MATTY Platt has played over 600 games for Stowmarket Town - and tonight will be his biggest.The 33-year-old, who will captain the side, reveals that this might be his last season.

By Elvin King

MATTY Platt has played over 600 games for Stowmarket Town - and tonight will be his biggest.

The 33-year-old, who will captain the side, reveals that this might be his last season.

The midfield human dynamo has won games at Wembley Stadium and Anfield, but he says that playing at Portman Road will be his biggest thrill.

“I am an Ipswich Town supporter so it means a great deal,” said Platt, whose four-year-old daughter Emily will be the Stowmarket mascot tonight.

“When I was 13 I represented West Suffolk Schools in a competition during half-time of an Ipswich home game.

“I had to run from outside the penalty area and try and beat the keeper.

“I scored three times out of ten, but I have had to wait a long while to play a proper match.

“Tonight's game will be bigger for me than playing at Anfield or Wembley.”

Platt, who was a member of the Earl Soham Victoria side that won the Carlsberg Pub Cup at Wembley in 2000, was out of action for three months over Christmas because of a fractured cheek bone.

And he says that his time made him reflect on his footballing future.

“I have been waiting for a youngster to come through and take my place,” said Platt, who has won the Suffolk Premier Cup with Stowmarket.

“There is now light at the end of the tunnel, and after a number of seasons we have youngsters coming through.

“My daughter lives at home with me and my parents for the majority of the time, and she has to come into my thinking and this could be my last season.

“We are expecting a tough game although I don't know too much about SIL football.

“Going into the game at bit blind might be a good thing.”

Stowmarket chairman Andy Horrex feels Stowmarket's name might be on the cup.

“When we scored direct from a corner in the last minute of extra-time in our first round 3-3 draw with Leiston St Margarets I thought it was going to be our year,” said Horrex.

“Ross Charters then saved three penalties. Against Hadleigh we also went to extra time, and then beat Crane Sports by one goal.

“In the semi-final, Cornard struck the bar and we then scored with a deflected shot before going on to beat Cornard 5-1.

“It is a tremendous lift for Stowmarket to get to the final, and to win would be the icing on the cake.”

Squads

Grundisburgh: Johnson, R Parker, Watson, King, Greenhalgh, Sandilands, Southgate, T Parker, Reid, Webb, Driver, Beaumont, L Grimwood, D Grimwood, Brightey, Messenger.

Stowmarket Town: Charters, Hammond, Brill, Carr, Cracknell, Deasy, Deller, Ford, Gray, Horner, King, Leys, Platt, Roberts, Smythe, Taylor-Holt, Ward, Wright.