The Magic of the FA Cup

The first weekend of January. 3rd Round Proper. The world's most famous cup competition. It's the weekend the smaller football league clubs dream of, possibly their only chance of meeting one of the big guns, earning the financial windfall and hopefully having their 15 minutes of fame.

As a Manchester United fan, the closest I've come to witnessing an FA Cup upset was when lowly Premiership club Barnsley deservedly beat us in a 5th Round replay at Oakwell in 1998. In the last two years, draws against Conference outfits Burton Albion and Exeter City also stand out as embarrassing days.

However, usually, I've been fortunate to be at the other end of the spectrum, watching the Reds on cup final days at either Wembley or the Millennium Stadium seeing Steve Bruce, Eric Cantona or Roy Keane lift the trophy in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2003 or walking away empty-handed in 1995 and 2004.

I am proud to say I was part of one of the most famous giantkillings in FA Cup history. 15 years ago, 4th January 1992, I went to the Racecourse Ground as a young lad to watch Wrexham versus Arsenal. The lowest club in the football league taking on the First Division champions. Brian Flynn against George Graham. When Arsenal striker Alan Smith netted in the first half, many inside the capacity crowd, felt the hope of a cup upset had gone for another season.

Ten minutes remained and Wrexham had other ideas. Step forward 37-year-old midfielder Mickey Thomas who scored with a phenomonal free-kick which beat the despairing dive of England international David Seaman. Delighted little Wrexham were looking forward to a money-spinning replay at Highbury but with only seven minutes left, striker Steve Watkin controlled and turned in an instant to steer home into the bottom corner. The crowd went wild, it was Wrexham's finest day in their history and surely will be a motivation to all the smaller teams in the draw today that anything can happen this weekend.