CUP KING COLE AIMS FOR NO.5.Byline: JOHN CROSS ASHLEY COLE Ashley Cole (born 20 December 1980, Stepney, London) is an English footballer of Barbadian descent. Cole plays left back for Chelsea and for the England national team, a position from which he often uses his strong pace to try and support the forward players. has set his sights on making FA Cup history at Wembley today. The Chelsea left-back can become the first player in the modern era to win the famous old trophy five times. It is a remarkable achievement as Cole is just 28 years old, but he admits to having a special love affair with the Cup. Cole (below), who won it three times with former club Arsenal, said: "I've got the chance to make history and that means such a lot to me. The FA Cup will always be special. "This is my sixth final. I've won four and lost to Liverpool. I've had so many great occasions in the final. "The build-up and the atmosphere is always brilliant, and being English it's one of the best trophies you can win. "It would be great to get a fifth winners medal but I'm only 28 and hopefully there will be many more. Six, seven, why not? "Every footballer wants to win medals and to hold the record would be a proud moment for me. "But I'm not taking anything for granted because we know Everton will give us a very tough game." Cole's only FA Cup Final defeat came in 2001, but since then Cole has lifted the trophy four times to join an elite band including Mark Hughes This article is about the Welsh footballer. For other people with the same name, see Mark Hughes (disambiguation). Leslie Mark Hughes OBE (born November 1, 1963 in Ruabon, Wrexham, Wales), nicknamed Sparky , David Seaman For the DJ, see . David Andrew Seaman MBE (born 19 September 1963 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire) is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal and most recently with Manchester City. , Ray Parlour Raymond "Ray" Parlour (born March 7, 1973 in Romford, London Borough of Havering, England) is a former England international footballer. Currently without a club after leaving Hull City, he previously played for Arsenal and Middlesbrough. , Roy Keane Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August, 1971 in Mayfield, Cork City, Ireland) is an Irish former professional footballer and the current manager of English Premier League club Sunderland. and Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE[2] (born Ryan Joseph Wilson on 29 November 1973 in Cardiff) is a Welsh footballer, currently playing for Manchester United in the English Premiership, and formerly for the Welsh national team prior to his retirement from international . The Cup has often been relegated down the priority list by managers trying to balance the demands of the modern game, but Cole insists that the foreign players at Arsenal and at Chelsea still regard it with as much love as ever. "The players here understand how special it is," added Cole. "When we beat Manchester United two years ago, Didier Drogba was very happy. "The lads appreciate it a lot, because they've got the likes of JT, Lamps and Joey Cole showing how much it means to them. Everyone understands it, and so does the manager." Cole's best FA Cup Final moment was in 2005 when he scored in the penalty shoot-out to help Arsenal beat Manchester United. He said: "It was a decent strike, although if the keeper had gone the right way he probably would have saved it. I was so happy. It was in front of the United fans as well, so that was pretty scary because they were giving me a lot of stick. I was happy to put that one away. It was a great day. That game meant such a lot." Cole is enjoying the best form of his Chelsea career but says it is the first time he has felt fully fit since he arrived at Stamford Bridge. He added: "I came here with an ankle injury and I couldn't play my best. "Now I feel fit, I've trained hard to get to this position, and when you're fit and enjoying football you play with more confidence. "I enjoy the big games, the battles - it motivates me. I have a good record in the final and hope to carry it on."FIVE TIME WINNERS Charles Wollaston (The Wanderers 1872, 73, 76, 77, 78) Arthur Kinnaird (The Wanderers 1873, 77, 78 & Old Etonians 1879, 82) Jimmy Forrest (Blackburn Rovers 1884, 85, 86, 90,91) FOUR TIME WINNERS Joe Lofthouse (Blackburn Rovers 1884, 85, 90,91) Mark Hughes, David Seaman, Ray Parlour, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs Ashley Cole |
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