STALWART Scot Bennett has been there, done that and got the Fernandinho, Maddison and Dier shirts with Newport County, but Sunday’s FA Cup clash will be extra special for the boyhood Manchester United fan.
Bennett, who first arrived at Rodney Parade in 2015, will bring up a milestone this weekend when he makes his 350th appearance for the club.
Thanks to a dodgy penalty that helped Eastleigh earn a replay, the occasion will be extra special for the Cornishman against the other team in his life.
Bennett was an excited fan in the stands on February 26, 2002 when United – featuring Irwin, Gary Neville, Keane, Giggs, Beckham, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer – swept aside Nantes 5-1 in the Champions League. Now the County legend will be welcoming the current crop to Newport.
"All my family apart from my dad are Man U fans and it was my gran that took me up to my first game at Old Trafford,” said the 33-year-old.
"I've been up there a fair few times to watch them so to play against them is surreal.
"My first game was a Champions League game on a Tuesday night against Nantes and David Beckham scored a free-kick, so I was very happy as he was my favourite player.
"I massively looked up to him and Paul Scholes was just unbelievable. Playing in midfield and seeing what he could do - you just idolise him, don't you?"
Bennett’s footballing schedule limits his Manchester trips but he was able to take his twins Lucas and Hunter to Old Trafford last season.
“It was for the Arsenal game and it was so special, their first time at Old Trafford… and they got to see a win,” said Bennett, whose stepson is a Gunner and little girl just likes to cheer on her dad.
"They've got the United shirts and pictures in their bedroom of them at Old Trafford, seeing it for the first time.”
Lucas has Hojlund on the back of a replica jersey and Hunter’s got Rashford but their father will be getting the real thing on Sunday evening.
Bennett has played Spurs (twice), Manchester City, Leeds, Leicester, West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle, Southampton and Brentford but this one is extra special.
“I've always said in recent years that Man U is the one I'd really like before retiring, which I don't see happening just yet,” he said.
“It is one that I have always wanted to tick off and when the draw was made I was buzzing, although obviously we had a big task to beat Eastleigh in the replay.
"This week will be surreal and those of us that are United fans have been joking about playing for a draw to play at Old Trafford and tick that box off as well.
"Hopefully I'm picked and then it's either running around the field with Bruno Fernandes in midfield or trying to keep Hojlund, Rashford and Garnacho quiet.
"It's crazy to think about it and when the day actually comes and you are stood next to them in the tunnel it will be surreal, but then you just get your game head on and get down to business.
"I've been lucky enough to experience it a few times in Newport and I know it's a cliche but it is 11 men against 11 men, so anything can happen.
"They obviously get paid a bit more than us and are more consistent than us to get where they are, but we have to go in believing anything can happen."
And County’s cup heritage makes them dream.
"We've been in pretty much every game that we've played. Even against Man City when it ended up 4-1 it was 2-1 until the last minutes,” said Bennett.
"We took Spurs all the way and were so close to beating them, then got the draw for a replay. That gives us massive belief that we can cause an upset, and hopefully on Sunday we can do it."
Thankfully for Bennett he will be bringing up 350 against his boyhood team in Newport rather than in Harrogate on a Friday night.
The stalwart has been dependable, reliable and underrated whatever the competition, a player that brings the best out of others and lets flashier players take the limelight.
Bennett, who came through the ranks at Exeter, signed on loan from Notts County in 2015 and returned on a permanent deal.
County were not able to offer him and Jamille Matt contract extensions when Covid struck, citing financial uncertainty, but he returned when football restarted and has been a key figure for manager Graham Coughlan, just as he was for James Rowberry and Michael Flynn.
“I guess it’s written in the stars for Man U to be my 350th, if I am picked or come on,” he said.
“I've had the best parts of my career at this club and played against some big teams. It's a really special club to me so to make 350 is just amazing, especially in this day and age when not many people stick around for as long as I have.
"It's mad how football works, I came here on loan originally to try and get some games and then ended up signing.
"There was the period in Covid when I was out of contract and the club was not sure what was going on but now I could be playing against United for my 350th appearance. It's crazy really."
Given that Bennett has played in 38 of 38 games this season (36 starts) – League Two, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, even EFL Trophy – surely 400 is possible?
"Who knows?! I've still got three or four months of this season and we'll then see what happens from there," he said.
"As I've said in the past, I'm happy here and if get offered a new contract then great.
"I've played in every game and started every league game other than one. It's been a good first half of the season, so hopefully I can stay injury-free."
Bennett is Cornish - and this weekend he'll welcome a contingent up from St Columb Major, just outside Newquay - but he’s also a man of Newport, putting down roots in the city with his family.
United will be special at Rodney Parade but Sundays usually involve the County stalwart putting on his coaching hat for Newport Corinthians Under-11s.
"My two boys got into football and their coach was going to pack it in,” he said. "The team was either going to fold or they needed someone to take it on, so I was willing to do that and the other parents allowed me to.
"I love doing it and it's nice to get involved and give back to the grassroots.”
But this Sunday coach Bennett puts his boots on for the day job, with the aim of giving Erik ten Hag a headache when living his dreams against United.
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