FA Cup is still the best says Neville

Some people might have fallen out of love with the FA Cup, but Everton skipper Phil Neville is not one of them.

At 35-years-old, Neville has done a lot during his career.

With 59 caps for England, six Premier League, three FA Cup and one UEFA Champions League medals in his sock draw at home from his time at Manchester United, he is well qualified to comment.

Short of being involved in an England World Cup squad, Neville has done it all and yet he still holds the FA Cup as his own personal favourite.

Which is probably why the defeat to Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup final still hurts the Blues skipper.

'Wembley is not a place for losers, it is a place for winners, There is no worse a feeling than losing a game at Wembley so that still rankles with me - that is motivation. It is my favourite competition out of them all and if you get to the fifth round you are nearly at that stage of getting to Wembley for the semi-finals. The carrot is there for us, we just have to take the chance.' Neville told the Independent.

The first hurdle to get over of course is Blackpool at Goodison Park tomorrow.

Everton might have reached the final as early as 1897, winning it for the first time in 1906, while Blackpool went on to win it in 1953 but in one of those weird quirks that football throws up from time-to-time, in over 120 years of both sides competing in the FA Cup this will be the first time they have ever met in this famous old competition.

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