THE FA CUP 3RD ROUND
It was good to have him say that. I’ve been through tough times and I was aware of it a lot more than I would have been at 21.”
David experienced his toughest time in his last FA Cup appearance when he pushed a 95th-minute free-kick into his
4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth. But Jamaican midfielder Marshall (right) stressed: “We are confident and have no reason to fear them.
“For some of us it’s a dream come true as many haven’t played against Premier League opposition in a competitive game before. It’s one every
■■In each of the last two seasons, the side eliminating West Ham from the FA Cup has been from League One – Wigan in 2017-18 and AFC Wimbledon in 2018-19. own net in the quarter-final against Brighton before Millwall lost on penalties.
“After that Brighton game, I felt lower than a snake’s belly, it was probably the lowest moment of my career and that was only nine months ago. It is crazy to
player is looking forward to. We know it will be difficult but we are in good form. It will be a great occasion for the club.”
Thirty nine places set the two sides apart in the football pyramid.
And Gills boss Steve Evans admitted: “In reality we will need the Hammers to have an off-night.” think. I was sitting with my wife (Gemma) that night and she was saying, ‘This is meant to happen for a reason’. Like what dad said, it is fate. It is meant to prepare you for something. Then I did well enough to get the move to West Ham – and then made a dream come really true.”
Speaking at the Hammers academy at Chadwell Heath, the strong bond between father and son is clear.
“I look at dad sometimes and I think, ‘I can never be him’,” said David. “But l look at him and I think, ‘I’ll try and be as best as I can, be as close as I can to what I think a man should be’.
“A bit cringe, but I do look at him and he is my idol. And, from growing up from when I was a kid, it has never, ever changed. Never, every wavered.”
But Alvin never talks about his career and the family has never watched the 1980 FA Cup Final.
“You have your memories, but don’t really need to watch it,” said Martin, 61. “I think there are things in football that nobody can ever take away. Nobody can ever take away that moment, that moment we had at Chelsea, that moment for David.
“Nobody can ever take away the final whistle blowing at the end of a cup final and you’ve won the FA Cup. No matter what goes on after that.”
PICTURE: PAUL CHESTERTON / FOCUS IMAGES