Jon Stead famously humbled Jose Mourinho's Chelsea while at Bradford City and now he's looking for another knockout with Notts County: 'Jose came straight in, shook me by the hand and said "big balls!"'

• e-mail

One of Jon Stead's career highlights came in an FA Cup tie that finished with Jose Mourinho praising the size of his cojones, so perhaps we should not be surprised he has some bold ideas on making such moments more beneficial for smaller teams.

Stead enjoyed a starring role in Bradford's stunning comeback victory against Chelsea three years ago and now the Notts County striker is aiming for another fourth round knockout against Premier League opposition when Swansea visit Meadow Lane. Just as in 2015, Stead has scored in each of the first three stages of the competition and hopes that represents something of an omen.

He is also thinking about how the vast riches generated at the top of the game could be redistributed for the better of those clubs trying to spring a shock. The ideas are not fully fleshed out but provide food for thought nonetheless, beginning with the £1.8million awarded to the eventual winners. 

Notts County striker Jon Stead has been reminiscing about his previous FA Cup exploits 

The 34-year-old is aiming for another fourth-round knockout when his side face Swansea

'That kind of money to any team from the middle of the Championship up isn't a vast amount,' Stead says. 

'So if they win it or lose it, it is not really an issue. Whereas to clubs in League One or Two, even if you spread it, would be a huge difference. I think that needs looking at; bump up the prize money for earlier rounds.' 

Currently third-round winners are given £67,500 each, for example, but Stead is contemplating even further down. 

'The teams that reach the first round from qualifying get pennies,' he says. 

'So even if it filtered past the likes of us to drop into grass roots, and we are talking an extra two or three grand a game, that would make such a change.'

Stead has vivid memories of the day he helped Bradford City shock Chelsea in 2015

Stead pauses, then adds: 'Or it could be that if you beat a team above you in the ladder then you get a greater reward. That might make the teams higher up play stronger line-ups. It's not my job but there are loads of ways I think it could be run better.' 

Stead's job is on the pitch yet his thoughts might prompt discussion in offices at the FA. It is entirely plausible that a formula could calculate prize money for each tie based on the number of places separating teams, thus providing a more substantial windfall for any clubs causing a major upset. David felling Goliath is the essential charm of the FA Cup, so anything encouraging that ought to be explored.

Stead has vivid memories of one of the competition's greatest shocks of recent times. League One Bradford were 49 positions below Chelsea when travelling to Stamford Bridge this weekend three years ago and only had minds on limiting the score when going 2-0 down in the first half.

But Stead struck superbly before the break and three more Bradford goals in an implausible final 15 minutes sent Mourinho's side tumbling out. What made the occasion so memorable was the quality of Bradford's play, topped off by the final goal set up by Stead's impish flick, and the fact Chelsea were champions-elect having won all 10 Premier League matches at home that season. 

They would go on to lift that year's League Cup too and although Mourinho made changes it was a team containing Gary Cahill, Didier Drogba, and a young Mo Salah. 

The striker shared some of those memories with Sportsmail's Laurie Whitwell

'At the final whistle there was disbelief it had actually happened,' Stead tells Sportsmail, still shaking his head. 

'I don't think it sunk in for quite a while. It was pandemonium. We had 6,000 Bradford fans behind the goal and I had about 30 or 40 tickets for family and friends. My daughter was only four, I managed to get her on the pitch. It was a massive occasion.' 

Mourinho recognised the scale of Bradford's achievement. 

'He was straight into the dressing room and shook everyone's hands. He didn't say much just, "Big balls, big balls." He was very complimentary. He had said before the game it would be a disgrace if Chelsea lost so to come in afterwards to show us that respect, when I'm sure he was fuming, went a long way.' 

Stead's goal was a beauty, a left-foot shot from the edge of the box that rifled into the top corner past Petr Cech. 'There wasn't really anything else on and we were backs against the wall,' he says.

Stead scored the first goal at Stamford Bridge three years ago as City mounted a comeback

'It was have a swing and see what happens. I must have caught him off guard.' 

His winning goal at Brentford earlier this month was similar, another wonderful strike with his left when options looked scarce. At 34, Stead still knows where the goal is. 'I don't feel any different now than I did in my late twenties,' he says. 

'I have over 100 appearances for Notts. I reckon I could go at least another two or three years easily.

'I played nearly every minute of the Christmas period, didn't have an issue with that. I'm reading all the time about how tired Premier League players are – I really, really feel for them!' Stead chuckles.

The laughs were less frequent a little over a year ago with the club in economic disarray and at risk of dropping into non-League following 10 straight losses. Then local businessman Alan Hardy completed his takeover and appointed Kevin Nolan, triggering an amazing turnaround. Notts have gone from 22nd to second in League Two and are secure financially.

'It is polar opposites,' Stead says. 'Players and staff were wondering when we were getting paid. We were thinking this could turn really bad if something isn' t done. Luckily enough Alan Hardy came in and saved everything.' 

Having been 2-0 behind, his goal would prove to be the catalyst for a 4-2 victory

Stead credits Nolan for advice that has seen his goals tally remain healthy. 'He is very meticulous with his planning, looking at ourselves, at opposition, all the set pieces,' he says. 

'He studies goalkeepers, so we can capitalise. He scored a lot of goals from midfield, often being in the right place, right time.

'I've never really been a fox in the box, but I think that's something you can get better at, so I am still picking his brain. He is only a year older than me! But he played at the top level for a lot longer.' 

Stead is unequivocal when asked if Nolan could reach the top as a manager too. 

'I'd like to say I don't think he could handle it because it would mean he stays here for longer! But he has all the attributes. You can see he takes a lot from Sam Allardyce but with his own twist. I am sure he can coach top, top players, not just us lads in League Two. He could go all the way.' 

Jose Mourinho was so impressed that he sought Stead out to congratulate him after the game

Promotion would certainly see Nolan's stock rise and Stead places that prospect 'almost to the top' of achievements in a career that has seen him win 11 caps for England Under 21s and score a memorable winner against Manchester United at Ewood Park.

Blackburn had paid Huddersfield £1m to sign Stead in 2004 and he has earned a good living. But the numbers would be much higher if he was breaking through now. His response to that scenario goes against expectations, however. 

'To be honest I don't think I'd like to start again, now,' he says. 

'I came through in the last sort of era as the old YTS, cleaning boots, getting abused daily. I have enjoyed my career.

Stead has fond memories from his career and is eyeing another Premier League scalp

'Football in general I don't really know which way it is going. The majority of lads coming through are fantastic but that's down in the lower leagues where they have that bit to prove. Whether they have that same drive in the Premier League, Championship, I worry they have a bit too much too soon and whether that will stop them fulfilling their potential.

'When I went from Blackburn to Sunderland I didn't progress as well as I should have. That was due to thinking I'd cracked it at a young age. "I'm in the Premier League." I ended up with 18 months standing still. I felt really guilty.' 

Stead got moving again, not least that day in west London. 'For me at the time, it felt like it was my final big moment in football. You wish you could go back and soak it in a bit more.' 

Another Premier League scalp would suggest his story isn't finished yet.