All together now - as destiny beckons; I just want to thank our magnificent fans for all they do for us - Neville.

Byline: King Dominic

TODAYa Blue army will mobilise.

From the moment David Moyes and his players meet at Finch Farm, it will be all systems go as Everton train their sights on a sixth FA Cup.

Though the beaks in the corridors of power at the FA felt compelled to only give Everton and Chelsea supporters a preposterous 25,109 tickets each for English football's showpiece game, many more Toffees are expected to travel south.

Trains will also pull out of Lime Street with no seats available, while coaches and cars will head to the M62 packed with supporters dreaming the club's 14-year wait for silverware is about to end.

The lucky ones are guaranteed entry to Wembley but many more Evertonians are sure to travel, simply to be there and soak up an atmosphere which - if the semi-final is anything to go by - should make hairs on the back of the neck stand up.

Ever since victory over Manchester United was achieved in dramatic circumstances, all talk has been centred on Everton's Big Day Out and now the wait is almost over; a mass exodus from the city is guaranteed to see if Phil Neville is presented with the trophy.

Neville has been to four FA Cup finals but none have captured his imagination as much as the build up to this one, mainly due to the passion that supporters have shown and he is aching to give the thousands who follow Everton home and away their just rewards.

"I just want to thank our supporters for everything they have done this season," he said. "They've picked us up when we've needed it, kicked us up the backside when we've needed it and always wor n their hearts on their sleeves.

"It makes me proud as captain to see them filling other people's stadiums with our fans. It's then that it hits home that you're playing for a big club with supporters who really care. Let's hope on Saturday we can repay the fans and give them all a nice present." But it's not only the captain who is of that mindset; Moyes - still bitterly unhappy about the allocation figure that was conjured up at Soho Square - knows that opportunity knocks for him to cement his name alongside managerial giants Catterick and Kendall.

"I think it's hard to play a semi-final where you get 30,000 of your supporters there but then a final where there are only 25,000," said Moyes. "I can't see how that works. The idea of getting to a final is to get your supporters there.

"Yet we're taking less so the whole thing is not correct. They (The FA) want you to bring all your money and people to the semi-final but come the final they don't. I don't think that's right.

"We will go there as underdogs. Does it suit us? I think it does. I think we go in with the knowledge that the pressure will be on Chelsea to perform and show the side they are and we go into the game with the attitude to show we are capable of playing at this stage." Already idolised for the way he has dragged a club that was nearly on its knees back into the upper echelons of the Premier League -where Everton rightfully belong - winning the FA Cup would take him on to a new level all together..

For too long supporters have watched others enjoy moments in the spotlight, puzzled and perplexed that a club which possesses the kind of honours list that is envied by many throughout the country kept tripping up.

Since Joe Royle let loose the Dogs of War in 1995, nearly every team in the Premier League or Championship - a few in League One - has experienced a game at Wembley or the Millennium Stadium, be it in the FA Cup, Carling Cup or play-offs.

That's why the emotions after United were beaten on penalties last month were so raw, why it felt like a final travelling down; all you could see were vehicles with Blue scarves, flags and banners and it is sure to be the same again.

Unfortunately, some will have to stay behind but those who remain have been urged by one well known website to paint Liverpool Blue -advice that's clearly been heeded.

It is impossible to walk down a street without seeing a flag confirming Everton will be playing at Wembley this weekend - even the window of a city centre bar, owned by a certain Liverpool defender, had one pinned up earlier in the week.

Should Everton win, those flags will flutter all summer and if the atmosphere around a training ground is anything to go by, Neville may well be the captain who goes up the steps to get the Cup.

Every squad member knows their job inside out, all are playing with maximum confidence but, if that is not enough to set minds at rest, Everton are staying at their lucky hotel once more.

The luxurious Grove in Hertfordshire was the place they called home before beating Tottenham in the league last November - a win that seemed to spark a revival after an erratic start to the season - as it was before the semi-final.

Of course, fate won't have anything to do with how Everton ultimately fare but the backing they will receive from the stands is sure to play its part; passion and ambition is this particular army's weapon of choice - and it might just help them win the battle..

FAN-TASTIC: Chairman Bill Kenwright hopes for another day of pride and glory

CAPTION(S):

ALL FOR ONE: The players and the fans (inset above) celebrate after beating Manchester United on penalties in the semi-final at Wembley