Tamworth vs Tottenham is a David and Goliath clash that embodies the spirit of the FA Cup, writes DANNY MURPHY

This weekend is what the FA Cup is all about. We've had the minnows of Morecambe, Accrington and Salford take on the giants of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City, and today Tottenham travel to Tamworth.

I loved those confrontations between David and Goliath and I saw them from both sides. When we were young players at Crewe we played against Premier League clubs and tried to beat the odds. In Liverpool, we were the ones they shot at.

The season Fulham reached the Europa League final, we played the Cup in Accrington. You could hear every word from the terraces and hear and smell everything unpleasant in the tiny dressing rooms.

A fan kept yelling at me throughout the game: 'You're done, Murphy. You're too old, Murphy. I didn't care, but I was only 32! Fortunately we won the game 3-1.

There were some funny moments involving lower league or non-league players. When Liverpool played at Yeovil, one of their players wanted to chat to me during the game and asked me what it was like to play with Stevie Gerrard and Michael Owen. I had to politely say:

'Sorry mate, you know there's a game here!'

Tottenham travel to Tamworth on Sunday afternoon to begin their FA Cup count in 2025

Tamworth secured their place in the third round after a heroic 4-3 penalty shootout win over Burton.

Spurs are seeking their first silverware since winning the League Cup in 2008.

They often asked for your shirt. At Liverpool they gave us two for each game and we didn't expect to give them back, so it was easy. At Fulham, if we didn't return our shirts, we had to pay £50 each.

I was still happy to give mine to a rival player (it was a privilege to be asked), but one season in which we had good runs in different competitions, it cost me almost a thousand dollars.

I didn't mind any of the turmoil associated with playing with minnows. I grew up as a player at Crewe and was excited when we played against bigger teams, so I fully understood what it means for the smaller clubs and their players.

I was still a teenager when we played Wimbledon, who at the time were in the Premier League and had a reputation for being the Crazy Gang.

I have a picture somewhere of Vinnie Jones grabbing me by the throat! We were proud to get a draw at Gresty Road and win a replay, which we lost 2-0.

They were happy days and I'm sure the Tamworth players and fans can't wait to have Ange Postecoglou and Son Heung-min on their pitch and maybe even exchange a few words with them.

Many Premier League managers will be resting some of their big names for the Cup with important league games next week, but I'm sure the vast majority of players would want to play this weekend.

In my experience, even the foreign guys bought into the whole romance of the competition.

Man City thrashed League Two side Salford 8-0 on Saturday night in their third round tie.

Liverpool also beat Accrington Stanley in another clash at both ends of the English football stands.

Roy Hodgson once gave me a break for a replay at Bristol Rovers and it led to one of our few arguments. I wanted to play and listen to it on the radio at home, I was angrier than ever in my career about leaving Fulham when they hadn't given me the chance to influence the game.

Not everyone felt that way, mind you. Sitting with Bobby Zamora on the bench as non-league Kettering held us at 1-1, I indicated that we should start warming up because they would need us. His response was, 'Oh no, do we have to?'

I hope, for Tottenham's sake, that his attitude today in Tamworth is less like Bobby's and more like mine!