HE made 675 appearances for Sheffield United and is a legend at Bramall Lane.

And Oxford United goalkeeper coach Alan Hodgkinson MBE, admits he cannot wait to go back to his roots tomorrow when his current team takes on his hometown club in the first round of the FA Cup.

Hodgkinson is an incredible man – and at 75 still maintains the same enthusiasm for the game as he did all those years ago when winning five England caps between 1957–1960.

Hetakes everywarm-upwith Oxford’s goalkeeper, and is on the U’s training pitch every day come rain or shine.

It has been more than 30 years since Hodgkinson has been back to the club that gave him his big break in football, and he simply cannot wait.

“It’s going to beanemotionaldayforme,but a very exciting one,” he explained.

“I am really looking forward to the game andto go back to Sheffield United with Oxford United is a great thing for me.”

With Oxford manager Chris Wilder also returning to his hometown team, the draw is a great one for both men.

Hodgkinson recalled that he had a sneaky feeling that the clubs would be pulled out of the hat against each otherwhenthe draw was taking place.

“I was watching the draw on my television and I kept thinking ‘Sheffield United have not come out yet and Oxford United have not come out’,” he explained.

“When I saw Sheffield were drawn, there were only a few teams left and I said to myself ‘this is going to be Oxford, I know it’ “And it was. It was a great draw and I was so happy.”

And immediately Hodgkinson’s mobile was red-hot.

“My phone, oh my goodness,” he said.

“I have so many friends in Sheffield, my family live up there –mybrothers andmysisters.

“It must be 30 years ago that I was last there so it will be a great occasion for me.”

Hodgkinson says that he is expecting to get a great reaction from the home supporters tomorrow, but says that it will only be the older ones who actually know who they are applauding.

“As normal, I will be doing the warm-up with the goalkeepers and obviously I think I will get plenty of support from the Sheffield fans,” he said.

“Today, though, it’s the fathers that saw me play and they will remember me.

“Whenever I go back to Sheffield people remember me which is very nice – I just can’t wait togobackthereandamproudtobedoing that with Oxford United.