MILLWALL match-winner Tim Cahill last night revealed how his impoverished father had taken out a loan to send him over from Australia for a trial with the Lions which has led to the realisation of an FA Cup dream.

Cahill's 25th-minute goal was sufficient to see off First Division promotion rivals Sunderland and book a final date with his Manchester United heroes at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium - plus a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Dagenham-born dad Tim, a former engineer, was so poor he could only provide two pairs of boots for his three footballing sons.

But he managed to scrape enough together to fly Tim to England at the age of 16.

The Cahill clan, made up by brothers Chris and Sean, were all at Old Trafford yesterday as Tim junior, who days earlier made his international debut against South Africa at Loftus Road, celebrated "the best week'' of his life.

"You have to go back about seven years to when I came over here,'' said the 24-year-old midfielder, proudly clutching the match ball.

"My old man is English and he was forced to retire as an engineer on health grounds.

"But he got a loan to get me over here. He couldn't afford two pairs of boots and he had three sons!

"I owe my family and it's nice to pay them back with a day like this. My dad helped me on the training pitch, because I was a late developer. Back in Australia, he used to get us up at 4am to watch the Cup final every year; Liverpool in their 'Candy' shirts and Manchester United with Mark Hughes.

"Now we've got Man. United in the final, with Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"Oh my god! They're my heroes - I hope I can get van Nistelrooy's shirt.''