Planet Swans ArchivesMay 2007. Hampden Park, Glasgow, 50,000 people the Scottish Cup Final.
November 2007, New Lodge, Billericay, 3,000 people, the FA Cup First Round.
You really couldn’t have two more contrasting fortunes but that is what faces Dorus De Vries today as he embarks in his first tie in the Cup of the football association whose league he is playing in.
Only a late goal on that Saturday in May cost Dorus a winners medal against the mighty Celtic having played a huge part in knocking out the other half of the Old Firm in the early stages at the start of this year. But today all of that will see many miles away as he lines up for Swansea City against a side ranked 100 plus places below them – not quite Celtic I am sure you would agree.
But far from being downbeat about the occasion, Dorus looks forward to his first FA Cup tie well aware of the riches that the competition can bring with the third round just two victories away and the chance to once again rub shoulders with the best that the leagues can offer.
“I had never heard of them,” De Vries told the Western Mail
“But that’s how it can go in cups. Now I know we are going to a very small ground which is not the best, but that’s where we all start as players. We are going back to the roots and we are treating it as a big game.
“Everybody has to be in good form and condition because one bad refereeing decision or one bad tackle can happen. We have to be sharp to get to the next round, that’s the main objective.”
But the memories of his last Cup run will never escape him and he remembers the final with fondness despite their eventual defeat
“The whole week was fantastic; the build-up, the media attention, the players were just thrilled to be playing in the cup final against the biggest team in Scotland at the time,” said de Vries.
“Walking out in front of 50,000 people in a national stadium is a brilliant feeling and that’s something I want to achieve again, and hopefully soon.
“I know that will be hard in the FA Cup because you’ve got Premier League teams in there.
“But we’ve got the squad at Swansea to do well in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and have a big day out at Wembley.
“Everyone thought it was going to be a walkover for Celtic, but we really fought and did our best,” he said.
“They had a lucky goal, but even after that we had a great chance for the equaliser.
“If we had scored then I might have had my dream scenario – to save a couple of penalties and win the cup. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but it was still a great experience.
“You’re lucky if you play a couple of cup finals in your whole career, so to play Celtic at Hampden Park was absolutely the best moment for me. I absorb all my games and having an experience like that is what you train for as a footballer.”
