MARK Patterson is in for a novel experience.

The midfielder has tasted the highs of football, not least when he captained the Bolton Wanderers side to the biggest giant-killing act of their history - stunning the city of Liverpool by winning 2-0 at Anfield in the third round of the 1993 cup competition.

It will, therefore, be a slightly different experience when he trots out onto Garforth Town's pitch in Leeds on Saturday afternoon.

Mark is now a UniBond League Division One player with Rossendale United.

It's not quite as glamourous as some of his previous clubs - Bolton, Bury, Blackburn or Preston to name a few - but Mark is looking forward to it nonetheless.

"I don't think I've ever been involved so early before," laughed the 37-year-old.

"I have some good memories of the competition. The best is when I led the Bolton team out against Liverpool at Anfield. Unfortunately we lost to Derby County in the next round.

"But I have seen the other side of it. At Bury we were beaten 2-1 at Chorley and at Preston we lost to Whitley Bay.

"But the worst FA Cup memory of all is when at Bolton we were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Oldham and I made the mistake which gifted Darren Beckford the goal - he never lets me forget that whenever I see him!"

That mistake, when a mis-placed pass allowed Latics to snatch victory in front of 20,000 fans at a packed Burnden Park, still haunts Patterson, especially as it would have led to a semi-final clash against Manchester United.

But time heals and the hard-tackling pro is now enjoying a new lease of life.

He joined Rossendale during the summer and the team have had a fairytale start to the season, unbeaten in their opening four games.

"We have had some great results," said Patterson, who is also now coaching at Wigan's School of Excellence after getting his UEFA coaching badge at Lilleshall.

"I had thought about packing in but when I went to Lilleshall, I got the bug again and got involved with Rossendale.

"They are a very ambitious club and professionally run. And although a cup run would be awful for me, as at my age I would have to play more games, it would be great for the club!

"I have always been on the opposite side of it but now I can see what a fairytale the FA Cup is for the non-League clubs.

"I've never had to look at the FA Cup from this point of view before and I think I will only start realising it is the FA Cup if we get through the early rounds ... although with the money at stake, I'm sure the Chairman will make sure we know about it from the start!"