THEY make for an unlikely duo, the softly-spoken American with the penchant for Twitter, and the scouse theatrical impresario living the dream as chairman of his beloved, boyhood club.

On Saturday, in front of the eyes of the football world, John W Henry and Bill Kenwright will be given the chance to show off their most prized assets.

As the men who hold the keys to the Merseyside footballing world, the FA Cup semi final at Wembley represents perhaps the most significant single game of their respective tenures.

Victory is essential, defeat unthinkable.

One was born in Quincy, Illinois, the other in Wavertree, Liverpool.

One is a philosophy major who failed to graduate due to his commitment to performing in a rock and roll band and who enlisted the band Maroon 5 to play at his wedding.

The other is a former Coronation Street actor who could be seen over the Easter period starring in ‘Carry On Matron’.

It is a fascinating contrast, in an era where boardroom matters play as big a part in a club’s success as any on-field issues; stability, support and, of course, financial backing are the key ingredients of the modern-day Premier League.

It is a fact both Kenwright and Henry are acutely aware of, as they seek to push their clubs closer to the top end of English football. Merseyside, once dominant, has been surpassed by London and, more gallingly, Manchester in the domestic pecking order.

In that sense, Saturday represents more than just a semi final. Pride, both personal and professional, plays a big part in the lives of both men, and there is plenty of it at stake at Wembley.

As for Bill Kenwright, this weekend will have a redemptive feel to it.

Everton have negotiated plenty of choppy waters during the 66-year-old’s 13 years in power at Goodison; Saturday provides a chance for, arguably, the biggest single triumph of that spell.

One of Britain’s most successful theatrical producers, he collects smash hits like David Moyes collects transfer market gems. His London based company, Bill Kenwright Ltd, is among British theatre’s most prolific and successful.

One of his favourite refrains is that nobody is a bigger Blue than he. Raised in the city on the memories of Dave Hickson, Alex Young and Alan Ball, Kenwright is the old-school “local boy made good”, sitting in the big chair at the club which owns his heart.

That big chair, of course, brings with it big pressures. There must have been times this season when Kenwright wondered whether owning a Premier League club was worth the often cruel, personal hassle.

As Everton began their campaign sluggishly, with financial issues clouding David Moyes’ squad-building efforts and results on the pitch slow to come, it was the chairman who took the brunt of criticism from certain sections of the Blues’ support.

Some of that criticism has subsided - and plenty of fans have showed him their support too. What is hard to argue, though, is that Everton’s revival in recent months has been little short of remarkable.

Kenwright may not have the financial muscle to match the Premier League’s big hitters. He admits as much himself, and has repeatedly spoken of his desire to relinquish control at Goodison, should the right kind of offer arrive.

As yet, that offer is yet to materialise. But in the meantime, his relationship with Moyes, and the talent of his manager, allows the Blues to regularly punch above their weight.

They are at it again this season, and Liverpool have edged into their cross-hairs.

Having already nudged ahead of their fierce rivals in the Premier League, Kenwright will now have his eye on an era-defining cup triumph.

He would be the first to admit that this weekend is not about Bill Kenwright, but there would be no prouder man inside Wembley should Everton deliver.