Friday Freebie: The Romance Is Still Alive
FA Cup weekend is here
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Over the course of this weekend starting on Friday evening the Emirates FA Cup begins it’s long journey to Wembley Stadium in May. Games started on Friday evening and stretch to Sunday afternoon for a place in the Preliminary Round of the competition.
Whilst the elite level of the game have 99% washed their hands of the competition, for non-league clubs and fans there is still the prestige and prize money that the clubs saviour and memories for players, staff and fans alike to never forget.
This is where the romance of the cup still remains, despite the earlier and earlier start date. Some will be playing their first competitive game of the season with league campaigns still to kick off next weekend, others have played one or two league games.
With the FA Vase also beginning this month there is a danger for some that before August has finished interest in the national cup competitions is over for another season and almost literally before it’s properly begun.
But for those who progress the rewards can be small or great. The prize money still needs some re-organization in my opinion although it’s not to be sniffed at by winning a couple of rounds.
It’s a little bizarre that replays are still evident in all the qualifying rounds, probably the one area where it’s a headache to turn a game around so quickly in the space of a couple of days.
Where they have reduced that in the opening rounds proper there was a delay to the following midweek to play the extra game yet the administration is pretty much all volunteer led at these levels but they get the harder work!
Last season we saw some outstanding non-league performances and it propelled the names of a few into the minds of many. A lot of you can probably say you’ve heard of Ramsgate, Sheppey Utd, Horsham and Cray Valley Paper Mills, but how many who ended up following their fortunes can say the same?
That is what the FA Cup still has to offer and why it’s still treated with respect by non-league clubs. The memories of trips to play Charlton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon and Barnsley, plus hosting Walsall.
However well you are or aren’t doing in the league the cup brings a different focus, it either helps or it hinders. Ramsgate and Horsham reached their respective play-off’s, Cray Valley won the title in the Isthmian South East.
No question they were all overshadowed by Maidstone Utd’s run to the 5th Round Proper, immense pride for their club, players, staff and supporters. I watched their opening game back in September last year, they emerged 4-1 winners over then Step 5 Steyning Town but not before a scare right on half time that would have brought Steyning level at 2-2 and potentially a different second half.
It also didn’t halt their league progress as they also finished inside the play-off’s in the National League South and banked a huge amount of money that has allowed them to replace their worn out 3G surface over the summer.
Prize money in the early rounds isn’t life changing but a couple of thousand pounds can make the difference for a Step 4 or 5 club to pay bills or get started on some much needed ground improvements.
We all have FA Cup memories, the reason why I am a Spurs supporter (more a follower than supporter these days) was my late father bringing me back home and away shirts from the FA Cup Final in 1982.
The giant-killing’s or upsets that still occur, Sutton Utd in 1988 from what is now the National League knocking out the holders Coventry City in the Third Round will spring to mind, Woking and Tim Buzaglo’s hat-trick to defeat West Brom 4-2, and last season Maidstone knocking out Premier League bound Ipswich Town.
Older readers will go back further to the 1970’s and Hereford famously talking the scalp of Newcastle Utd, everyone will have their own or remember one or two that didn’t affect their team but made you sit up and take notice.
What are your best FA Cup non-league memories? Has your team been on the end of a giant-killing or been the giant-killers? Let me know in the comments below.