MATT Ritchie wisely avoided Portsmouth's celebrations after they won the FA Cup in 2008 when four of his fellow Pompey scholars got into trouble with boss Harry Redknapp for getting drunk.

Being inside Wembley Stadium to see his hometown club win the world's most famous Cup competition was intoxicating enough for the 20-year-old winger, currently on loan at Notts County from Pompey.

And it fuelled his own dreams of walking out in an FA Cup final himself one day and even lifting the trophy. The precocious youngster certainly has a promising career ahead of him.

Ritchie got his first taste of FA Cup action during his season-long loan at the Magpies' League Two rivals Dagenham last year. He scored for the Daggers in their 3-2 second round defeat to Leicester City, after they beat Hereford United in a replay in the opening round.

"We took the lead twice against Leicester but (Matty) Fryatt got a hat-trick. We had so many chances, we could have won it," recalled Ritchie, with frustration.

He is looking forward to facing Bradford City in the first round at Meadow Lane tonight.

Ritchie joined the Magpies a month after they beat the Bantams 5-0 at Meadow Lane on the opening day of the league season.

But he made a huge impact as a substitute when the two teams met in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint at Valley Parade at the start of last month.

In fact, he almost hit a stunning injury-time winner but was denied by the crossbar, before Notts lost in a penalty shoot-out.

Ritchie said: "The FA Cup is a massive competition, there is an extra spark when you play in it.

"Portsmouth winning it a couple of years ago was brilliant.

"I was there with all of my mates, all of the youth team boys from Portsmouth, it was a good day.

"All of us scholars went up there together and we sat in the stands with the fans, it was good. The atmosphere was amazing.

"I didn't get involved in the celebrations though. A couple of the other young boys did and got in trouble. I stuck well away from it."

The tie will be Hans Backe's second game in charge of Notts. Ritchie is enjoying working under the Swede, who has succeeded Ian McParland in the hot-seat at Meadow Lane.

He said: "It's been brilliant since he came in, the lads have sharpened up.

"He has made a few little changes but generally the lads are working hard. We've all taken to him and are enjoying his sessions.

"We are all going out to prove ourselves like anyone would, it's normal. But he's very relaxed, quite a calm, laid-back bloke.

"This is the first manager change I've been through in my short career.

"When anyone new watches you play you want to impress them and your mind is on it a bit.

"It helps that there hasn't been a lot of change at the club. The likes of Dave (Kevan) and Tommy (Johnson) are still here so that's good, as you feel there are people who know what you are about. They can pass that information on."

Ritchie memorably scored twice on his full debut for Notts in their resounding 5-2 win against Northampton Town at Meadow Lane in mid-September.

He has not added to his tally since – but he has started nine times and is still such an influential figure in the side and is one of its chief threats.

"I go into every game and give my all. I just want to go out and impress and do my best for the team," he said.

"Tonight is another football match I want to win. There are already a lot of games in the season so we don't want a replay.

"We will go out and hopefully get on top of them early doors, nick a goal and put them on the back-foot and hopefully win the game.

"We're unbeaten in five or six in the league now so we're on a good run, we have to keep going to try and win games."