Smith has his leader for Walsall at Wembley

Back in the spring of 2004, when Chambers went on loan from Albion to Sheffield Wednesday, Smith was the senior pro and skipper who took the youngster - then playing at right-back - under this wing.

Two years later, he was the assistant manager at Leyton Orient who offered Chambers a route back into the game, following 18 months out with a back injury.

And a further five years on Chambers, then deemed surplus to requirements at Brisbane Road, became one of Smith's first signings for the Saddlers after becoming manager at the Banks's.

So, on the eve of the club's first-ever trip to Wembley, there is perhaps no-one better than the skipper, or indeed his twin brother James, to give some insight into Smith the man.

After all, they have known the "gaffer" for decades. "One of our best friends is Dean's cousin," explains Adam.

"His dad used to throw parties and family and friends would come round, so we had met Dean on previous occasions when we were kids.

"Then I ended up going on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and playing alongside him. I was a young lad coming from West Brom and he looked after me during my time there.

"When I finally got myself fit after my injury my agent gave Dean a call when he was Orient. I went down to train for a few days. I ended up staying five years."

It was at Wednesday and Orient, Chambers got a feel for the style Smith has been able to put into practice since taking over at the Banks's in 2011.

To brother James, who signed for the Saddlers in 2012, it came as more of a surprise.

"From my first few days at the club, I remember walking in and seeing the rapport he had with a couple of players, my brother included," he says.

"It kind of took me back a bit, I had never seen it before.

"But the way he is with his players, the way he talks to them, the way he communicates and the way he gets his message across of what he expects, is not like most managers I have experienced.

"I think he's alluded to it. He is not a manager who is going to shout every word, he tries to get an impact in a different way."

James believes Smith's approach is the reason the Saddlers have consistently gotten the best from players who didn't shine elsewhere.

"There is one player who comes to mind," he says.

"The way he handled him, the way he spoke to him when he was late, or would do things which would let the team down, he ended up getting the best out of that player, who went on to be a fans favourite.

"I think that is testament to what he is like as a manager.s

"I think, no matter your age, or what clubs you have been at previously, whatever it might be, he has a way of getting the best out of people and treating them like human beings."

Adam believes Smith's willingness to go the extra mile for his players creates an atmosphere where his charges are motivated out of not wanting to let him down.

"Everyone respects him but they don't respect him through fear," he explains.

"The lads don't want to let him down, they want to play well for the gaffer.

"It is not because they worry about getting a rollicking. It is because he treats you well and you don't want to let him down.

"He gives you a great environment to better yourself and really goes the extra mile.

"There have been players in my time here who have had issues off the pitch and the gaffer will goes beyond what most would do to help these players, to give them every chance.

"It might not be someone who is playing, it might not be someone who has played all season but he will go out of his way to try and help each individual player to get through their problems.

"He helps them through things. I cannot speak highly enough of him.

"He always says he does not ask people to do things he wouldn't do himself.

"That is from little things around the training ground to the big things. He will do the same things as everyone else. All you can do is respect that."