One of the conversations me and my Dad used to have was if money was no object, what sporting event / events would you most like to see. My Dad always wanted to follow a test series live in Australia. I would love to go to a World Cup final and to see a cricket match in India.
But the thing I've always wanted to do most of all - and please don't laugh at me for this - is to do 'the Great FA cup run'. I've heard that someone actually did it once but basically this is how it goes.
You start with the team nearest to where you live who are playing at home in the very first qualifying match of the FA cup competition. If they win, you have to go and watch them in the next round (wherever they play) and if they lose, the victorious team becomes your new team. You're basically following the 'road to Wembley' - from the very first qualifying round to the actual final.
Who knows what adventures you'd have on the way. Perhaps there'd be long train journeys to some obscure club in the North East of England. Perhaps a mid-week replay at Plymouth Argyle and you have to kip on the station because there's not a train home until 6.00am the next morning. What an experience it would be. Would you be praying for a last minute winner because you didn't fancy the replay at Carlisle on a cold February night?
Well I can't do the real thing at the moment so I'm going on a virtual FA cup run and it all starts tomorrow with the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round. My nearest club playing at home is Castle Vale FC (about five miles from where I lived in Birmingham) and tomorrow they entertain Brierley Hill at the Farnborough Road Ground. The winners of this game will go through to the FA cup preliminary Round one (proper) where they'll be at home to Staveley Miners (they're north of Chesterfield apparently) on September 1st.
So hopefully a nice gentle start with not too much travelling involved if Castle Vale can get through the first two games.
Join me on my virtual journey - The road to Wembley.
The full fixture list for tomorrow's FA Cup extra preliminary round is here
http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/Fixtures/
Last edited by Bangkok Phil; 17th August 2007 at 16:08.
The worst job in Thailand must be the man who has to sit down with a blue marker pen and mark a number two on the two-baht coins to stop people thinking they are one-baht coins.
Seeing a test match at Eden Gardens, Calcutta is one of my goals mate (as is seeing an Ashes test at Lords).Originally Posted by Bangkok Phil
Or would you like to swing on a star?
Castle Vale FC actually have an official website and play in the Midland Combination with other giants of the game such as Barnt Green Spartak and Cadbury United. Castle Vale currently lie 4th in the table after just one game.
http://www.castlevalekingsheath.non-league.org/
Brierley Hill (their opponents tomorrow) don't have a website but according to Wikipedia, are in the West Midlands League and use Halesowen Town's home ground for their home matches. I've been to Halesowen Town's ground several times so I won't need directions if tomorrow's match goes to a replay.
i'll start with stavely miners as i lived in chesterfield for a few years and i've had a couple of games on their pitch.
see you when you get here
No mate. You've got to start with the extra preliminary round tomorrow. Staveley Miners don't enter till the next round.
I'm not standing out in the wind watching some drab encounter with the proverbial one man and his dog and half a dozen screaming footballers' wives while you sit at home with your feet up. No sir. You've got to pick a game as well (the club nearest your home and playing tomorrow)
I have absolutely no idea what the nearest club to Guernsey is (other than Southampton) but I'll have a look and see if I can join in.
-----
Well I never, Portsmouth and Bournemouth are actually closer than Southampton! So why do so many Guerns support Southampton? A mystery indeed, however I'll have to try and find a team in the Weymouth / Poole area.
-----
I'll go with Poole Town F.C. as the car ferry from Guernsey to England docks in Poole Harbour.
Poole Town F.C. is a football club based in Poole, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Western League Division Two in 1930. They won the Western League title in 1957 and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup four times in their history. They are currently members of the newly re-named Wessex League Premier Division.
'We' will face Dawlish Town tomorrow and warmed up with a 4-0 win last Saturday - go The Dolphins!!
Last edited by LeedsLeedsLeeds; 17th August 2007 at 17:23. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Our House - The Big Build
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
The Road Home - Bangkok to Surat Thani
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Southern Oil Palm and Rubber Plantations:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
That's the spirit Leeds.
This preliminary round extra is obviously sorted out by region because all the games seem to be relative 'local derbies'. Dawlish is about three miles from Teignmouth on the Devon coast if memory serves me right so it's not far for them to travel to Poole Town. Enjoy the game! You'll be home to the mighty Bishop's Cleeve if you get through.
Hebburn Town vTow Law Town
I wanted to choose South Shields where my grandmother lived but they are playing away. So I have chosen the next closest club Hebburn Town. Count me in.
-----
PS My dream would be to watch a full Ashes series in both countries and a Golf Open at Saint Andrews.
Last edited by kiwiling; 17th August 2007 at 22:45. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Ok I'm in. The nearest team to me is Barkingside-very close actually, about 4 or 5 miles- home to Stewarts and Lloyds (sounds like a firm of solicitors!). I'll have to google them.
-----
I did a search for Stewarts and Lloyds, and came up with a rugby club in Corby!! It may be a strange game in deepest Barkingside tomorrow!
Last edited by Uncle Harry; 17th August 2007 at 22:59. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Come on Lowey (Lowestoft) ra-ra-ra!
Sur votre bicyclette, mate.
Frimley Green v Colliers Wood United
this is probably inches closer than camberley town who are way too glamourous. rick wakeman was once chairman there i think
the only way to change things
is to shoot men who arrange things
Tiptree Utd v Sawbridgeworth Town.
There is a team about 3 miles from where i lived playing, but they're away.
Everything means something.
is it ok with you guys if i do the womans beach volleyball world championships instead of the FA cup?????? much more entertaining i think though it might involve a bit more travelling...
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
frimley green lost, camberely town won
ain t fair
Castle Vale 3 Brierley Hill 3
Bugger. Looks like I'm making a midweek journey to Halesowen on the edge of the black country for the replay. Not too bad though - about 30 minutes by car.
Sounds like I got to see an exciting first game but have Castle Vale blown their chances?
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Bookmarks