"We took them all the way. The Evertonians stood there and clapped us off because of the performance we put in."
Exeter city player Gary Alexander is held back during the FA cup tie with Everton
Exeter city player Gary Alexander is held back during the FA cup tie with Everton
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Former Exeter City striker Gary Alexander insists the FA Cup has never lost its magic as he recalls his memories from 1999 when the Grecians went toe-to-toe with Premier League Everton and earned a standing ovation from the Goodison Park faithful.
Alexander was just a teenager when he arrived at St James Park on loan from West Ham United, embarking on a memorable cup journey that ended in a dramatic third-round tie against Walter Smith’s Toffees.
After holding Everton to a goalless stalemate in front of a rocking crowd at "the real St James Park," City pushed the top-flight side to the limit on Merseyside, only to be denied late on by Nick Barmby.
Everton's Kevin Campbell (right) shoots at goal as Exeter's defender Rob Dewhurst (centre) challenges during Tuesday 21st Decembr 1999, AXA FA Cup 3rd Round Replay at Goodison Park. PA Photo : Ohil Noble *EDI*
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"This is obviously what dreams are made of," Alexander recalled, LadBet. "One of my best cup runs was with Exeter City back in the day. We held Everton at the real St James Park and then lost at Goodison Park to a late Nick Barmby winner.
"I was 18 or 19 years of age then. I loved my time down at Exeter, and to have a cup run there was special. All of a sudden you're playing against a Premier League team, getting to the third round and testing yourself against the top players in the world.
"We took them all the way. The Evertonians stood there and clapped us off because of the performance we put in. We knew we weren't as good or as consistent as them, that’s why they played in the Premier League, but to be clapped off like that is something I’ll never forget."
Alexander found himself lining up against a star-studded Everton side featuring Kevin Campbell, John Collins, Don Hutchison, Barmby, and former West Ham teammate David Unsworth.
"I was actually with David Unsworth at West Ham back in the day, so I knew David," Alexander said. "Those players went on to play 300, 400, 500 Premier League games. It just shows the level they were at."
With ongoing debates surrounding the FA Cup calendar and the controversial scrapping of replays from the first round proper, Alexander is adamant that the competition’s traditional format remains vital for EFL and non-league clubs alike.
"I don't think it's lost its magic," he said. "If you can go away or get a big side at home and get a result, you deserve that opportunity to go and play in front of a big crowd like we did at Goodison Park.
Exeter city defender Jon Gittens (left) beats Francis Jeffers of Everton to the ball during Tuesday 21st Decembr 1999, AXA FA Cup 3rd Round Replay at Goodison Park. PA Photo : Ohil Noble *EDI*
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"It generates money for the club. If you’re used to playing in front of smaller crowds in the lower leagues and you get to pack out a massive stadium, even if you get beat, it's still worthwhile because of the gate split. Replays should be kept. Squads are big enough now, and professional footballers should be able to cope with that demand."
Looking to the Grecians' current cup campaign, Alexander acknowledges that a tricky away trip to Huddersfield Town - who top of League One is the toughest possible draw that City coukd have been handed - but said that knockout football always levels the playing field.
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"The draw probably could have been kinder to a club like Exeter, but Huddersfield will look at the tie and think it’s winnable, especially as Exeter's away form isn't great," Alexander admitted. "But it’s on the day, i’s cup football.
"If Huddersfield underestimate Exeter City, City are more than capable of going to get the result. If Huddersfield drop their standards, Exeter have a real chance."