FA Cup Preview
Will Mourinho go for a roll and sausage?
David Raven thought his days of highprofile matches were over when he bade farewell to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Instead, the FA Cup has worked its magic and, next Sunday, Raven will line up for eighth-tier Marine of the Northern Premier League North West Division against the mighty Tottenham Hotspur. It will mean a trip to tiny Rossett Park, in the Liverpool suburb of Crosby, for Jose Mourinho and his squad of Premier League all-stars.
And Raven admits that Spurs’ Portuguese manager may be in for a shock when he arrives in those humble surroundings.
Of course, the match will be played behind closed doors, but the local residents should provide plenty of atmosphere. “This is what the FA Cup is all about,” Raven told The Sunday Post. “The ground is surrounded by houses, and you would never know it was there. “So young kids will be watching from their bedroom windows. People will see that on TV! “In the last round, someone was offering rolls and sausage through the fence to our manager. I don’t know if Jose Mourinho would turn that down or not!
“I was watching the draw, and I either wanted someone beatable, or a real glamour tie. I don’t think we could have asked for much better.”
Raven will have the unenviable task of marking Harry Kane on the day. But when it comes to major honours, the former Caley Jags man has the upper hand.
While Kane is still searching for his first piece of silverware, Raven will always be a hero in the Highlands, thanks to his part in Inverness lifting the Scottish Cup in 2015. Sadly, the defender missed the Final win over Falkirk, but he scored the winner as Ronny Deila’s Celtic, containing stellar names like Virgil van Dijk, were defeated 3-2 after extra-time in the semi-final.
Now 35, Raven reflected: “We had reached the League Cup Final the season before (losing to Aberdeen on penalties), and we knew it would come again. Under manager John Hughes, we were that confident.
“We had a great group of players – Graeme Shinnie, Ryan Christie, Marley Watkins – and we had an amazing time. “Making my debut for Liverpool was right up there, but scoring against Celtic at Hampden is my career highlight. “That moment made the fact I didn’t play in the Final so much easier.
“Of course, it was still a gut-wrencher that I never got a medal, but I would never swap my goal as people still talk to me about that even now.
“Celtic had top players, but we were on it, and we were good for the win as we went toe-to-toe.”
Raven spent nearly six years in Inverness, and the city holds many special memories.
He didn’t know what to expect when he signed for Terry Butcher in 2012, but there were no regrets as he played in Europe and helped them to a best-ever third place in the top flight. “It was my favourite time in football,” Raven stated. “We had a great side and were punching above our weight.
“We had a lovely house on a hill. Both my children were born up there and we really bought into the lifestyle.
“I got into things like salmon fishing, and I still go back to visit friends. “I remember driving up there, and it felt like the A9 went on forever!
“It was a bit of a Last Chance Saloon as I felt like my career was ebbing away. “But there were no negatives, and I only moved back down south as there were more football opportunities for me.” Apart from playing for Marine, Raven is also the head coach of a football academy at Ellesmere College.
“The Spurs cup tie has been good for discussions,” he laughed. “Some of the pupils have said to me: ‘Are you going to ask for Harry Kane’s autograph before the match?’.
“I had to tell them that’s really not how it works!”