Liverpool star's dad who matched Cristiano Ronaldo's FA Cup feat dreaming of another upset

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Neil Danns enjoyed a successful playing career before his son and Liverpool forward, Jayden, looks to follow in his footsteps but the 42-year-old Southport manager is eyeing an FA Cup upsetNeil Danns may be the manager of National League North side Southport FC, but behind the scenes, he is affectionately known as the father of Liverpool starlet Jayden Danns or 'Jayden Danns' dad' by those around the club.The 19-year-old Liverpool striker reached astronomic heights during a memorable period for the Reds in 2024, where he made his debut, won the Carabao Cup and scored twice on his FA Cup debut against Southampton in the space of seven days.But this weekend, the Sandgrounders boss, or Jayden's dad, is eyeing his own slice of managerial history, almost two decades after first etching his name in the competition's history books.The midfielder, who enjoyed a successful professional career, playing in every division from the Premier League to League Two, achieved a rare feat in FA Cup history during the 2005-06 season that only the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nicolas Anelka and Robin van Persie have managed in other years.READ MORE: Florian Wirtz's behaviour behind scenes brought up as Liverpool sent clear messageREAD MORE: Wayne Rooney disagrees with Steven Gerrard after 'egotistical losers' claimBut he didn’t realise he did so until years later.Then at League One side Colchester United, he netted five goals to finish as the joint top-goalscorer, in a giant-killing run that was ended by Chelsea in the fifth round.Danns’ crucial moments helped slay the higher-league opposition. “It is brilliant, especially doing it at a club like Colchester United.“I wasn’t really focused on my goals in the FA Cup at the time, it was more challenging on both fronts in the league and cup.“Even when I think about it now, I didn’t think about it at all - it was only a few years later when I found out.”Barnsley’s Paul Hayes and Steve Basham of Oxford United share the honour alongside Danns, but with fond memories come ones to forget including a red card against Liverpool as Philippe Coutinho capped a late fightback against Bolton Wanderers during a replay in 2015.As the away end went into raptures, in the bowels of the Trotters’ stadium, Danns was in the dressing room, head in hands.Nine years later, he witnessed Jayden, 19, score twice on debut in the same competition, for the club he’d been sent off against and in front of the Kop.“Definitely a love-affair, it’s a cup that holds dear to this family - even more so now,” Danns says.“It is a full circle moment.

I’m not looking back yet [at Jayden’s career] - even though I do still watch the YouTube clips a lot.”The 42-year-old continues: “It was already one of the best weeks of my life then he goes and scores his second in front of the Kop, gets Man of the Match, (laughs) this is everything you’ve dreamed of and more.”One of Jurgen Klopp's best, and most memorable, wins came during the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea. Decimated by injuries, the Liverpool boss entrusted the academy ranks and among them was Danns.A matter of days after making his Premier League bow against Luton Town, he would be in the squad to face the Londoners at Wembley and as a result, the forward's father was heading to see his boyhood club in a final for the first time.The day is one that lives long in the memory of the supporters that were there, fans around the world and the squad involved under the famous arch with 'You'll Never Walk Alone' echoing from one side of the home of English football.Liverpool and Chelsea looked set to be heading to penalties again in another final, the nerves got the better of Danns sr., forcing him to watch away from his family in the walkway nearby, until Virgil van Dijk powered a header home prompting him to run across to his loved ones."I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a tear in my eye," he says."It’s your dream to see your son wear the shirt of a club you’ve supported all your life then next minute he’s on in the cup final with 50,000 fans singing, it was overwhelming."Injury means the 19-year-old will be cheering on his dad from the stands at Haig Avenue as he looks to guide Southport FC to a giant-killing in what would, arguably, be his biggest management feat to date.The 42-year-old took over the Sandgrounders in the summer, with the club at the beginning of their transition under new owners after treading dangerously close to extinction prior to the takeover under the previous stewardship.History and form isn’t on their side, 2019 was last time Southport made it past the fourth qualifying round, when the former Guyana international was at Bury in League Two.They now find themselves bottom of the National League North and welcome FC Halifax Town, unbeaten in their last five and the playoff-chasers from the division above, 90 minutes from the first round proper.“We are underdogs,” Danns says.

“We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough game.“It’s the FA Cup, we all know that things can happen in the competition. We will do all we can to continue our story in it.”When it comes to the FA Cup, fewer families have a richer history in the competition than the Danns’.Another giant-killing?