Seventeen years ago Kevin Davies lined-up for Chesterfield in an FA Cup Semi-Final that would go down as one of the finest in the competition’s history.
On Saturday, at the age of 37 and over 500 appearances later, Davies will take to the field for Preston North End against Shrewsbury Town as they prepare to book their place in the Third Round of The Cup.
That run in the 1996-97 competition ultimately ended in disappointment for Davies, as third-tier Chesterfield had led 2-0 with 30 minutes to play.
Preston North End v Shrewsbury Town
The FA Cup
Second Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 6 December 2014
Deepdale, Preston
Winners receive £27,000 from Prize Fund
But Premier League Middlesbrough scored twice to force extra-time and then take the lead, only for a Chesterfield equaliser in the final minute to give the Spireites a second chance.
Boro went on to win the replay 3-0 at Hillsborough, but despite the disappointment, Davies says he still looks back on that game in April 1997 with affection.
"Every time the Cup comes around it brings back those memories," he told TheFA.com in an exclusive interview.
"They are terrific memories but obviously the game went it was heartbreaking at the time – especially the way we lost it.
He continued: "But if you look at the run we went on as a whole it was one of those fairytale giant-killing runs.
"We were the underdogs in most of the latter games, and to go from where we were to walk out in the Semi-Finals at Old Trafford, was unthinkable really.
"It was a just a dramatic day and one of my favourite memories, but at the same time one that really still hurts to this day."
Kevin Davies celebrates an FA Cup strike for Preston against Ipswich in January 2014
Davies went on to represent Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League – as well as an appearance for England – before dropping down the divisions again to join Preston.
And as he prepares to embark on another Cup campaign as a League One player, could history repeat itself?
"Why not?" he says.
"You’ve got to have the belief, it’s what the competition is all about.
"You never know. After seeing teams like Bradford do it in the League Cup, it gives you that belief that magical things can happen in Cup football.
"It’s not easy, we know that and we’re not kidding ourselves.
"But we’re in it, we’re at home and hopefully we can get that win that will take us into the Third Round."
“It’s a fantastic competition that gives players the opportunity to go and play in games and stadiums that they normally wouldn’t.”
Kevin Davies on The FA Cup
And although refusing to look too far ahead and discuss potential Third Round opponents, the Sheffield-born striker concluded by saying it is those thoughts, shared by players and fans alike, that make The FA Cup so special.
"It’s a fantastic competition that gives players the opportunity to go and play in games and stadiums that they normally wouldn't," he added.
"All the lower league teams will be desperate to get through to the next round and will be dreaming of getting a fairytale game at one of the big boys.
"The financial benefits that come with that are obviously massive for a lot of clubs as well, but when you see games like the one at Warrington the other night – you know it’s about a lot more than prize money to those fans and clubs.
"It’s about the glory, not the money. And that belief that the smaller team also has a chance when it’s eleven versus eleven on any day."
