Sir Geoff Hurst believes this season's shock results show the magic of the FA Cup remains very much alive despite many managers opting against fielding their strongest teams.
The likes of non-league Lincoln and Sutton have both progressed to the fifth round, while Millwall, Oxford, Fulham and Wolves have all knocked out teams from higher divisions.
The decision of several leading clubs to continue to make sweeping changes for their cup ties has again called into question the standing of the oldest knockout competition in the world.
Hurst, though, sees no reason why such tactical decisions should take any gloss off the "fantastic'' achievements of clubs from outside the top leagues to have progressed to within striking distance of the quarter-finals.
"There has been some criticism because there have been some of the big clubs, who are involved in the Champions League, that sometimes they don't always put out their best teams, which coming from the old school as I do, that is somewhat disappointing,'' Hurst told Press Association Sport.
"But the benefits really are that it gives an opportunity to the smaller clubs who are playing against almost a reserve side of the bigger clubs to produce an upset and progress through the stages.
"It is still a magnificent competition. Yes, it is disappointing when the big clubs, even with the big squads, don't put their best teams out, but it is still an enjoyable weekend watching it.
"For the clubs who are creating the upsets, it is not a question of 'well, we are only there because they did not play the best teams', all of these clubs are just as thrilled and excited to get through those ties and into the next round, probably more so than anybody else because the smaller clubs have a huge opportunity.
"It is the biggest things in their lives and for them it is fantastic.''
Hurst feels Monday night's televised tie at Gander Green Lane between Vanarama National League side Sutton and Arsenal, the 12-time FA Cup winners, has all the makings of another upset.
"It is a day which Sutton and their supporters will remember for the rest of their lives, whatever happens, to be this far in the competition and playing Arsenal,'' said Hurst, who scored in West Ham's 1964 FA Cup triumph over Preston at Wembley where two years later his hat-trick would help England win the World Cup final.
"That is the beauty of the FA Cup for the smaller clubs,'' he added.
"It will be a great experience for them to play against Arsenal, and it will be a difficult game for the Gunners - we have seen this season the shocks are still there in the FA Cup, and this could be another one.''
On Friday Hurst joined fellow grassroots football ambassadors Martin Keown, Casey Stoney and Jack Rutter, captain of the England Cerebral Palsy football team, to help launch the 2017 McDonald's Community Awards which highlight the efforts of volunteers who make a real difference to their communities.
"It has been fun. We have just been trying to illustrate the work which goes on, with all the volunteers who give their time and lives to grassroots football, with everything which needs to be done, which includes Martin cleaning the toilets!'' Hurst said.