Final Tie

Burscough

v

Tamworth

         

Villa Park
Sunday 18th May 2003, 4.05 
Live on Sky Sports


Martin Peters, who completed the West Ham triumvirate of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup, will be the chief guest of The FA for the Final at Villa Park on Sunday

Peters, who made more than 300 league appearances for The Hammers between 1962 and 1970 and was capped 67 times for England, said: "I'm really looking forward to being at the final.

"I am sure that Tamworth being a local side going for the double and Burscough being managed by the ex-Villa player Shaune Teale will add spice to the game."

It will not be the first time that Peters has presented The FA Trophy.

He had the honour of handing over the magnificent trophy to Kingstonian FC in 2000 when they beat Kettering Town FC 3-2 in the final when it was last played at Wembley.

Peters said: "It was a great game. I had a vested interest because Kettering were managed by Peter Morris and I played with him at Norwich City."

Peters won many honours during a playing career which took him to West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City and finally Sheffield United, where he was player-manager.

Although probably best-remembered for his goal in the World Cup Final, Peters also won the European Cup Winners' Cup with West Ham and winners' medals in a UEFA Cup and two League Cup finals with Spurs.

The FA Cup, however, was one trophy to have eluded the talented midfielder.

He recalled: "West Ham won The FA Cup in 1964 but unfortunately I was not in the team and watched the final on the bench. In those days, there were no substitutes allowed.

"I thought I would never get the chance to play at Wembley again, but the following year I was back there in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup and a year later in the Final of the World Cup."

Peters knows how much it means to the players of Tamworth and Burscough to reach the final of what is their FA Cup. 

Although Peters never played in The FA Trophy, he did play in The FA Vase with Gorleston FC when he returned to Norfolk following his spell at Sheffield United.

He said: "Whatever level you play at, a cup final is a cup final. When I was 14, I played Sunday morning football and we would go to a cup final and it was the best thing.

"The final of The FA Trophy is going to be a big, big game for these guys. It will be a fantastic day for both clubs."

Peters is particularly looking forward to seeing ex-Villa star Shaun Teale, player-manager of Burscough, and ex-Leicester City legend Steve Walsh, player-coach of Tamworth, line up against each other.

He said: "They are two mighty guys who don't hang around. It will be up to them to motivate and encourage those players who have not experienced football at this level before to play the best they can.

"Let's hope the best side wins."

Tickets for the final are priced £18 and £15 for adults, and £4 for concessions.

Tickets for Burscough supporters are available by contacting the club's secretary Stan Strickland on 01695 574722 or 07970 030588.

Tickets for Tamworth supporters are available from the club on 01827 65798.