The boyhood Blue leading Chelsea into first FA amputee cup final

Centre-back Mark Smith has described playing for Chelsea and his involvement in their first amputee final at the Disability FA Cup as "surreal" and a "pinch yourself moment".

The 40-year-old former soldier counts himself fortunate to be able to lead his side out for Saturday's game against a strong Everton, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.

After serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia, Smith was involved in a training exercise accident in Canada in 2011.

"I took seven shots - six to my leg and one to my shoulder. The rounds to my leg hit my femoral artery, so I only had a few minutes before bleeding out.

"I flatlined for just over five minutes, so I was very lucky."

Smith spent weeks in intensive care in Canada and the UK but, after two years of rehabilitation, his leg needed to be amputated.

"I was discharged from the military in 2013 and was a bit lost because I'd only ever wanted to be a soldier," he said.

Smith got into bodybuilding, winning Britain's Strongest Disabled Man in 2016 and 2017, and the Arnold Classic World Championships in the USA in 2017 and 2018.

But he always loved football and got into amputee football initially at Peterborough United, winning multiple titles and earning two England caps.

When Peterborough's team folded during the Covid pandemic, Smith helped Chelsea to set up their amputee side - and they are now attempting to win their first trophy.

"The big kid in me never quite grasps who I'm representing," he added.

"I captained the team, and pulling on the Chelsea shirt and captain's armband, despite missing a leg, is everything I dreamed of as a boy - just not how I envisaged it.

"When my boys tell their mates at school their dad plays for Chelsea, it's surreal - a pinch yourself moment every week."

Chelsea's team has also qualified for the cerebral palsy final at the Disability FA Cup as they go for two trophies at St George's Park.