Mike Carruthers and David Brown from the London Branch were able to catch up with Rory Delap to ask his views about life and football ahead of our Wembley day out and they found out what a lovely down to earth and interesting guy he turned out to be.
We have to ask, what about the throw-ins, they've become legendary, what's the secret and do you practice them?
I just seemed to have the technique. I first realised playing for the Carlisle youth team against Liverpool. I took a throw in and was able to fire it into the penalty area to watch it headed into the net. We won 3-2 and I have tried to use my throw-ins that way ever since. Mind you it's no good without someone getting on the end of it and I am lucky at Stoke that I have the people that can make use of it.
Why do you think that no one has been able to develop the same technique? There are quite a few boys out there trying. It helps that at Stoke we are quite a big team. It also helps that we practise set pieces so hard at training.
You've had a great career and since leaving have played over 100 league games at each of Derby, Southampton and your current club Stoke. You've also been capped for the Republic of Ireland. What have been the highlights for you?
The second Wembley final for Carlisle in 1997 was up there. Not that many players get to play at Wembley and walking on the pitch to play is every players' dream since a boy. The win really made it for me - no game is enjoyable when you don't win but to play at Wembley and win is wonderful.
Tell us about some of the players you've played with and against, who are the best you've played with and against and why.
Roy Keane - I have played with him for Ireland and against him in the Premiership and he is so hard to play against and a real inspiration to play with. Patrick Vieira was also a tough opponent and players like Steve Gerrard and Paul Scholes are top, top players and its a honour to play against them.
As for playing with players, Stefano Eranio taught me a lot at Derby. He was so composed on the ball and could take a pass in any situation. He had the best touch and vision I have ever seen. He grew up at AC Milan so you wouldn't expect anything different.
How are you enjoying life at Stoke, there seems to be a great team spirit there at the moment?
It's great. I am really enjoying my time at Stoke. It didn't start well with a leg break. The odd little bad run here and there but since then it has been improving every season. Any team that gets promotion to the Premier League has to look at staying in the league and the aim is to stay for two, three, four seasons until it becomes possible to break into the top eight.
Anyone from ten-twelve clubs can do down and getting relegated can ruin a club financially. This fear is never going to make it cosy for any team. It's been nailed into us at the club that you can have a bad game but you still have to work hard.
Any particular regrets in your career?
There is no point in looking back on regrets - there are times that you may think you made a bad decision. At the time it seems there are highs and lows but I have never been at a club that I wanted to leave.
I was happy at Carlisle but I was persuaded by other people to move on and at Derby the club were struggling financially and needed me to move. I've got no regrets - none that would have you crying in your dinner.
Carlisle are preparing to face one of your old clubs Southampton at Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final. How was your time at Southampton and what were the highs and lows?
I was at Southampton for just under five years. There were four great years there - thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The season we got to Wembley and finished seventh in the league we had a great run, we were beating everyone at the time. Getting to the cup final and not playing down to injury was a real low.
Then the club went quickly downhill financially and on the playing side and were relegated. It was hard to take. You play to win every game and to finish the team in the bottom three - they say the table doesn't lie and that year we were one of the worst teams and it hurt.
At the 1997 final what was going through your mind when we were 3-1 down in the shoot out, did you think it was all over?
I knew Tony Caig would save at least one penalty but at that point we all thought that it was really. It some ways that made the day even more special. The high of playing at Wembley and then believing it was all over and then the high of winning. It makes it so brilliant.
What about the Question of Sport moment, do you recall that?
Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean (Breaking the corner flag and then a huge delay while they found another one). Chuckle - that's typically me - taking a swing at the ball and breaking the corner flag instead. I don't really know why the ref couldn't let it go on - there aren't too many times when it hits the flag.
If you were to give one bit of advice to the Carlisle players preparing for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final what would it be?
Win it and enjoy it. If you don't win it's not an enjoyable day. It's a great day and a day to be enjoyed but the only way to really enjoy it is to come back with the trophy.
You played with some good players in that era at Carlisle including Stephane Pounewatchy, Owen Archdeacon, Rod Thomas, Steve Hayward, Dean Walling, Matt Jansen and Warren Aspinall. Tell us a bit about those players and your time at Carlisle.
Matt Jansen - a class above even as a young lad. There was talk of every club under the sun signing him. It was so unfortunate his accident. Everyone feels for him. We had such a great team at that stage - Will Varty, Richard Prokas, Tony Hopper, Caigy, as you say Steve Hayward, Warren Aspinall.
There was a great mix and, similar to Stoke, a great team spirit but the difference was we had all grown up together. There were nine-ten home grown lads in the squad. We had known each other since we were ten and had grown up together. We were all friends and used to socialise together and that was one of the key reasons that we have all played so many league games between us.
Tony is still one of my best friends and Jamie Robinson - he is is with the PFA now. I saw lots of the guys at Dean's (Walling) 40th birthday party - Rod Thomas, Lee Peacock - it was as though we had never been away from each other. He still looks 21 - it must be those Jamaican genes.
You said about the nine-ten ex-youth players that were in the 1997 squad and the great spirit that engendered. Carlisle beat Manchester United's youth team two-three years ago and now Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck etc are playing in the Premier League while Gary Madine is the only one we have brought through and he seems to be going backwards - why do you think that is?
It seems the same at a lot of the clubs. I don't know really - maybe getting too much too early before they made it and spoilt. They don't have to do jobs. Maybe the hunger has gone. I am sure the talent is still out. We were cleaning the terraces, forking the pitch, cleaning up after the games.
It was crappy work at the time but it built great team spirit and we always had a laugh. We were also thrown into the first team at 18 because there wasn't the money to buy players so we had to play. Now clubs buy players.
I think that clubs also find it hard to put young players into difficult games that matter. The clubs can't take the risk anymore. It is not as easy to give the young lads a chance. It's only the last few games when you can't get to the play offs and can't get relegated that the young lads get the chance.
The season after winning the Auto Windscreens Shield and gaining promotion Mervyn Day was sacked just a few games into the season, did that come as a shock to the players at the time?
There were obviously rumours but no-one knew for sure. I've met Mervyn a few times since and he has never said anything about it. Halpie and Wilkie (John Halpin and David Wilkes) were very popular with the lads but all the rumours were that the chairman (Michael Knighton) was picking the team. We all felt the club was taking the piss - the dressing room starting to fall apart.
You were reported to have said that you'd like to finish your career at Carlisle, is that something you'd still like to do?
I said that when I left Carlisle. I would love to, maybe not yet. I hope that I have a few years left in the Premier League with Stoke. When the legs start to go I would love to play at Carlisle depending what division they are in and whether my legs will be able to take it. I said when I left that I would love to come back and that hasn't changed.
The crunch question. Will you be watching on the 28th and who will you be supporting.
I'm definitely going - I am playing at West Ham the day before so it is no problem for me. I will be going with Tony Hopper and a few of the lads will be there. We will be supporting Carlisle - it's my home town team. I'm not sure yet if my boys want to come and I might have to go back for them.
You would be very welcome at the CSC. Will you be able to come? The only bar in London at 9am and a decent breakfast. Tony, other friends and your family would be very welcome.
No promises but you never know. I will have to decide nearer the time. It will depend on my wee lads.
Finally, any message for Carlisle United fans?
Just thanks for everything - the support I was given at Carlisle was fantastic especially when I came into the team. Enjoy your day at Wembley.
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