Leicester City v Blackpool
The FA Cup, Third Round
Walkers Stadium
08 January 2004

Blackpool skipper Simon Grayson is planning to wreck his reputation as a Leicester legend by helping dump his former club out of The FA Cup.

The former Aston Villa midfielder made 229 appearances for Leicester during an eventful five and-a-half year spell at the club that included four play-off finals and a Coca-Cola Cup triumph in 1997.

Grayson was twice named player-of-the-season and became the first Leicester captain to lift a trophy at Wembley after the play-off win against bitter rivals Derby in 1994.

He joined Villa for £1.3 million in June 1997 and made 61 appearances in two years.

Grayson says he has happier memories of his spell at Leicester, but the 35 year-old knows there will be no room for sentiment when he leads League One strugglers Blackpool into battle at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.

Grayson said: "I was chuffed to bits when the draw was made. All the other lads wanted us to get one of the big Premiership clubs, but I just wanted Leicester.

"I had the best days of my career at Leicester and there was never a dull moment.

"I went on to play for Aston Villa and played in a UEFA Cup quarter-final, but it didn’t really work out for me there.

"I didn’t get as many opportunities as I would have liked and my best memories are of my days at Leicester.

"I’m thrilled to be going back, but we aren’t going there to lose. Leicester have been struggling a bit at home and they will feel the pressure if we can keep them quiet early on.

"The longer we can keep things tight, the more frustrated they will get."

Grayson has got his hands on more silverware since joining Blackpool two and a half years ago.

He lifted the LDV Vans Trophy last season, but Blackpool have struggled in League One this season.

Grayson remains convinced his side can pull off a shock. He said: "I see no reason why we can’t get a result at Leicester. "We haven’t been consistent enough this season, but we are a match for anyone in our league on our day.

"I’m sure we can be a match for Leicester as well and we will be giving it our best shot."