Scots on their way to Wembley

Former SPL players hoping to impress burley AS they live the dream with cardiff in FA cup final

By Paul Third

Published:

Three Scots will be representing Welsh pride in English football’s showpiece game tomorrow when Cardiff face Portsmouth in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Former Aberdeen defender Kevin McNaughton, Aberdonian Gavin Rae and former Dundee United and Rangers forward Steven Thompson will be part of the Bluebirds’ squad aiming to upset Premiership Portsmouth.

For McNaughton, tomorrow will be his first cup final appearance and he intends on making the most of his opportunity against Harry Redknapp’s team.

He said: “It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks with the interest in the team but the last two years in Cardiff have been great.

“We fell away in the race for a play-off place but the cup run has helped and it’s been fantastic to be involved in.

“We’re not going to Wembley to make up the numbers, we are going there to win. We showed against Middlesbrough in the quarter-finals we can play a bit if given the space and we are capable of creating chances.”

Since leaving Pittodrie two years ago, McNaughton’s career has flourished in the Championship. His time in England has brought him back into the international frame.

Injury has kept him out of a playing return but, having been included in the squad for the friendly in the Czech Republic at the end of the month, he wants to give new national coach George Burley a timely reminder of his qualities tomorrow.

He said: “I moved to English football as I had played six seasons in Scotland with Aberdeen and wanted a change. At Aberdeen the top six was the aim, but there is more to play for in England with the play-offs keeping your season alive even if automatic promotion is outwith your reach.

“Getting back into the Scotland squad was also a factor and it’s great to be in George Burley’s squad for the Czech Republic game.

“I thought if I did well here I would get a chance and if myself, Gavin and Steve do the business at Wembley on the biggest stage of them all then it won’t do our chances any harm at all.”

For Aberdonian Rae, his first season in English football has given him everything he could want after a miserable time at Rangers.

His move from Ibrox has brought regular football once more and he would love to cap his first season with Cardiff with a cup winners’ medal tomorrow.

He said: “I’ve played more than double the games this season than I did in my three-and-a-half years at Ibrox and to finish with an FA Cup final is a major bonus.

“I went to Rangers to win things but I left with no winners’ medals. I missed the whole season when we won the SPL and League Cup and it was devastating. I was very disappointed with how my time at Ibrox went, but this season has made up for it. Having a couple of Scots at the club helped me settle quickly and my foot is back in the door at international level. This move has worked out in every way for me.”

Former Dundee United and Rangers forward Thompson knows he is living the childhood dream of every English football supporter this weekend.

He said: “The FA Cup is massive and we all watched the final as kids growing up. The supporters at the club have gone into overdrive.

“It has been mayhem with so many people asking for tickets. I managed to get 20 for the game and I have a lot of family and friends coming from Scotland for the game, but some of the lads here have got 60, 70 or 80 tickets. The demand has been unbelievable.”