Ferguson went to watch EFL Trophy final and ended up making new Man Utd signing

Sunday's EFL Trophy Final between Rotherham United and Sutton United offers both clubs a chance to taste glory at Wembley.

Whilst the Millers have lifted this particular trophy before, back in 1996, for Sutton it is a remarkable achievement for them to be even contesting the final considering it is their debut in the competition, having earned a first-ever promotion to the EFL last term. But whilst club honours are up for grabs, the match also pushes both sets of players into the national spotlight.

And it may well prove to be the perfect shop window for players to catch the eye of clubs higher up the pyramid. That same thing happened to Ben Foster during the showpiece final back in 2005. Back then, Foster was a young goalkeeper still learning his trade on loan at Wrexham. He posted a clean sheet in the final as they beat Southend United 2-0 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium after extra time. He pulled off a clutch of saves that day in what he regards, quite rightly, as a career-changing afternoon.

Foster was on loan from Stoke City and one of his teammates on that memorable day in the Welsh capital was Darren Ferguson, son of the legendary Sir Alex. The Manchester United manager was in attendance with his primary concern how his son performed. But the Scot couldn't fail to be impressed with Foster's performance - and it would lead to an Old Trafford move that summer.

"If it wasn't for Wrexham, I wouldn't have got a move to Manchester United," said Foster, who at 38 is still a Premier League regular for Watford. "That was literally how it started. It was almost like the right place at the right time. In the final we were on top. I had a few saves to make but we were doing well.

"I remember looking at the big screen and seeing Sir Alex. It clicked that Darren was playing for us and his dad had come to watch him. I think that is where it all started. Two or three weeks later Darren pulled me after training one day and asked me what was happening with my contract at Stoke. I said I had one season left but I didn't really want to go back there because I knew I wasn't going to play.

"Darren said just keep doing what you are doing, you are doing really well, but I know that there is somebody watching you and they are going to be sending a scout to watch you. I was like: 'oh s***!' I remember going home and telling my girlfriend who is now my wife and mum of my kids. I said 'this is what Darren Ferguson told me today: and she was like: 'oh my God!' I knew Sir Alex came to a couple more games and goalkeeper coach Tony Coton came to most of the games from there on in.

"I kind of embraced it, took the challenge head on and finished the season fairly well for myself."

Sunday's game will be the first EFL Trophy final to be played in front of a crowd since a record attendance of more than 85,000 watched the 2019 clash between Portsmouth and Sunderland.