CLARKE DREAMING OF FRATTON SPARK

MATT CLARKE is looking to roll back the years for 2008 FA Cup winners

Portsmouth at Rochdale in the second round this afternoon.

Harry Redknapp’s side beat Cardiff to seal their first FA Cup Final triumph since 1939 at Wembley a decade ago.

In 2010, the then debtridden club reached the final again, this time losing out to Chelsea.

Since then, their record in the competition has been dismal, with Pompey winning just three matches in eight years until their first-round victory over

“You can’t help but be excited when you bump into people in the street wishing you well. I’ve had other managers wishing us all the best. This is what the FA Cup can do to a club and its fans.

“At Stockport, I feel the fans and other people around the town are realising that we are trying to fly the flag for the town. Against Barnet, we want to fly that flag with pride.

“I get the sense now that they are believing in us again. Hopefully, they will be travelling down and believing we have a chance, a good chance, of winning this game. We want to do them and ourselves proud.”

And maybe dream of meeting Manchester City or United in the next round. non-league Maidenhead. Now the League One tabletoppers are eyeing a thirdround tie – and the chance to mix it with the big boys once again.

Highly-rated centre-back Clarke, 22, said: “Being down here for so long, I’ve heard plenty of stories about the FA Cup.

“It seems like everyone in Portsmouth was at Wembley that day – it was a huge day in the club’s history.

“Going into the third round when the big boys come in and potentially getting a home tie at Fratton Park is a big incentive.”