"When I was a young lad and you were asked the question, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?', the reply was, 'To be a footballer and win the FA Cup.
"If you ask young kids that question nowadays the answer would be a lot different, but things have moved on. The Premier League is so important to so many clubs because of the financial rewards, while it's a disaster if you go out of it. It's sad teams look at the Cup and say, 'We need to be in the Premier League first and foremost, and if we do get knocked out then it's not the end of the world'.
"That's understandable, but it also means the significance of the FA Cup has somewhat diminished, which is a shame. It was very instrumental in my development as a player. It has always played a big part in my career, shaped it in many ways, so I've great affection for it. Although it's fantastic winning titles, and it's a great ask, you are also judged on having a one-off day where you get to walk up some steps and lift a cup above your head. That's very special, and I've been very fortunate in that respect.
"It's still a fantastic competition, one that's known worldwide. I think we should protect it and respect it. You should always do that with a competition of the standing the FA Cup has.
"If you are a younger player just starting out, or an older player coming to the end of your career, the FA Cup is always special in the football calendar - particularly third-round day."