Winning this cup will bring Harry the respect he deserves

"Harry's been around, he's learned from guys like Ron Greenwood, John Lyall, football people who like the ball on the floor, who want to play," said Adams.

"For some reason, he has a reputation for being "a little bit wa'ay" — a bit of a laddo.

"That's not been my experience. I'm experiencing a 61-year-old man at the end and not 20 or 30 years ago when he was starting off as an East End wide boy — and even that may not be true. But we do seem to put labels on people.

"He's been around a long time, so he must have something. We need characters in the game. He says it from the hip, he says it from the heart and he is what he is.

"When the spotlight's on there's no hiding place and it takes tremendous courage to actually make yourself vulnerable and put yourself out there. I'm very, very proud that I've got no PR training and I never ever want any. You're going to get me, warts and all, and Harry's very similar. Sometimes you can get undone by that, but we could all sit here and say nothing.

"Harry's had a tough year. Of late, as well, with his sister-in-law passing away, it's been one thing after the other. Hopefully, I've helped him along the road this year because he's had a bit."

Adams spent an afternoon in the company of the FA Cup, courtesy of sponsors E.ON in central London last week. Even though he lifted the trophy as Arsenal captain in 1993, he refused to touch it this time in deference to the wishes of Redknapp: "I'm working for a very superstitious boss. 'When I went to Portsmouth it was incredibly difficult for me to understand this concept that staying in the Premier League is success. It was frightening.

"But I thought there might be an outside chance of nicking something. A League Cup or an FA Cup We haven't done it yet, but we're having a bloody good go at it. As a player, something inside me knew that I was going to lift the Cup eventually. I'd have rather died first than not won it. It was just going to be."

Jamie Redknapp was the go-between who brought Adams to Portsmouth, having seen his former England team-mate coaching for SportAid. When Tony met Harry in a London hotel to discuss a new partnership, Adams told Redknapp he didn't want to be just a defensive coach, he wanted to do it all. 'Harry said: "Yeah, I'll give you enough rope to hang yerself, son"."

Adams' own managerial journey befits a personality that cannot be boxed in by accepted wisdom or practice. Now 41, he spent a season in charge of Wycombe before learning the Dutch way as a coach at Feyenoord and Utrecht.

At Wycombe, he encountered a young centre half named Roger Johnson — the rock in the Cardiff defence that Portsmouth will come up against on Saturday. 'What I always noticed about Roger was that he had fire in his belly. Maybe he misdirected that at an early age, but there was something there. He was fantastic at set plays, scored a lot of goals.

"So I threw him up at centre forward at one stage because he was outstanding in his commitment. It didn't work and the next time I put him up there to start a game, he kind of looked at me as if to say: "What are you doing?". But looking back, there was a great deal of learning for both of us.

"Now he's gone to Cardiff and they've brought him on superbly. He's going to be doing his best to put one over on me I'm sure, but if I've inspired him to do well that's great — negatively or positively."

Adams lets out a guffaw, a contrast to his usual soft, measured tones. In his world, there are no givens and no reasons for negativity. He has travelled more than most.

To the bottom of a thousand bottles and an admission of his alcoholism. And back. You sense he has come to examine everything anew and appreciate the little things which contribute to a whole in which he has found serenity. It is why his empathy towards the stricken Paul Gascoigne — sectioned under the Mental Health Act in February — carries a poignant edge. Adams said: "What's happened to Gazza is an incredibly sad thing for everyone concerned. I know it's incredibly difficult to get sectioned. I feel sad for a guy who's a beautiful, warm human being.

'The Gazza I experienced 10 or 12 years ago was a wonderful man. It just saddens me. I got out and I'm grateful, absolutely, that I got out and that I chose a different life. I just wish he could do it as well. We've all got our own paths and sometimes you can take this illness to the grave, I'm afraid.

"I've got a great deal of peace in my life but I don't pat myself on the back every day and go: "Hallelujah". I haven't had a drink for 12 years come August. It's been a long time. I've got a beautiful family. I've got a beautiful home. I've got wonderful children. I've got a great lifestyle. The sun's shining and everything's happy on the inside as well, so I do walk with an enormous amount of peace and, hopefully, some humility."

Add tranquility to the mix if Portsmouth lift the Cup on Saturday.