Luke Garrard dying to take shirt off Frank Lampard’s back after Everton cup tie

Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard will not stop his players swapping shirts with Everton’s – because he has his eye on Frank Lampard’s clobber.

Vanarama National League side Wood have beaten AFC Wimbledon and Bournemouth to earn a dream FA Cup fifth-round trip to Goodison Park.

Many lower-league managers clamp down on their players exchanging shirts with top-flight sides, claiming it shows the opposition too much respect.

But Garrard is having none of that, especially after defender and Toffees fan Kane Smith memorably celebrated on the pitch at Bournemouth with a replica shirt of his hero, former Everton full-back Tony Hibbert.

“I’m taking Frank Lampard’s shirt off his back! His zippy, his ball. I’m getting everything,” Garrard said.

“Seriously, though. This isn’t too much respect. We’ve done our analysis on them. So the respect’s there. Hugely. I’m not foolish in any way, shape, or form. They are unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.

“These are international players playing week in week out the highest level. So trust me, there’s a huge respect.

“But we go there with a purpose, we go there with a job. And if we can implement our game plan, we will cause them problems. But we need to be lucky. And sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.

“Through this cup run we’ve been lucky. It’s been really simple – working hard and working together as a team and riding our luck. And if we can do that on Thursday night, we have a chance.”

Garrard revealed Toffees counterpart Lampard sent him his congratulations after they sealed their trip to Merseyside.

“He texted me after the Bournemouth game and I think he’s a class individual,” he added.

“Just to have the luxury of five minutes with him before the match or potentially an hour