Rudge is dreaming of new Vale giant-killing

then and Venables was obviously a great manager.

“Before the match Saint and Greavsie said on their TV programme that the only thing Spurs needed to worry about was finding the ground.

“But we had some good players too, and Ray Walker and Phil Sproson scored the goals to pull off a fantastic cup shock.”

Rudge remembers his job being at risk before that Tottenham win, but he went on to have 16 years in charge of Port Vale before 14 years as director of football at neighbours Stoke.

He took Vale, now 10th in League Two, to within touching distance of the First Division playoffs and a chance of top flight football for the first time ever.

He was so popular supporters organised a flat-cap march in his honour when he was sacked in 1999 and super-fan Robbie Williams took to the stage at a gig in Coventry in the same trademark head gear.

Rudge also beat City three times as Vale manager, including once when he prepared to play 10 versus 10 and have Andy Porter mark Georgi Kinkladze out of the game. But there are no pangs of regret he will be sat in the stands today rather than the dugout.

Rudge, who counts Sir Alex Ferguson among his confidants, added: “This is John Askey’s time, not mine. “City are a tremendous team and there’s a massive difference between the Premier League and the league we play in, compared to what it was like when we beat Spurs.

“We’re looking forward to it knowing full well that it’s not an impossible task but one that will be incredible difficult.”