Manchester United v West Ham United
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Third Round Proper replay
8.05pm, Wednesday 16 January 2013
Old Trafford, Manchester United FC
Live on ITV1
Winning clubs receive £67,500 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures
By Nicholas Veevers

Edwin Van Der Sar feels it’s time that Manchester United got their hands on The FA Cup again – nearly nine years after they last won it.

The Old Trafford giants last lifted The Cup in 2004 when they beat Millwall at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

And with Robin Van Persie’s late leveller against West Ham setting up home advantage for their Third Round replay on Wednesday, the former United goalkeeper is hoping his old club can progress.

Speaking exclusively to FATV ahead of Wednesday’s FA150 Launch Event, the Dutchman said: “Over the years, United haven’t been that successful in The FA Cup.

“I think they (United) are very fortunate to still be in the tie, but it was a great pass from Giggsy and a great strike and goal from Robin.

“So if they can finish it off at home then they can aim for progress and then they’ll be looking to win The FA Cup for the first time in ten years.”

The FA Cup was one of the few honours that Van Der Sar didn’t win during a glittering career with the likes of United, Fulham, Juventus and Ajax.

He won league titles in England and the Netherlands and lifted the Champions League twice, but never had any luck in the world’s oldest cup competition.

“I can’t sleep at night when I think about The FA Cup,” he added.

“It’s one of those things, it just never really happened for me.

“I lost once against Liverpool in the Third Round, to a Peter Crouch goal, I lost a Semi-Final and I lost a Final against Chelsea.”

It wasn’t just in the later stages of The Cup where Van Der Sar’s fortunes turned sour either.

He was at Old Trafford for home upsets against Leeds United in 2010 and Portsmouth in 2008, games which still play on the 42-year-old’s mind.

“I was rested for a game against Leeds at home which we lost 1-0,” recalled Van Der Sar, who is the Netherland’s most capped player with 130 appearances.

“In a game against Portsmouth, I went off at half time and Tomas Kuszczak came on and then got a red card, so Rio Ferdinand went in goal for the penalty and we lost that one.

“I also got to the Semi-Final with Fulham, when we played Chelsea at Villa Park. How close can you come with Fulham to winning a trophy? That was quite special, to have a run like that, but unfortunately we lost.

“Somehow, it just didn’t click. I won four league titles and played in three Champions League Finals, but only one FA Cup Final against Chelsea in 2007.”

Now working back in his homeland as the Marketing Director of Ajax, Van Der Sar still keeps close tabs on The FA Cup.

After all, it’s something which he remembers watching throughout his life.

“It’s something that you grow up with and I watched it as a fan in Holland many times,” he revealed.

“I think England is always good at making something special and The FA Cup is the oldest cup competition in the world, so players are keen and willing to play in those games.

“Even with a smaller club like Fulham, you had a chance to win something.

“In the league, it’s difficult but in a cup competition for the smaller teams, it’s a great position from which to get yourself noted by the bigger teams or to try and win a trophy.”

Watch the full interview with Edwin in the Media Gallery above.