviously a big summer for me and it would be perfect to win promotion just before the wedding,” said Timlin.

“Wycombe are a good side and Gareth Ainsworth has been one of the managers of the season for the job he’s done with them.

“But we’ve worked so hard to get into this position that we don’t want let that go to waste now.”

Blues set up their trip to Wembley by beating Stevenage 4-2 on aggregate in a dramatic semi-final which saw Timlin take centre-stage.

The midfielder had to have 15 stitches in his forehead following a horrific clash of heads with Bira Dembele in the first-leg at Broadhall Way.

But he still bravely lined up in the second leg and scored the Shrimpers’ last goal in an exciting 3-1 win at Roots Hall.

“There was no way I was going to miss a game like that,” said Timlin.

“I was quite lucky I didn’t fracture my scull or fracture my eye socket because I would’ve been out for quite some time with that.

“The only slight problem was with the swelling in my eye because I couldn’t actually see out of it to start with.

“However, once that settled down I knew I would be fine but I had to talk it over with the manager because we had to do what was best for the team and I didn’t want it to be the Michael Timlin Show.”

Timlin lined-up for the game wearing a skull-cap, which he again looks set to be in at Wembley.

But he was forced to alter it slightly so he could actually hear his team-mates and manager.

“Wearing the skull-cap is fine, apart from a few times when the ball is in the air, but I did have to cut a hole in the side so I could hear,” said Timlin.

“I imagine I’ll be wearing the cap again in the final because I don’t want the cut to open up again and cause even more damage.

“I’ll do whatever it takes for us to win though and I think I’ve shown that recently.

“I think it’s brought me closer to the fans which is good because I know I’ve done their heads in at times giving the ball away.

“But we’re all in this together and I want to win for so many different reasons now.

“One of them is the manager because I don’t think people realise how hard he works to make this football club successful.

“It’s my first ever game at Wembley and it would also be great to get promotion just before my wedding, I just hope I’m not still wearing the skull-cap by then!”

WIN A SIGNED MICHAEL TIMLIN SKULL-CAP IN FRIDAY'S ECHO