FOR 71,000 people inside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, the focus was all about their team winning one of the most exciting FA Cup finals to date

But for one man, the crucial moment came between the halves, when the pitch was at its least frenzied.

Northwich Victoria's Paul Brayson won the right to attend the showpiece of English football by scoring two hat tricks in the early rounds of the competition and secured the coveted Player of the Round award twice - a new FA Cup record.

On Saturday he collected his prizes from Prince William, the president of the FA, in front of a raucous crowd of Liverpool and West Ham fans.

Brayson, a boyhood Newcastle fan, received his award in the centre circle, while Liverpool fans belted out the famous anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and while he was delighted to take part in the event, admitted he would rather have done so in front of Magpies supporters.

He said: "I had a fantastic day and the FA treated us all like celebrities.

"Prince William had a quick word with me as he handed over the salver and told me he had heard that I was the first player to win the Player of Round twice and that he was impressed, which was nice to hear.

"And to be part of such a good final was the icing on the cake."

He added: "Being out in front of 71,000 people to get my award comes a very close second to making my debut for Newcastle.

"The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Newcastle were actually playing. That would have been perfect."

It all began for Brayson back in October when Vics travelled to Frickley Athletic in the second qualifying round of the world's most famous domestic knock out competition.

Cue the hit man's first hat trick of the tournament as Northwich cruised to a 4-1 win.

And he was on the score sheet again in the third and fourth qualifying rounds as Vics beat North Ferriby United 1-0 and Barrow 4-1.

But his finest hour came in the first round proper when Northwich travelled to Morecambe.

The Trickies outplayed their Lancastrian opponents and Brayson secured the Player of the Round award for a second time with another hat trick, powering Northwich to a 3-1 victory.

Brayson's 10th FA Cup goal of the season was also his last, as Northwich beat Woking 2-1 in a second round replay.

The excellent run came to an end at Sunderland when Vics lost 3-0, but they had already found a place in FA Cup history thanks to the exploits of their lethal frontman.

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