Neil Aspin played more games with Port Vale than any other club in his career, enjoying a ten year spell in Staffordshire. The zenith of his time with the club arguably came in the FA Cup, as John Rudge's side mixed it with the big boys and knocked some of them off their perches.

The FA Cup was an extremely fruitful competition for Rudge, who collected scalps in the Cup like other people collect stamps. Vale's most successful campaign in the Cup under Rudge, though, came in the 1995-96 season.

The third round draw sent them to fellow First Division side, and promotion-chasing, Crystal Palace. Vale took them back to Staffordshire after a 0-0 draw and sealed a dramatic 4-3 win with an extra-time decider. But, an even tougher hurdle was to follow in round four.

"We got drawn against Everton away from home," says Aspin, "who were the cup holders at the time. We went there and drew and beat them 2-1 in the replay at Vale Park and knocked them out, which was a very satisfying result."

Unfortunately, the run ended in the next round as Aspin's former club Leeds saw off Rudge's men after a creditable draw in West Yorkshire and a replay at Vale Park. However, Aspin's FA Cup adventures didn't end there.

"We also got drawn against Arsenal at Highbury a couple of seasons later when they had the likes of Bergkamp, Anelka, Vieira and Overmars in the side," says the Halifax boss. "We got a draw there as well and took them back to our place. It went into extra-time and we eventually lost that on penalties. But I can remember knocking out Derby when they were in the top-flight on their own ground so I've got some very good memories of the FA Cup."

Aspin insists there was no big secret to the success that Vale enjoyed in the competition.

"You've just got to perform well on the day. If you're playing against a team from a higher division, you've got to raise your game and that's what we managed to do to overcome the difference in quality of the teams. But it's something that you find difficult to do every week, week in, week out, in your normal league, but you can on occasion play above yourself in the FA Cup and that's what happened."

After his memorable times in the Cup as a player, Aspin says his regard for the tournament is as strong as ever.

"If you've got any love for football, then the FA Cup is always special. Anybody who's played football from being little knows about the FA Cup and the history of it and that's never going to leave you when you get older."

As for his newest assault on the Cup, Aspin says that while the draw could have been kinder, he is pleased the game will take place at The Shay.

"Saturday's game is a tie where both teams would probably have preferred to get someone else because you're unfortunate if you get a team from your own league at this stage of the competition, but we're pleased to have the home advantage."

The Shaymen will be aiming to go one better than last season when they were knocked out by Wrexham in the fourth qualifying round, and they couldn't really wish for a manager with more experience of the magic of the Cup to make that happen.

Tom Scargill