Kirk's Cup date with Best Man
By Matt Pitman

Wednesday 2nd November 2005

KIRK Jackson has more reason than most to relish Weymouth's FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest.

The Terras striker will come face to face with his best man at the City Ground.

Close friend lan Breckin, who played with Jackson at Chesterfield is now captain of Forest, and the player can't wait to do battle.

Jackson told Echosport: "Getting Forest in the first round is a dream draw for the club and also me personally.

"If picked it means I'll get the chance to play against Ian who was a team-mate at Chesterfield in 1998, and he was also best man at my wedding to Claire a couple of years ago.

"Ian and I were joking about the prospect of facing each other in the first round, then it actually happened. It's funny how things work out in football.

"Forest were playing at Yeovil on the day we played in the fourth qualifying round so I popped along to see Ian at the Forest hotel the night before the game.

"We were chatting about the cup draw and the possibility of crossing paths but didn't really think any more about it.

"Then after we beat Cambridge United the next day, I was walking across the Wessex Stadium car park and as the draw was made I heard this giant roar.

"I thought 'we've got a big one', then Barbara, the woman who does the players' food at the club, started mouthing the words Nottingham Forest at me. I couldn't believe it.

"I got on the phone to Ian straight away but as they had just lost 3-0 at Yeovil, he couldn't speak.

"Later I received a text from him saying 'I'll see you at the back post'. We had a bit of a laugh and wished each other luck.

"Although we're good friends and he's likely to be marking me, apart from that we haven't really spoken about the game.

"We're both professional footballers who are doing jobs for our respective clubs.

"Obviously once the match is over we'll probably shake hands and have a drink together but before or during the game, we are focusing on our individual efforts."

Forest skipper Breckin said: "I'm sure Jacko will give us a good game but, as far as I'm concerned, he'll be just another opponent out on the pitch.

"We are good mates but things like that don't come into it during a match."

The City Ground tussle completes a good couple of years in the FA Cup for former Yeovil Town forward Jackson.

He was part of the Glovers side who were narrowly beaten by Liverpool in a memorable third round tie in 2004.

"I'm a big Liverpool fan so that was a fantastic occasion for me," said Jackson.

"A signed Liverpool shirt has got pride and place on my wall but I also can't wait for the City Ground.

"Playing at big stadiums is all you want to do as a footballer and I'm hoping I'll get another signed shirt to add to my collection," he added.