John Crumplin will never forget the day he played John Barnes off the park.

It should have been a non-contest: an England World Cup winger up against a player mockingly dubbed 'Football Genius' by his own supporters.

But the FA Cup is where dreams come true, just as Crumplin found out 13 years ago and just as someone else will this weekend when the competition reaches its fifth round stage.

In 1991, Liverpool were a better side than the team Gerard Houllier will field against Portsmouth on Sunday.

The Reds were reigning champions and packed with star names but Second Division Albion fought back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw on a memorable afternoon at Anfield.

For Crumplin, it was the turning point of his career. So often the subject of derision from the crowd in his first couple of seasons, he became a popular player with the fans after the Liverpool match.

He recalled: "That was my biggest memory from Brighton. I was a Liverpool supporter growing up and to walk out at Anfield was a boyhood dream.

"That was the game when they all wore those (Football Genius) T-shirts for the first time because they thought I was going to get the runaround from John Barnes. As it worked out I had the game of my life and that was the turning point for me with the supporters.

"At half time it was 0-0. We came out and Ian Rush scored two goals in the first ten minutes. Clive Walker turned round to me and said, 'Just enjoy yourself now'. I turned round and said, 'No let's have a go'.

"We got a penalty when Paul McCarthy was brought down and Mike Small scored. Then I remember Clive Walker having a shot, Bruce Grobbelaar parried it so far it went out to the right wing. Instead of letting it go out for a throw-in, I had a touch and whipped the ball in to the far post because Smally was always at the far post. He headed it back across and John Byrne got on the end of it.

"At the end the Liverpool supporters gave us a standing ovation as we came off which was unbelievable."

After being rejected by Southampton and Portsmouth as a youngster, Crumplin joined Albion in 1987.

He said: "I came from Bognor and was thrown straight into the first team at the age of 19, playing in what is now the First Division. We were down the bottom and got relegated that year.

"The step was too big for me at that time. I am the first to admit I struggled.

"The problem was the supporters wanted big money players. Barry (Lloyd) had come in and he had to reduce the big wage bill. He was quite experienced in non-league and he had to bring in players who wouldn't want big money. I was just happy with the chance. I was earning more bricklaying and playing for Bognor than I did with my first contract with Brighton."

Crumplin's career changed for the better following a switch from right winger to rightback. The move was forced upon him when the unfortunate Nicky Bissett broke a leg in a game at Swindon.

Crumplin, now 36, said: "I was sub and still playing right wing at the time. Gary Chivers went to centre back and I went on as rightback. From then on, that is where I stayed.

"The switch to rightback was crucial. I think my career at Brighton would have been very short if I hadn't gone to fullback."

Crumplin is now trying to forge a career in management. He has applied for the Albion job on three occasions only to get a polite replies turning him down.

He is currently manager of County League division two side Crawley Down but has bigger ambitions.

He said: "I would love to manage a pro club but I don't mind doing a few years at Ryman or Conference level. I haven't had the breaks. I don't know why. I applied for the Worthing job before Barry Lloyd got it and I applied for the Lewes job. I am ambitious."

A big year lies ahead for Crumplin. He marries fiancee Louise in September and before then is due to become a father for the first time, but he will never forget his clash with Barnes.

He recalled: "Later that season I went out in London after one of the games and bumped into John Barnes in Browns nightclub. He said to me, 'It's John isn't it? I can remember you kicking me at Anfield'. That made my evening."