SUP FOR THE CUP Chester’s mates were still in Wembley bar when he scored Final goal for Hull
IT SHOULD have been the greatest moment of James Chester’s career.
Scoring the opening goal in the FA Cup Final for Hull City two years ago is something he looks back on with pride and fondness.
It even made a few of his friends and family happy. They bet on him being the first scorer against Arsenal at odds of 50-1.
But that fourth-minute strike took more than just Arsene Wenger and his team by surprise as Aston Villa’s skipper explained.
“Quite a few of those closest to me had money on me scoring first – I was a 50-1 shot – so they were all happy,” he said.
“All apart from my best mates – they were still having a beer in the corporate areas at Wembley.
“I didn’t mind so much but I was more concerned about them not sitting in the seats I’d bought for them, given the price of them.
“So they were still having an ale – I can’t say I was best pleased. They are the cheekiest set of lads you’re ever likely to meet, I’m not surprised they told me. I suppose one of them was bound to in the end.”
That early opening goal was followed by a second as Hull set up a shock result against an Arsenal team that was bidding to end a barren streak of nine years without lifting a trophy.
But Santi Cazorla’s free-kick sparked a comeback by the Gunners who managed to keep Wenger in a job by staging a fightback to win 3-2.
Che st er added: “I t ’s disappointing to get to a final and lose it. I don’t think you ever imagine – as a young lad, growing up, reaching the FA Cup Final – especially at a club like Hull because it is not expected that you will win things.
“To be two-up against Arsenal, you’re never really going to get a better chance to go on and win it, but the longer it goes on, you think about the better memories. Like actually getting there. The opportunity to play the semifinal and the final at Wembley were great occasions.
“Beating Sunderland 3-0 in the quarter-final was a special afternoon. We never felt like we were going to lose that from the moment the game kicked off and there was a special atmosphere inside our stadium. Straight after the final you think about it every day. The longer it goes on, you don’t dwell on it too much.
“Every now and again you’ll see something to remind you. But obviously I prefer to remember the good times.”
It’s been a mixed bag for Chester of late. After relegation with the Tigers, he jumped back into the Premier League with West Brom but was offloaded to Villa for £9million after featuring rarely under Tony Pulis.
However, the 27- year- old played a full part in Wales’ run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals.
Now, wearing the captain’s armband, he has been chosen by Steve Bruce (above) to lead Villa back into the big time. He added: “We can go and enjoy it at White Hart Lane. It takes the pressure off in the league and the FA Cup is always a good occasion.
“It’s going to be a difficult game. They’ve got power and pace all over the field. We’ll have our work cut out. However, we have improved and are going in the right direction. It will be a measure of where we are.”