FA Cup fever is enveloping St. Andrew's and one man hoping to get a taste is Darren Carter. The 20-year-old is a dyed-in-the-wool Birmingham City fan and he is looking forward to next week's fifth round clash against Sunderland, which could propel the Midlanders into their first quarter final for 20 years. It would be a double reason to celebrate for Carter who only last month put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at the club until 2007. Carter will always be remembered for scoring the penalty that took Birmingham back into the Premiership after 16 years when he successfully scored past Norwich keeper Robert Green in the play-off final. Nevertheless, despite that great day, the England Under-20 international believes it is time to move on and, as he explained to Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson, he's got half an eye on a return to Cardiff!
Q:YOU HAVE SOME GREAT MEMORIES OF THE MILLENNIUM STADIUM DON'T YOU?
A:It was a fantastic day against Norwich and it is really nice when people come up to me and talk about it. However, I hope it is just one of many memories I have when I finish playing football as I would love people to say to me now 'you are playing well in the Premiership on a regular basis'. I would also like to kick on and be involved with the England Under-21 set up.
Q:IS IT DIFFICULT PLAYING FOR THE CLUB YOU HAVE SUPPORTED FERVENTLY ALL YOUR LIFE?
A:When you support a team you always want them to do really well and when you actually get to pull the shirt on it is fantastic. I know a lot of the fans and they are always asking me how I am getting on, whether or not I am playing. Then I have also got my mates from school, who I still try to keep in touch with, but you are away from home a lot with football and it can be hard.
Q:HAVE YOU TRIED TO CHANGE ANYTHING NOW THAT YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER?
A:I always try to keep my personal life separate from professional life. It is a question of finding the balance between your career and personal life and I think I have finally managed to do that.
Q:GOING BACK TO THE MILLENNIUM STADIUM, HOW GOOD WOULD IT BE TO GO BACK THERE IN 2004?
A:It would be fantastic as it is a while since this club had a good cup run. The FA Cup is more special that the Carling Cup and it would be great to beat Sunderland and get into the quarter finals. There will be another three Premiership teams being knocked out in the fifth round so we are in with a shout.
Q:THE TEAM REACHED THE FINAL OF THE WORTHINGTON CUP IN 2001 - DID YOU GO AND WATCH THE GAME?
A:I went to the Millennium Stadium as a fan to watch the game against Liverpool and it was heartbreaking to lose on penalties. I am really good friends with Andrew Johnson and what happened that day was completely awful for everyone, none more so than him. He has got over it and is now doing well at Crystal Palace though. It has been consigned to the history books because we put it to bed by beating Norwich in the play-off final the following year.
Q:YOUR CONTRACT TALKS SEEMED TO TAKE FOR EVER - ARE YOU GLAD TO HAVE FINALLY PUT PEN TO PAPER?
A:We needed to get it right and it was unfortunate that it took so long, but it is all behind me now and I want to concentrate on playing for the first team regularly. People like David Dunn and Robbie Savage are great players and you don't spend £5m on them if they are not. All you can do is learn from them and that is exactly what I plan to do.
