FRANK LAMPARD'S FAMILY FORTUNE

FRANK LAMPARD sat in disguise at last year's FA Cup Final to cheer on his uncle Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth - and now he wants to keep the trophy in the family.

Lampard admits he got a real flavour of what the cup means to fans as he watched Pompey beat Cardiff at Wembley to hand Redknapp his first major trophy as a manager.

Now he wants to thank Chelsea fans who supported him through some of the most difficult times of his career following the death of his mother last year - by winning it himself.

Lampard said: "The cup still means a lot. I went to watch the final last year, which was interesting having played in one, sitting in the crowd and seeing the atmosphere and how people feel about the game. It's still a fantastic day.

"It was a good experience. I was pleased for Harry they won it and it was good sitting among the Portsmouth fans and really feeling it.

"Even at Chelsea when you're not playing, you usually sit in the corporate areas, but I was in with the Portsmouth fans.

"I was hiding a bit but I was there to support Harry and it was a good day. Sometimes, when you're on the pitch, you don't quite get the enormity of it. Now I want to win it for our fans."

Magic

Lampard has a better grasp than most on what the FA Cup means because his dad Frank Snr won it with West Ham and scored a famous semi-final goal against Everton in 1980.

He said: "I've seen the videotapes a few times. My dad used to dig it out. He didn't score many and that's the one he gets reminded about when he travels around, so he's proud of that one.

"It spurred me on and I watched the video of the West Ham-Arsenal cup final a lot and was always aware of that, it was the main point of my dad's career.

"It makes you aware of the magic of the FA Cup. There are quite a few magic moments when you look back at the history of it that only the FA Cup could bring. That's why I want to win it again. But it won't be easy.

"I've got huge respect for Everton as a club. They have a great tradition and everyone knows how good a manager David Moyes is.

"But we want to win a trophy for our manager. We all feel the same and I think he wants to leave with a trophy as a thank you to us.

"We've been a tight-knit group since he came in. Everyone can feel that even from the outside. He's been a pleasure to work with."

Fantastic

Lampard has one trophy in the bag after being named Player of the Year on Thursday and many critics have suggested he has produced some of the best form of his life this season.

But it is not enough to send him into the summer on a high. He needs victory next Saturday to ensure that.

He said: "I'm pleased with my season but I don't know if it's my best ever as we haven't won anything yet and the seasons we won the league were good feelings for me.

"But it's been a good campaign personally. If we can win the FA Cup, that'll put a little little icing on the cake.

"It's a great club and I enjoy going up and playing there and seeing the work ethic and quality of the players and the manager.

"For instance, I rate Tim Cahilll highly, he's a fantastic player. He's a huge threat, not just in the air, but his all-round play and the way he works."

Lampard has now come to terms with the fact next Saturday will be Hiddink's last game in charge.

He said: "We're disappointed but now we must wait for the new boss and make sure we perform."

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