Former Middlesbrough and Cardiff City striker Andy Campbell took over the manager’s hotseat at the Seagrave Stadium this summer.
And as he prepares for his first FA Cup match in charge of West away to Bedlington Terriers, few would begrudge him a trip down memory lane.
In January 2002, aged just 22, Campbell lived out the dream of thousands of football fans around the country when he netted the second goal in Boro’s 2-0 fourth round win over the Red Devils.
Bedlington Terriers v West Auckland Town
The Emirates FA Cup
Extra Preliminary Round
3pm, Saturday 15 August
Doctor Pitt Welfare Park, Bedlington
"It’s obviously something that’s very memorable – scoring against Manchester United for any footballer is great, but to score for my hometown club was fantastic," he told TheFA.com.
"I remember it was an early kick-off and I came off the bench. I think it was a long ball from the goalkeeper, they closed the ball down and we won it back. Dean Windass then crossed the ball in for me and I was lucky enough to get my head in.
"It was very rare that I scored a header, so it was a good feeling to score past a top goalkeeper like Fabien Barthez with a bit of a rarity."
Campbell went on to join Cardiff from the Teessiders and wrote himself into the South Wales club’s history books as he scored an extra-time winner at the Millennium Stadium to clinch promotion to the Championship in the 2003 play-off final – but that strike against United is one he still holds dear to his heart.
"It’s up there – it’s always different scoring for your hometown team. Not many people get to do that, so it was a very special moment and to do it in The FA Cup was amazing," he added.
"To be a part of The FA Cup run a few years before that, when we got beat in The Final by Chelsea in 1997, was also very special.
"To get all the way to Wembley, even though disappointingly I wasn’t involved, it was a great time.
"I’ll be trying to get our lot on Saturday to put everything in so that they can hopefully go and play against the best players they possibly can."
Andy Campbell scores a header past Fabien Barthez in The FA Cup
Now aged 36, the former England Under-21 international is climbing the steps of the coaching ladder.
He spent three years at Norton & Stockton, guiding the north east side to promotion to the top flight of the Northern League and winning the Ernest Armstrong Cup during his time in charge.
But when the opportunity came to take over at West Auckland, FA Vase Finalists in 2012 and 2014, he knew it was something he had to do.
"I just wanted a new challenge," explained Campbell.
"I’d been there for three years and I think that we had achieved as much as we could as a club on a limited budget. We won a cup and got promoted on a really, really small budget and I just wanted to make that step up.
"Once I found out that the West Auckland job was available, it was a no-brainer to apply for it. It is a big club and it was something I really wanted to get my teeth into.
Andy Campbell tussles with Paul Scholes
"I’m loving it so far, it’s been a challenge as we’ve had to start with a relatively new side and get the squad together, but it’s been brilliant and the players have been great. The club in general and the people who run it have been first-class."
On Tuesday evening Campbell and his side suffered defeat against Guisborough Town, but despite the setback, they are heading up the A1 full of hope against Terriers this weekend.
He added: "The FA Cup is always special.
"When I was playing professionally it was always the competition you wanted to play in at whatever level. And there always seems to be one club from the north east that does well in it, and both us and Bedlington will be going into the game hoping for victory to try and start a run.
"We’ll be going there full of confidence and hopefully it will be us that get through to the next round.
"We took quite a few to Whitley Bay for our first league game last week so I think we will have another good following this Saturday. The fans are very passionate, they give us great support and hopefully that can help us get through.
"We would love to get a run going and try and earn ourselves a little reputation and some money for the football club as that’s what it’s all about."
