Jason chasing Cup glory

Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic 
FA Cup Sixth Round Replay
8.05pm, Wednesday 12 April 2006 
The Riverside Stadium
Live on BBC 
Winning club receives £300,000 £265,000 television payment for each club


Jason Euell thinks fate is on Charlton’s side ahead of Wednesday’s FA Cup Quarter-Final against Middlesbrough. West Ham await in the last four and Euell is excited by the prospect of an all-London Semi-Final.

He’s not the only one - more than 5,200 Charlton fans are backing their club to win by travelling to the Riverside thanks mainly to the generosity of the club who have laid on free buses for the travelling fans.

"When West Ham beat Man City, we arrived at training and a few lads said ‘if we beat Middlesbrough, we get West Ham,’" Euell said.

"That was one of those things - it was meant to be. It will be great to see a London team get through to the final and if we beat Middlesbrough that will definitely happen."

Since 1992, only Arsenal, Chelsea and Millwall have represented the capital in the final. West Ham and Charlton last made it in 1980 and 1947 respectively.

The last all-London final was Arsenal versus Chelsea in 2002. Before that, it was Tottenham against QPR in 1982.

The game throws up a couple of rivalries because Charlton's Chris Powell spent last season on loan at West ham and Paul Konchesky signed for the club in July 2005.

Euell could also have left the Valley in the summer after Middlesbrough enquired about his availability.

"There was a little bit of contact between the clubs," said Euell, who arrived at the Valley in July 2001.

"Nothing further happened to get me closer to signing. That has gone now though. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against, every week you want to do well.

"If it happens to be against Middlesbrough then it shows not just them, but Charlton and other clubs what I am capable of. It will be letting everyone know I’ve still got a lot to offer."