Even though he picked up a winner's medal for Sunday's win against Lowestoft Town, the former Blackpool reserves and youth team keeper had to resign himself to a spectator's role.
Ever since undergoing laser eye treatment in the autumn, the 19-year-old Lytham lad has failed to dislodge his replacement Peter Summerfield.
"If I'd thought we would get to the Vase final, I would probably have delayed the operation until the summer. So I might have played at Wembley myself," said Abbott, who was among the five substitutes for the final.
"I've waited since I was 13 and my mum said she'd pay the £4,000 and I was eager to get it done. You need to be 21 or have had five straight eye tests, which I'd managed."
Former Blackpool schools keeper Abbott added: "On Sunday I was treated no differently to the other lads but it wasn't the same, knowing I wasn't playing. Maybe it's not too bad for a normal game but everyone is desperate to play at Wembley.
"Everybody tells you to be ready because you don't know what will happen. Outfield substitutes know there's a good chance they'll get on but it's very unlikely for a keeper."
Summerfield had agreed to step in when Abbott's operation left manager Mick Fuller minus a keeper and Abbott said he performed well in Kirkham's 2-1 victory.
"It would have been cruel for Peter to come off injured and I didn't want that to happen to him."
Abbott had suffered from short-sightedness and using contact lens hadn't really worked, particularly under lights. Fortunately, his vision is now perfect.
"There wasn't a problem at Bloomfield Road with the lights being high but they were much lower when I joined Kirkham from Lytham Town. Staring straight into them didn't help.
"I was fine with anything close but couldn't judge long crosses either on the ground or in the air. The ball was a bit blurred."