I’m running the wing in the cup final!

LANDED . . . John gets a star role in tomorrow’s FA cup final— a far cry from his job supervising the loading of mighty Hercules planes

TWENTY years after watching his beloved Oldham Athletic take on Nottingham Forest in the League Cup final at Wembley, Royton flight sergeant John Flynn will be stepping out on to the hallowed turf himself.

John (41) is one of the referee’s assistants for tomorrow’s FA Cup final when Chelsea face Portsmouth.

It won’t be his first match at the fabulous home of football — but despite his modest approach, it will certainly be the most exciting.

He said: “Since it became the new Wembley I’ve officiated at the FA Trophy final between Ebbsfleet and Torquay, and the pre-season game when Spurs played Barcelona.

“To be honest I treat every fixture exactly the same. When I first started out someone told me ‘every game is your cup final’ and that has stayed with me.”

John, whose starring role will be watched on television by wife Catherine (40) and daughters Amy (15) and six-year-old Lara, added: “It’s spooky how it’s worked out that Saturday is 20 years almost to the day since I watched Latics lose 1-0 to Forest.

“Looking back, that was such an amazing time to watch them.”

John left the area when he was 19 to join the RAF, where he is based at Lyneham, supervising and distributing freight.

A bad injury when he was 23 halted his amateur playing days and he took a refereeing course.

John joined the national list of officials eight years ago before stepping up to the Premiership in 2006.

He stays with his parents Martin and Beryl— who live near Boundary Park — whenever he’s involved in a North-West match.

John added: “I love going back when I can. I grew up there and attended Our Lady’s School. The area holds a lot of memories for me.” While the nerves will be kicking in for champions Chelsea and underdogs Pompey, John plans to take it all in his stride.

He said: “I’m alright as long as I stick to my routine in the build-up to a game.

“I train three or four times a week, which includes running and swimming, get my kit ready, check out the team news online and regard it as just another football match.”