Franco Nacca made his first start of the season at Lancaster last weekend and he was involved in key incidents at both ends of the pitch during the FA Cup first round tie.
The midfielder was 22 on Sunday (9th November, 2003) so a return to the starting line-up was a welcome early birthday present, and he admits, "It feels great to be back in the starting line-up. Obviously I would have liked to have got in the side a little bit earlier but as things went I was just happy to be in the starting line-up on Saturday. I enjoyed it and it all went OK."
In an eventful appearance, Franco came within a whisker of scoring United's opening goal but was then adjudged to have brought down Lancaster's Ryan Elderton in the area and the non-league side equalised from the spot.
Asked about the two incidents, he smiles, "For our first goal I managed to get onto a flick-on from I think it was Kits, the keeper made a good save and the ball just fell on the line, and Kits managed to put it away.
"Then for the second goal, which was their penalty, I was unfortunate enough to be involved but I never touched him - he just fell. He dived!" he adds indignantly.
A versatile and skilful player, Nacca came through the youth ranks primarily as a right-sided defender, broke into the first team last season in the centre of midfield, and his role on Saturday was on the right of midfield.
He made the most of the opportunity to get forward to support the attack in an impressive return to the side, but says lack of match fitness caught up with him in the second half: "I was feeling it more as the game wore on but it's a position I've played before in the reserves and in training so it wasn't too complicated.
"I'm happy to be playing anywhere at the moment - it's always great to be involved in the first team."
Of his time on the sidelines this season, Franco admits, "At times it has been very frustrating, especially to be nearly there and then something happens, like a few months ago when I picked up an ankle injury just as I was starting to press a claim.
"Things like that really frustrate you when you're just about to get your chance but you've just got to keep going and trying and hopefully you'll get somewhere, like I did on Saturday."
A major talking point for several weeks has been the huge difference in United's excellent away form compared to a home record of only one win - against Macclesfield in August - but the personable youngster shrugs when asked about it.
"I don't think there is a theory about it, it's just one of those things," he says. "I think it's going to be sooner rather than later that we get a home win and hopefully on Saturday we can break that curse, as people like to call it. But I don't think there's any special reason for it, I think it's just something that's happened."
After a couple of injury-hit seasons John Taylor and Dale Brooks showed their faith in Franco by offering him a new deal and last season he rewarded that faith by establishing himself as a regular in the first team squad. He recorded 27 senior appearances in his first full season and agreed a new two year contract in March.
He is disappointed at not be able to feature more often this season, but having recovered from a recent ankle problem he is intent on building upon last weekend's starting appearance: "My ambition for this season was to start claiming a first team place at the start of the season," he says.
"Obviously that hasn't happened for whatever reason, and by picking up an injury or two, but I'm in there now and hopefully I can stay in there."
Asked what he does in his spare time, he grins, "I just tend to go home and relax. I sometimes wander into town with a few of the lads but basically I like to chill out and not do anything too vigorous."
Like several of the U's players, Franco grew up supporting Tottenham Hotspur and he still watches their results with interest. "That's the team I've supported since I was young and we've got a few players here that are Spurs fans," he reveals.
"They've done all right this season and hopefully they can improve a little bit. They were unlucky against Arsenal on Saturday and I think David Pleat has done well enough at the moment that they might give him the job; I don't really see anyone else who can take over and do as well as he has."
Asked about manager John Taylor in the week he enjoyed his testimonial game against Leeds United, he responds immediately, "He's been brilliant, not just with me but with all the young lads here.
"When I came to the club the Gaffer was reserve team manager, so he's been with me and the other lads all the way through and he's helped us progress. People call him John Taylor 'The Legend' and I think that sums up what he is at this club."
Paul Wanless returned on Tuesday night (11th November, 2003) to take part in the manager's testimonial match and Franco was not surprised to see the former skipper get a warm welcome back from the home supporters, although he thinks it might be a little different today.
"For as long as I've been here I think he's given everything for the club and I think the crowd acknowledge that," he says of Wanless. "I don't know about Saturday though!"
We will soon find out!
"The Quick Fire Round"
If you were on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and had to phone a friend, which teammate would you choose?
If I can't choose Ant the physio, it would probably be Wozza.
Favourite holiday destination, and describe why in one word.
Venezuela. Birthplace.
If you weren't a footballer, what would your job be now?
Something either in sports or aeroplanes. When I left school I wanted to study aeronautical engineering because I was interested in planes, so something like that or physiotherapy.
Who do you go to for financial advice?
Mum and Dad.
What will you be doing in ten years' time?
Hopefully still in the game.
Who is your best mate in the squad?
It's quite a close-knit team but, as I said before, Daniel Chillingworth, Adam Tann, Alex Revell and David Bridges are the ones I've progressed through the youth team with so we've always had a close friendship.
Franco with David BridgesWho has the best dress sense in the squad?
Luke and Aggy (Alex Revell) are quite trendy, and Wozza pulls off some good stuff now and then but sometimes he doesn't!
And who has the worst?
Probably Kits. Some of his shoes are awful!
In a film of your life story who would you want to play you and why?
Tom Hanks, because I think he's the best actor around at the moment.
Porsche or Ferrari?
Ferrari.
Indian or Chinese?
Chinese.
Beer or lager?
Lager.
Boxers or briefs?
Boxers.
If you were given tickets for a gig, who would you want to see and why?
Michael Jackson, because he's a legend of my era.
Three words your teammates might use to describe you?
Under. The. Thumb!
*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the match against Oxford on 15th November, 2003.
You can hear the full interview with Franco on our U's World multimedia website. Click here for details about U's World.
Previous Featured Players this season:
18Dec03: Shane Tudor
11Dec03: Andy Duncan
04Dec03: Stevland Angus
28Nov03: John Turner
21Nov03: Luke Guttridge
29Oct03: Stuart Bimson
21Sep03: Warren Goodhind
21Aug03: Dave Kitson
13Aug03: Justin Walker
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