Rory Delap is invited to throw off the years and remember the young Tony Hopper. He warmly accepts. "He was quite small, an aggressive little sod," he says. "He was one of them you couldn't shake off. Better to have him on your team than against you."

As Brunton Park prepares for one of its most emotional recent occasions - Hopper guest of honour at the stadium just weeks after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a football community pays tribute to both the player and the man.

Delap does so fondly, and with feeling. The two have been close friends ever since their junior days and while the recent news has been devastating to many, the queue of people willing to say good things about Hopper appears endless.

His good reputation precedes him - and Delap's insights are profound. They played against each other for school teams before linking up at the Ex-Servicemen's team in Carlisle at 11, and these were early steps in a journey that would take them through the United ranks before Delap's own career moved to higher stages.

"I suppose we were quite similar - both laid-back lads, who could take a bit and give a bit out," says Delap, now 40, like Hopper. "We had our times against each other, and we'd kick each other, but we'd be the first to shake hands afterwards.

"It was the time when they used to have tournaments involving city representative teams, and on the occasion we went over to Whitley Bay with Carlisle, we roomed together. We were 10 and just hit it off.

"I'd say he influenced me a lot in how I would be with people. He was one of those lads who would do anything for anyone and he's always been the same. It's something I always admired in him.

"He was a good player, as well. The sort of old school, box-to-box midfielder that's gone a bit missing out of the game. Tony was so fit, he could do that. And he had an eye for goal."

The two had one particularly great day when, at 16, Hopper was given his Carlisle debut in the final game of the 1992/3 season, at Scarborough. He became United's youngest ever player until, in the second half, Delap - 36 days junior - came off the bench and claimed the record. "We were 2-0 up when I got on and it was 2-2 when we finished," laughs Delap.

After the game Blues player-coach David McCreery said Hopper had adapted so well that an untrained eye would not have been able to spot the YTS player on the pitch. "I was buzzing for Tony," Delap adds. "We were a close-knit bunch, and he had a real game that day.

"There were no hard feelings when I nicked the youngest player record off him, but what sticks out more is that we were doing the kit after the game - our job, as YTS players - and three or four Carlisle lads came into the dressing room and nicked the lot.

"We managed to save the boots, but all that summer we saw lads walking around town with Carlisle shirts with numbers on their back!

"It means I didn't even get my debut shirt to keep. It could be anywhere now. But the memory of making our debuts, me and Tony, is more important."

In a golden era for home-grown Cumbrian talent, the ambition of playing for the Blues was potent. Later, as long-throw maestro Delap went on to shine for Derby, Southampton, Sunderland, Stoke and Ireland, Hopper remained at United, later having a substantial time at Workington.

"I think Tone was a bit unfortunate," says Delap, now under-18 coach at Derby. "He was definitely good enough to play at a higher level. He picked up some niggling little injuries at times when he was putting a good run of games together.

"You need a certain amount of luck. Years later I heard that a scout had only come to watch me because another game had been called off. He did a detour and I managed to have a good game.

"Football is full of little stories like that. But I know for a fact that Tony was Carlisle through and through. And I don't think he ever let them down."

Delap reeled when told by Tony's wife, Sue, of his illness. He immediately drove from Derby to Brampton to spend an hour with his friend, and the Hoppers have since visited Delap and his family.

This afternoon at Brunton Park, meanwhile, will feel unique and moving, but because Tony is such an unassuming person Delap does not believe it will be the easiest of days for his friend.

"I said to him, 'you're gonna hate it at times', because he doesn't want to be the centre of attention. He'll be uncomfortable that it's about him. But hopefully in the long run he'll really appreciate it.

"He's a great ambassador of the club and the city. It's no surprise the people of Carlisle are supporting him so much, and that people from other clubs have been touched by it as well. Hopefully he'll get a good turnout."

The volume of people willing to support the Hoppers financially has also been considerable, with thousands already raised to help Tony and Sue make some lasting memories for their three sons (who are mascots today). The Motor Neurone Disease Association will also benefit from their story, their work, and Tony's good name.

Yet it is also, more than anything, a deeply personal situation - and Delap is backing that "aggressive little sod" of the early 1990s to approach this most challenging time in the only way he can.

"He's one of the strongest characters I know, mentally," Delap says. "Sue has been unbelievable in the way she's getting things sorted, making sure he makes the most of his time with the boys.

"I'm sure it takes some getting your head wrapped around. But if anyone can do it, he'll do it."