Holdsworth played in an FA Cup semi-final for Sheffield United in 1998

Mansfield Town manager David Holdsworth says the FA Cup is a competition that still deserves to be taken seriously.

The Stags host Altrincham on Saturday in the fourth qualifying round, two weeks after beating them in the league.

Holdsworth told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I've enjoyed it [the FA Cup] all through my career, I don't think any manager should take it lightly.

"The occasion is for people who sit in the stands. The FA Cup is about tradition and about the fans."

As a player, Holdsworth once had to man-mark his twin brother Dean, when Watford were drawn against Wimbledon in the third round of the FA Cup in 1996.

"The last two balls drawn out were Watford and Wimbledon," he remembers. "To play against your twin brother in an FA Cup tie was a unique occasion I would imagine.

"It was a hard one for my mum because she was telling me not to kick him.

"It finished 1-1 and Dean didn't play in the replay - I don't know whether he was dropped because I played so well against him in the first game."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version