Kane Smith has spoken of his excitement at being able to play against Everton and explained how his love for the club first came about.
Smith’s Boreham Wood side shocked Championship Bournemouth 1-0 in the fourth round to book a last-16 clash with the Blues at Goodison Park tonight.
The victory at the Vitality Stadium carried an extra special meaning for lifelong Evertonian Smith, who knew before the tie that a win for his side would set up a clash against the Blues.
Smith celebrated his side’s victory by swiftly changing into an Everton shirt with his idol Tony Hibbert’s name on the back.
The pictures and videos of Smith’s celebrations went viral across social media and helped the full-back meet his idol online a couple of days later.
And speaking ahead of tonight's game at Goodison Park, Smith believes the messages he has received from Blues supporters prove why Everton are the 'best club in the world'.
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“The thought of playing at Goodison is one thing…and now I’m getting tweets from Everton fans telling me I’m going to get a great reception,” he told the Everton matchday programme for tonight’s game.
“Things like this don’t happen to people like me! It’s amazing. It shows you why Everton, for me, are the best club in the world. It is The People’s club.
“You support this football club and for every fan, their first dream is to play for Everton. I always wished that would happen one day, but to go out to play at Goodison against the club you love in a big game is the next best thing.”
Before Smith continued on his Hibbert inspired celebrations: “When we got Everton in the draw on Sunday morning, I just knew I had to take a shirt to the game against Bournemouth. I had a feeling we were going to win.
“I got a few Everton shirts but the Tony Hibbert one stands out for me. When we were celebrating, I thought, ‘I need to get my Everton shirt!’ and I ran back into the changing room and stuck it on.
“Playing as a right-back, I always wanted to be someone like Tony Hibbert. I watched him every week and he is an Everton hero! I always wanted to get one of his shirts and when I first saved up a bit of pocket money, I went and got myself that one!
“Hibbo gave everything. He was Everton through and through. He is like one of the fans. You knew you were always going to get 100 per cent from him. I loved that video of him doing the skills, too!”
Despite being Luton-born, Smith has also opened up on how his father was the person behind him falling in love with Everton.
He said: “I think the stars were aligned with the draw. It will be a great occasion, not just for me, personally, but for the team and club as well.
“When we got back on the coach after the game on Sunday, I put on Z-Cars straight away. I had to! I’m hoping that my whole family will be able to go. They will definitely be coming in their numbers.
“We’re from Luton but my dad has always loved Everton, and I followed him. It’s hard for me to get to games at Goodison on a Saturday as I’m playing, but I’ll always try to go if it’s a midweek game or on a Sunday.”
To read more, purchase tonight's official matchday programme here: https://reachsportshop.com/matchday_programme/everton-v-boreham-wood-fa-cup-02-03-2022/
