Simon Davey says his Swansea background will play no part in the cup clash with Cardiff

Simon Davey says the first football result he looks for after Barnsley's is that of his hometown club Swansea.

The Tykes manager played for the club in his early career and he always looks out for their scores.

But he says the rivalry his old club shares with Cardiff will not play any part when Barnsley meet the Bluebirds in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

"The first result I always look for is the Swansea City result after our result comes in," he said.

"It's never left me even though I've been away from Swansea for 16 years now."

The 37-year-old Davey played for Swansea under Terry Yorath after signing for his local club on YTS forms as a teenager.

He made his debut at 16 but left on a free transfer when he was 21 to join Carlisle United.

"I always enjoyed my time at Swansea," he said. "We had the likes of Chris Coleman there at the time and Andy Melville and Terry Phelan.

I'm a Welsh man taking English money Simon Davey

"There were some good players down there who went on to do really, really well after their Swansea days."

He spent three years at Carlisle before going on to play for Preston under David Moyes before injury cut short his career at 27.

With his playing days over, Moyes offered him a job as a youth coach at the Lancashire club which led him to a similar role at Barnsley and eventually into the Oakwell hot seat in Yorkshire in 2006.

But despite spending more than a decade on the other side of the border Davey still remains a Welshman at heart.

"I'm very patriotic about Wales," said Davey. "My wife's from Wales, my oldest daughter was born in Wales, my mum, dad, brothers and sisters are all living in Swansea and my wife's whole family live there.

"When there's a school holidays my wife takes the kids down and when I get the opportunity I'm always back down there. Basically, I'm a Welshman taking English money."

However, he says his west Walian background will not play any part when his side take on the Swans' old rivals Cardiff in this weekend's cup clash at Wembley.

It's about Barnsley football club. A Yorkshire club playing against Cardiff hopefully trying to get to the FA Cup final Simon Davey

"As a Welsh person you probably want a Welsh club to win the FA Cup," he explained. "It's a deep rivalry between Swansea and Cardiff supporters but for me, I'm Barnsley manager.

"I know I was born in Swansea but I can't help where I was born. And it's not about me as a manager playing against Cardiff.

"It's about Barnsley football club. A Yorkshire club playing against Cardiff hopefully trying to get the FA Cup final.

"We've got to give Cardiff respect. They're a very good side and they're doing well in the Championship.

"It'll be a difficult game but when my players step out onto that Wembley pitch they'll be going 100 per cent to try and get us into the FA Cup final."