Manchester Utd v Millwall
The FA Cup Final
Millennium Stadium
22 May 2004


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His son thought he had lost the plot.

But just three months on, Millwall are on the eve of the biggest day in their history, and Paphitis is loving every minute of it.

Paphitis, a childhood Millwall fan, believes the next best thing to actually playing against Manchester United in The FA Cup Final is to run the club that does.

And even though he will go through 90 minutes of hell as his team battle it out for the FA Cup at the Millennium Stadium, there is nowhere he would rather be.

He said: "It's everyone's dream to play in The FA Cup Final. And ask anyone who they would like to play and they will say Manchester United.

"Obviously I can't do that, but the next best thing is to be chairman of the club in the Final. I don't actually enjoy watching matches, but the highs you get after the final whistle are tremendous.

"I went to the League Cup final with my son a few years ago, and I told him one day Millwall will be here. He thought I'd lost the plot. But that season we did it, in the Auto Windscreens final.

"I was really envious of the two managers at that League Cup final, and I desperately wanted to be there. And I got my wish the same season, and it was a great occasion.

"This season my son and I went to the League Cup final again, and I looked at him and said: 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if we got here in The FA Cup?'

"He really thought I had lost it that time, and said lightning can't strike twice - but it has. Cup Finals are unbelievable - they are such an unbelieveable high."

Paphitis hopes the match tomorrow will finally put to rest the bad image that has dogged the club throughout its history.

And with the millions around the world that watch The Final on television, the Millwall chairman is hopeful they can attract more fans to the Den - or at least to their website.

He added: "The Final has certainly put the club in the limelight for all the right reasons, and perhaps we can get some new fans out of it.

"A lot of people bring up things that happened in the past. And if we sneeze here, there's an earthquake.

"Our fans say that anything that happens here is under the microscope and gets lots of publicity when the same things happens all over the country.

"What I say to them is that's life. Live with it. It just means we have to work harder than anyone else to put things right.

"We've seen improvements in the seven years I have been here. Our arrest rates have been the lowest in the league for the past two years."

Paphitis added the prize money the Lions are guaranteed, whatever tomorrow's result, will be a massive boost to the club.

"The club cost £4m to run last year, but we live within our means. We balance our books according to what we can afford.

"The money raised from the FA Cup is quite substantial for a club our size and will make an awful lot of difference as far as players go for next season."