Luke Chadwick will encounter a brush with the past when Manchester United visit Cambridge on Friday night.
Chadwick, a boyhood Cambridge fan and former Manchester United winger, squeezed in a quick short back and sides on the Monday night before tuning in to see the draw live on BBC One.
Cambridge United v Manchester United
The FA Cup
Fourth Round Proper
7.55pm, Friday 23 January
Live on BBC One
Winners receive £90,000 from prize fund
“I was at my mum’s getting my hair cut and there were only two numbers on my mind for the Fourth Round draw – Cambridge United and Manchester United," recalled Chadwick.
"It was utter bedlam in the house when the draw came out.”
During a four-year spell in the early 2000s, Chadwick made 39 appearances for the Old Trafford club.
In that time he won a Premier League winners' medal in 2001 and played alongside club legends such as Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
Luke Chadwick gets his hands on the famous trophy ahead of the Manchester United tie
But Chadwick says he and his team-mates will face a very different opposition on Friday, although remained positive his side will have the backing of all the neutrals.
“Other than Giggsy, there’s nobody in the team from my time there," he added.
"Darren Fletcher was coming through the ranks at the time.
“We’re in a great position though as I’m sure everyone other than the Manchester United fans will be hoping that we can spring a surprise in front of the cameras.
“It’s going to be a great occasion, a Friday night under the lights against Manchester United and live on BBC One.
"You couldn’t ask for more really.”
Luke Chadwick scored two goals in his 39 Manchester United appearances
After leaving Manchester United in 2004, Chadwick went on to play for West Ham United, Stoke City, Norwich City and MK Dons before joining Richard Money’s Cambridge United in March 2014.
Now back with his hometown club, the local lad believes the tie gives The U's a chance to etch their names in the record books.
“It’s a real opportunity for the players in this squad to show how good they actually are," he continued.
“It’s a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show the world what Cambridge United are capable of and it’s something that we’ve got to grasp with both hands.”
Cambridge United' Luke Chadwick looks ahead to FA Cup tie with his former club Manchester United.
