The group of lads were disagreeing, good-naturedly but loudly. Their mild intoxication may have been fuelled from a glass, maybe just by adrenaline, perhaps both; but they were, like all around them, reeling from the events of the preceding couple of hours. “Charlie,” pronounced the leader, “is an absolute legend. Get Charlie for the England job.” His companions let out a wild cheer; then spoke a voice of dissent. “No, no, no, we don’t want Charlie for England.” There were quizzical looks. Was this a fool, questioning the prowess of the hero? “No. We want him to stay here in CHASETOWN!” Another raucous cry, and the party moved on. A boy of about six, passing by on his father’s shoulders, leaned over to offer his view, almost causing them both to topple over. “Charlie for England,” he said, and headed off to bed, probably for a night of fitful sleep.

All over Chasetown, sweet dreams were coming true. Moments before, with Charlie Blakemore’s team apparently starting to flag, Kyle Perry summoned up the energy to charge to the by-line and bend in a left-wing cross, and the substitute Danny Smith flung himself to head the ball home at the near-post. Smith was born in 1987, the year Keith Houchen scored a similar goal at Wembley in one of the biggest Cup final shocks. Few headers have brought more joy in the meantime. Perhaps it was the dazzle of the floodlights, but it looked like Smith had tears in his eyes when he emerged from the celebratory ruck of his team-mates, and there was still a minute plus added time to play. He and the others somehow kept clear heads until the referee ended the game and confirmed an upset of extraordinary proportions.

Chasetown became the first team in the history of the FA Cup to overcome a five-division difference in status from their opponents, and the 106 League places between them and Port Vale is also a record. The bizarre nature of the match somehow fitted the occasion. After a tentative start, Charlie Blakemore’s side allowed their League One visitors little time or room on the ball; chances were scarce. Having held Vale to the break, the Scholars conceded two penalties in the first eight minutes of the second half, and Luke Rodgers failed with both. The sparky Chasetown keeper Lee Evans saved the second one - let us indulge him and agree that he tipped the first one onto the bar as well, before it cleared the stand - and after that anything seemed possible. In the final quarter of the game, the home team’s legs became heavy, as was to be expected after most of them had already done at least half a day’s work, but the defence remained steadfast and Smith’s dramatic contribution settled the tie.

Not only on the field were events hard to comprehend. Not many years ago, the Church Street ground literally was just a field, but became a new home to Chasetown after their previous venue behind Burntwood baths just up the road ceased to be available. In 2005, their average gate struggled to reach 100; but the Cup run that saw them take Oldham to a replay had a lasting effect, with that number trebled on a regular basis. That run felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience - one can only imagine what the thrills of this new odyssey will be. The Scholars Ground now boasts a clubhouse, comfortably refurbished, and more development can be hoped for in the future. The money generated two years ago has been carefully spent, and some saved, to allow for gradual, sustainable progression.

For Port Vale, though, the ground was temporarily transformed. Temporary stands appeared at each end; supporters milled excitedly in front of the seating and radio commentators sought refuge on a flat roof. Outside early arrivals could spot either the former Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis, in his Bentley, or the Chasetown chairman John Donnelly, in the original Del Boy Robin Reliant from Only Fools and Horses. It is not known whether Deadly proposed a swap. He did, however, do the honours with the local Christmas lights, adding to the family feel of the festivities. The ground was full - most in blue and white scarves or hats, some waving flags, the odd one in fancy dress. Superman took a moment out of his busy schedule to talk to BBC WM and forecast a Chasetown victory. Trust him to be able to see into the future.

At the end, the jubilant supporters swarmed on to the field and lifted the players shoulder-high. They bayed for their heroes to take further acclaim - while goalkeeper Evans entertained them on the PA microphone, chief executive Mike Joiner could hardly bring himself to speak, more than forty years with the club having never previously resulted in an occasion like this. No one, save for the visiting Vale fans, wanted to go home.

Amid all the hoopla, Charlie “for England” Blakemore, Chasetown’s manager, beamed. He patiently told interviewer after interviewer that it was the greatest day of his long service to non-league football and Chasetown in particular, and deflected the credit to his assistants, his players and everyone else in the Chasetown family. Having gained some level of notoriety with his fight-them-on-the-beaches team talk in a previous round that was broadcast nationally, he had proved his ability to motivate and direct a willing team to feats previously thought to be impossible.

Finally, came the moment that captured the whole occasion. Players, officials, proud friends and family and sundry others had decamped to a marquee and were proceeding to demolish a generous buffet - one thing Chasetown can do as well as any League club is hospitality. Some were chatting animatedly; quite a few were sat still dazed by the Roy-of-the-Rovers nature of the evening’s extraordinary events. At nearly eleven o’clock, with the media appetite sated at last, Blakemore entered the tent, found in an instant a full glass pushed into each hand, and raised them as if they were the Cup itself. His flock roared their approval; with all the family present, the party was complete.

Not that it could go on forever. The catch, of course, was that most of the players, as well as Blakemore himself, were back at work a few hours later. Their latest brush with the unreal world of professional football was an unqualified triumph; now they could dream of tackling bigger names: Fowler, Hasselbaink, Ridsdale, Jones and Cardiff. The logistics will be nightmarish. For all Chasetown’s admirable desire to play at Church Street come what may, you fear that the authorities will insist, with some justification, on a change of venue for the third round tie. Doubtless the whole squad will be impatiently ticking off the days until their next chance to take centre stage.

But the happiest thought of all was for the grand old competition; much-maligned, occasionally written off as not worthwhile or out of date. For all those who care about the health of the game that sometimes seems to have lost touch completely with the world outside its bubble, Tuesday night in Church Street warmed the soul, even if it froze the extremities. The FA Cup was shown to be alive and well, and its heart pounding strongly in south Staffordshire. Who, asked 1,500 delirious fans, needs the superstars when you can have the Scholars? And who, the child on his father’s shoulders might have been thinking, needs Capello when you can have Blakemore? The real world on hold, it was a night for dreamers.