STEVE, David and Garry have more in common than just Flitcroft blood pumping through their veins.

Not only have the trio of footballing brothers all carved out careers for themselves as midfielders, they all play their part in building the Flitcroft empire off the field as well.

Blackburn Rovers captain Garry set up his own property company while he was at Manchester City before his move to Ewood Park eight years ago - a venture in which both Macclesfield's David and Accrington Stanley's Steve are involved.

First and foremost, however, football is their passion, and the atmosphere is sure to hit fever pitch among the family as they sit down to watch Match of the Day tomorrow night, when hopefully all three will have featured in the FA Cup third round.

Steve, 22, who hit the third of Stanley's five sweetly struck penalties in their shoot-out second round replay win over Bournemouth, is hoping to be involved in the Reds' home tie with Second Division Colchester. David, who turns 30 this month, will travel to Swansea with the Silkmen while Garry, at 31 the eldest of the footballing Flitcrofts, locks horns with Birmingham for the second time in a month.

These are exciting times for the brothers, but more so for Steve. For after watching Garry reach the fifth and sixth round of the competition, and seeing David perform admirably for Rochdale in their televised fifth round defeat at Wolves last season, it's his turn to enjoy his spell in the spotlight.

"I'm in my third season with Stanley now and every season we've done better and better," said Steve, who has impressed in his 10 appearances, mainly as a substitute, in the current campaign.

"I'm hoping I'll be able to break into the first team soon, but John (Coleman) has spoken to me and told me to be patient and hopefully, if I do well, I'll get my chance.

"And some of the other players have shown that when you do get in the side, you've got to take that chance."

Steve's final season as a youngster at Rovers was full of disappointment and, after being sidelined through injury for four months - only playing for the final seven weeks of his apprenticeship, he was released.

Trials with Stockport and Crewe failed to materialise into anything concrete.

But ex-Blackburn midfielder David Dunn, his friend and former fellow scholar at Brockhall, tipped Stanley manager Coleman the wink about Steve's abilities in the middle of the park, and the Reds chief duly snapped him up in the summer of 2001.

The youngest of the three Flitcrofts, Steve does the plumbing in Garry's properties.

It's a trade he learnt on the compulsory once-a-week college courses Rovers trainees were sent on, and has stood him in good stead.

Yet he is hoping to ditch the plunger for more hours at the Interlink Express Stadium if Stanley fulfil their ambition to become full-time professionals next season after a successful start to life in the Nationwide Conference and profitable FA Cup run.

"I always wanted to be a professional footballer," he said.

"Having said that I've really enjoyed my time at Stanley.

"There's a great team spirit and it's a great time to be here."

But the FA Cup isn't the only piece of silverware the Reds have got their eye on.

On January 6 they entertain Fleetwood in the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy - a prize which manager Coleman is determined to win this year - followed swiftly by the FA Trophy, when the team travel to take on Conference rivals Burton Albion in the third round.

But tomorrow's third round tie is first on the agenda, and Steve believes they are capable of another cup shock thanks to their experience and guile.

"It's great having Paul Cook in the side because he talks to you all the time when you're on the pitch, which really helps," the former England schoolboy international said.

"I think Rory Prendergast, Lutel James and Paul Mullin will be our danger men on the day, but everyone's got to do their job, like we have in the other games."

Garry admits it's a proud time for the Flitcroft clan.

"When you've got three brothers who all play football together, you've got a head start on everyone else when you're younger," the Rovers skipper said.

"As we got older we all went our separate ways but we still try to get to each other's games whenever we can, and hopefully we'll all be watching each other on Match of the Day tomorrow night."