This time last year, Paul Konchesky was about to head to
Cardiff to support his beloved West Ham United in the play-off
final against Preston North End.
Now, 12 months on, he will be stepping out onto the turf at the
Millennium Stadium to play for the Hammers in Saturday's FA Cup
final showdown with Liverpool.
"This is the first FA Cup final for most of us and it's
going to be a great day," insists Barking-born Konch, who will
be roared on by some two-dozen travelling members of his
family.
"Our weekend win over Tottenham has really given us a great
boost and, hopefully we can now go and get the right result at
Cardiff.
"We all wanted the Spurs game to be played and it's given
us a lot of confidence to have beaten what, in my eyes, was their
strongest team.
"The crowd were fantastic at Upton Park and, if the players
give it their all and the fans give it their all, too, then
we've got a great chance of getting our names on the FA Cup.
"Everyone knows how West Ham fans are on the big days,
they're like our 12th man. And we're certainly not bothered
about being the underdogs, either, because we've got a great
opportunity to win this final and the spirit in the camp can show
through on Saturday.
"It's been a tough year for us because we all came into
the season as favourites to be relegated but we've held our
own.
"West Ham have got to the FA Cup final and we've qualified
for Europe next season, too. We've had an unbelievable year
and, hopefully, we can do even better next time around."
And while the twice-capped England international may just have
missed the cut for Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad,
he knows that good performances on both the domestic and European
stages could prove the launch-pad for renewed international
recognition next term.
"I've just got to concentrate on doing well for West Ham
first," he insists. "But, hopefully, Steve McClaren will
now give me another chance alongside any other English player and,
with a bit of luck, I'll get my opportunity next year."