"I had one of those moments. The stuff you dream of as a kid," recalls Chester FC manager Jon McCarthy, fondly remembering his FA Cup journey as a player 20 years ago.
"It was 1996, Valentine's Day and the whole of Burslem was out in force.
"We drew in the last minute at Goodison Park to force a replay and I remember sitting up to watch Match of the Day and Trevor Brooking was talking about me. It was really surreal stuff."
It's over 20 years since McCarthy, then a winger at Port Vale, latched on to a pin-point Steve Guppy cross to fire home at the far post at Vale Park and spark wild scenes among Valiants fans as his side dumped holders Everton out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage.
Port Vale had held the Toffees, who had won the 1995 final against Manchester United thanks to a Paul Rideout strike, to a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park to set up the replay in Staffordshire.
The replay success saw the glare of the national media firmly fixed on the Burslem-based club and McCarthy remembers fondly the days that followed.
"We deserved to beat them. Everton had won the FA Cup the previous year and were the holders.
"There were 20,000 odd at Vale Park. Steve Guppy put in a great cross for me to score. But what about the run? I'd ran from my own half to get on the end of it.
"I remember the hype and the papers the following morning. We got a taste of that FA Cup magic. Even though it was Valentine's Day there weren't too many wives and girlfriends being taken out in Burslem that night."
And with Chester beginning their FA Cup journey this weekend at Southport in the fourth qualifying round, McCarthy knows full well how a good run can give the club a lift on and off the pitch.
"It comes upon you before you realise it. We had a taste a couple of years back against Southend and Barnsley," he said.
"It can be massive for the football club and can give that little bit of excitement that might be what our fans need and to get some young ones through the door. It can have lots of impact for the club.
"We can't guarantee success but we can guarantee the amount of work that goes in to preparing for the game to make sure we have the best chance possible."
