The FA Cup holds a special place in David Unsworth's heart, having won it with Everton.

Unsworth was just 21 when he helped the Toffees to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in 1995, capping a remarkable cup run in which they had conceded just one goal - a Jurgen Klinsmann penalty in the semi-final - on the road to Wembley.

"It was the absolute best day of my life. It was an amazing day for me and my family and my team-mates," smiled Unsworth, for whom tomorrow promises to be another landmark occasion in the competition as Latics host Chester in the fourth qualifying round.

"The FA Cup means everything to me, it's a competition I've had the absolute pleasure of winning. It's very special to me, and this is the first time I've ever been a manager in it, so I'm looking forward to it."

While winning the competition anytime soon might not be in the wildest dreams of even the most loyal Latic, Unsworth believes the next best thing for them right now is reaching the third round.

"For me the aim is to get into the third round and get a big coup and have a big payday at Boundary Park," he said.

"That's what I'm looking for, to get every game at home and get into the third round where the big boys come in.

"That's the aim, because every pound's a prisoner, and it would be great if we could earn some money from the competition."

Latics famously took Everton to a fifth round replay in February 2013, and in 2019 they won the FA Cup Giant-Killing Award thanks to their third round win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

In the 2020/21 season they earned a third round tie at Bournemouth after beating Hampton and Richmond and Bradford City in the earlier rounds.

Having to earn their place in the first round proper, Unsworth recognises that reaching the third round again would be an even bigger achievement now.

"Absolutely, and when the game's at Boundary Park you just never know," he said.

"That would be a great experience, and I want the players to experience as well.

"I've been really lucky in my career I've had great cup runs, got to the final once and won it. I want the players to experience playing against one of the big boys, I think it would be a brilliant occasion for them."

But Unsworth warned there would be no room for complacency against National League North opponents Chester tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

"We are a big club but there are other big clubs in our league. And we've got no divine right to win anything unless every area at the football club's right.

"I think we've got it right at the top, we've been brought in, we're putting things right off the football pitch every single day, the intensity of training is as good as a Premier League team, it just requires us now to start winning.

"We're going to pick our best team, we're going to respect Chester and do all our homework as we would normally do and we will try to win the game as professionally as we can, so no change.

"We want to get the win, get into the next round and then concentrate on the league next week which will be brilliant. There's a batch of games now that we're really looking forward to."