This weekend, the oldest national competition in football gets underway, as Port Vale host Stevenage in the FA Cup First Round.
It will be only the sixth time that Vale will come up against Boro in a competitive competition, as they look to progress to the next round.
The cup provides magical opportunities and can make dreams come true for any player from any team.
One man who know this better than most, is Port Vale Assistant Manager Michael Brown, who has two semi-finals and one final appearance to his name.
Michael reached the semi’s with Sheffield United, but was defeated by Arsenal 1-0 and he also reached the final with Portsmouth, after defeating Tottenham in the semi-final.
When asked about his memories of the competition, Brown spoke about these games and said he will never forget those appearances.
He said: “It’s amazing, as the rounds hot up and you get to the quarter finals and you get the chance to get to the semis where it hot’s up.
“We went to Old Trafford and played Arsenal and were very unlucky, being a Championship side to lose to arsenal and then with Portsmouth we went to Wembley.
“No one gave us a chance to win and we were maybe going to be closed down as a football club and we beat Tottenham and it was a an amazing occasion running to the fans winning in extra time.
“I’ll never forget it and then the chance to walk out at Wembley in the final is a day you will always remember and you’ll never forget.”
A lot of players in the Vale side will be making their very first appearance in the FA Cup, with players who have come from abroad and those youngsters signed in the summer.
Michael believes it is a fantastic opportunity for the players to play in the competition when Stevenage travel to Vale Park.
“It’s a fantastic competition, the boys have got to realise that and some of them who haven’t played in it before and the young ads who have watched it on the tele over the years and maybe it’ll be their first taste of it.
“Also some of the boys who have come to this country will be wondering what it’s all about and it’s a fantastic cup and hopefully we can progress to round two.”