Out of the Cup after 95 minutes

United 0-1 Leeds United
FA Cup 3rd Round; attendance 74,526
You can always rely on football to let you down and not having a decent run in the FA Cup is a big let down.

The day started bright, cold and dangerously icy underfoot. It went down from there. The car crawled half a mile down the frozen side streets to the traffic on the main road. Another half mile and we get stopped by a massive police squad with dogs as they clear a local pub of Leeds fans. So now stuck behind a marched convey of rival football supporters and a dozen police vans. Let's make a short cut, park up and walk the rest of the way. Good idea, except now the rival fans and police have turned up the road and are hundred yards behind us. It turns out to be a fortuitous move as we can walk on clear road. No traffic, no slippy pavements and we manage to shake off our followers.

What can I say about the game? Had enough chances just didn't put one of them away. Saw the Leeds goal as it literally trickled into the net. Just standing with thousands of others for what seamed an age before it crossed the line.

Went home grumpy, the magic of the FA Cup has faded for another season. Best quote of the day was over-hearing someone walking along "Well that's saved me a lot of money. Might as well go to Milan now 'cos that'll be the last game we play in that competition". Let's hope there is a bounce back on Wednesday with the match at City otherwise it'll be double grumpiness.

Cup Tie at the Reebok

Bolton Wanderers 4-0 Lincoln City
FA Cup 3rd Round; attendance 11,193
Get yourself to that football ground for a 3 O'clock kick off. Even if that means being on a packed train from Deansgate station, Manchester to Horwich Parkway. A cramped carriage of both Lincoln and Bolton fans, two bicycles and people back from their holidays with airport baggage.


First half was a rather tame affair. Not many attempts on goal. Got to thinking that the cheerleaders before kick-off had been the best entertainment I'd seen. Toes were now frozen, top tip three pairs of socks for tomorrow's match. Second half and my mate Dave remarked it's got 0-0 all over it. Well how wrong. Two goals in a minute and right into the corners of the net just below us. Suppose we've got our money's worth now. A third followed later thus putting the game beyond reach for the visitors. For those who waited for added time there was a fourth.
Best bits of the day : The Reebock Stadium, it's modern and out of the box but totally functional and efficient. The Bolton fans singing the song about Owen Coyle from the days when he played for the Wanderers. Don't think he'll be coming back as manager.

Admission £13; bus & train combined ticket £5.30, coffee £1.35

Bring on the old tin pot

Ah yes, a reference to the FA Cup. All thrills, giant-killing, boring cliches, and penalty shoot-outs. Then one of the big clubs trots out at Wembley and wins an over-hyped dull final tie. Still love the FA Cup, you always want your team to still be in it.

The 3rd round is always one of the best, the semi-final and 4th qualifying come in after that. It's a full 14 round competition, possibly one of the longest in world football, all of ten months for some of us who start with little local sides in August. After my debacle of not getting to a 2nd round tie when the Stockport County v. Torquay United match was postponed twice due to a waterlogged pitch, I'm now fired up for the January action.

First off to see Bolton Wanderers v. Lincoln City. Bought the tickets, a mere £13, only hour before the Wanderers sacked their manager. Then Sunday it's the big one Manchester United v. Leeds United. The Yorkshire rivals might be two divisions lower but that doesn't bother the fans. This is serious business.

Coming up :
Saturday 2nd January
Bristol City v. Cardiff City 1230h - streaming www.TheFA.com, and Tv S4C
Reading v.Liverpool 1715h on ITV1
Highlights of games: 2230h on ITV1

Sunday 3rd January
Highlights of games (repeat): 0925h on ITV1
Manchester United v. Leeds United 1300h on ITV1
West Ham United v. Arsenal 1615h on ITV1
Tranmere Rovers v. Wolverhampton Wanderers 1815h streaming www.TheFA.com
Highlights of games 2315h on ITV1

FA Cup Streams & Thrills

A FA Cup weekend - the second round ties, the one before it goes big time with the Premiership and Championship clubs in January.

Off to see Stockport County take on Torquay United tomorrow with our £12 tickets. Game could go either way with County looking increasingly like a relegation team from Division 1, and Torquay at the bottom end of Division 2. The weather forecast is more rain, so a damp afternoon wandering through the terraced streets of the Edgeley district of Stockport to get to the ground.

Two matches on Tv and a just announced web streaming game from the F.A.

Saturday 28th November
Northwich Victoria v. Lincoln City k.o. 1245h UCT/GMT; on ITV1
Carlisle United v. Norwich City k.o. 1715h; live streaming on FA.Tv

Sunday 29th November
Kettering Town v. Leeds United k.o. 1345h; on ITV1

The draw for the Third Round is on Sunday at 1555h again on ITV1. Manchester United have number 23 in the big pot of balls to be picked. A very auspicious number. The Cup magic lives on.

FA Cup half way to Wembley

Now it's the first round draw the big media can take an interest. The draw was broadcast live by ITV for half an hour, and they managed to obtain some adverts for motor cars during the break. Must have some viewers then. The most complicated task is making sure there are enough black balls in the pot. I imagined the scenario of having one short at the end and a national scandal blowing up. No worries when you have the veteran ever professional broadcaster, Jim Rosenthal doing the proceedings. He probably has a fact on hand to say when the draw did get messed up?

All my local teams from the first seven rounds are out - Salford City, Altrincham and FC United disposed of this week. When Northwich Victoria were drawn against Charlton Athletic I thought of what might have been had we not lost against them 3-0 the day before. The ifs of football - not even worth going there.

Ties to played over the weekend Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th November which means Tv coverage for a couple of games. Expect to see Oldham Athletic v. Leeds United, and very possibly Paunton Rovers v. Norwich City on the screen.

UPDATE : Oldham v. Leeds to be streamed free by the FA themselves on the internet Saturday 7th Nov ko 1715h in partnership with that Perform company. Paulton v. Norwich on ITV1 7th Nov ko. 1245, and Northwich Victoria v. Charlton Athletic on Sunday 8th ITV1 ko 1330h

Great Night at Stalybridge

Stalybridge Celtic 0-1 FC United
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round Replay; attendance 1,923
The drama as FC United clung onto their only goal to go through to the next round and a tie at Northwich Victoria. A great night out - it sure beats another evening with the Tv.

The Biffa herself got caught up in the cup fever after Sunday's 3-3 draw and decided to join me on public transportation out to the edge of the Pennines. Arrived at Oxford Road Station a little too early. That's the perils of bus journeys sometimes they don't get stuck in traffic. So mooched around. By the time you've read every leaflet on offer about great days out in Lancashire and all day rover tickets you just want the 1907h to Scarborough to roll up.

In Stalybridge at 1926h, and fortunately spotted a huddle of FC fans at the bus stop outside the station. That saves some scurrying around. Big queues to get in. You'd think they'd have more than two turnstiles open when you've got 1,500 away supporters stood in your car park.

The goal from Jerome Wright came out of nowhere. A rocket into the top corner. Well that's how it looked to me from our end. Wild scenes, flare set off (that's the smoke in the photo), jumping around and the obligitory scarf waving.

On the night FC United played the better football, though Celtic were always in the match but just failed to score. The singing about "Going to Wembley" is fun and everybody is enjoying a bit of a cup run. Just getting to the 1st round will the achievement and only 32 clubs from every league and divsion below the Football League are allowed that chance.

We stomped down the long hill back to town. I wouldn't have liked to walked up to this ground, living a flat part of the world and not being a rambling type. Gasping for a bevvy and where else but the noted Stalybridge Buffet Bar on Platform 1. Had a bitter called "SOS" - I usually just pick something from a micro brewery I've never tried before. Excellent finish to the Stalybridge experience.

Admission £10, bus & rail ticket £5.30, beer £2.40, coffee £1.30. Took our own pies and confectionary bars though we noted lots of take aways and chippies in Stalybridge.

FC United 3-3 Cup Thriller

FC United 3-3 Stalybridge Celtic
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round; attendance 2,819
The magic of the Cup on a Sunday afternoon. Bit apprehensive about getting a good result against a team from the Conference North. But a goal up after 13 minutes from Carlos Rocca so maybe this would be the day. However in the end a 3-1 lead slipped to 3-3.

Stalybridge made use of their pacey No.7 who slipped in good crosses, two of which resulted in goals. Their other goal was a dubious penalty decision. Now if only some of our other chances had gone in the net. Ah yes, the words "if only". So went home a bit disappointed. Now considering going to the replay on Tuesday so missing the Salford City v. Blyth Spartans cup match.

Viv Anderson, a ledgendary player (54 games for Manchester United) did the half time cash draw. The Biffa herself bought an "Eric Cantona" badge from the Mega Cabin. I think buying metal football badges and pins might be a hobby she's not told me about. I wanted to buy a programme but they had sold out.

Admission £7.50, took out own pasties & confectionery, travelled by car. Weather - dry, sunny spells and about 14 degrees.

Giggsy magic

Salford City 1-0 Hyde United
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round Replay; attendance 391

Rhodri Giggs beat the offside flag and scored the only goal in a tight match. Whilst other clubs were kicking off their 3rd round games I took myself off to Moor Lane in Kersal, Salford for a re-match of the previous Tuesday. Then Hyde drew 2-2 with Salford.

It's a small cosy ex-rugby ground, and despite the club house getting burnt down last week it's still a welcoming place. The first half didn't see may chances for either side. Though Hyde who are two divisions higher were better organised. When they announced at half time that the tie would go to extra time and penalties I feared not getting home until gone 1900h. i knew this but you never consider it because you're expecting goals.

Second half took a seat in the big main stand. The Salford fans were behind me and they encourage the team and catch me on to the names of the players. Recognised Rhodri Giggs straight away. He runs like his brother, and I've seen him play a season at FC United. As thoughts of extra time came to mind he managed to race onto a ball for a one and one with the keeper. Slotted it home beautifully. Pity it's not on video. He celebrated by running round the back of the nets to the delight of those behind the goal.

Last few minutes Salford managed to hang on. There was about three minutes of added on time, but no announcement of it. Crowd sang songs about going to Wembley. Well it'll be more like meeting Blyth Spartans on Tuesday at this ground. They had a good cup run last year, remember watching them on Setanta. This is a good cup run for Salford, and hopefully i can get down after work in three days time and see it carry on.

Bit of a nightmare getting home. Manchester city centre was a traffic nightmare. Road works, fans coming out the netball international at the Arena, a fascist demo, an anti-fascist demo and scores of riot police, the bus station closed...

Admission £7; bus fares £4.30; donation £1; raffle tickets £1; cup of tea 85p; confectionary 35p; took my own pie for half time.

Bloods against Shaymen

Droylsden 0-2 FC Halifax Town
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round; attendance 902

Circumstances led me to the Butchers Arms Ground on a pleasant Saturday afternoon. It sure beats shopping with the hordes in town. Never been out to Droylsden before, even though I lived here as an under-5 year old.

Nice little ground right in the centre of the town so surrounded by pubs, supermarkets and shops. Modern sitting area but I went for the old wooden shed opposite. The Halifax fans took up behind one of the goals. At half time we all moved around, that's one of the joys of unsegregated non-league football. Sun in your eyes, post in the way, want to smoke a tab then you find somewhere to suit.

The game got underway to a cracking pace and it was Halifax who appeared better organised on the pitch and lots of supporters giving vocal support most of consisting of chanting "Shay-men". They might be two divisions below the Bloods but they have ambitions to get back into the Football League. That's three promotions. They scored with what I'll describe sloppy fumbling in the box. That's what happens when you don't clear your lines or put it out for a corner.

Second half and I'm now with a bunch of Halifax fans at the other end. As usual the action is on the Halifax goal. I should be paid by teams to keep the ball away from their goal 'cos if I'm near your goal it will be safe most of the match. But I did clearly see the second Halifax goal from fans favourite 'Deano' (it's really James Dean) whom I'd describe as a good solid centre forward. Keeps the ball, fights off shirt tugging and then smacks a downward header into the net. That was on 88 minutes. Job good as done.

Did a final check of the Manchester United result - we go to top of table. Also FC United win at North Ferriby to go through to the next round of the FA Cup, along with the Shaymen, Blyth Spartans and Guisley. Another nine rounds and it will be the Wembley final.

Must revisit this ground soon. Easier and quicker to get to than Bury and maybe next time Droylsden will win.

Admission £10, programme £2 (lots of pages and some on colour), bus fare £3.50. Weather - about 15 degrees, slight breeze, a clear early autumn afternoon.

Bridge Beat Road

Maine Road 1-4 Bamber Bridge
FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round; attendance 85
It's three o'clock on a Saturday and the weather is warm enough for just a t-shirt. Get yourself to that football ground for some FA Cup action, then get home and watch the United match on Tv.

The local tv station Channel M came down to film the game. One camera, two blokes - that's no budget telly for you. At least they are doing some recording but I doubt if i'll get to see it.

Game starts briskly but soon it comes clear that Bamber Bridge are having the best of it. One division higher than Maine Road, a bit quicker and pushing for the first goal. The home side are confined to breakaway attacks. That's the first half no goals. Some of the crowd are hearing that Manchester City are winning and are well pleased. One bloke has his old transistor radio doing the commentary. Most of us have moved on to radio reception in mp3 players or mobiles and a set of headphones but it is good to see some old style wireless blissful ignorance. I'm more interested in the FC United cup game in Sheffield. Using Twitter updates on the mobile phone. Well happy with a 3 nil lead at half time. Tune into BBC Radio Sheffield at half time to see if there are any match reports. It might be the world's oldest cup competition with the world's oldest club but nothing is heard. Next time you hear that guff from the BBC about glorious football history, blah, blah they don't actually cover it for the first five months of the competition. Alright FC United won't be going to Wembley but a good Cup run is the joy. Will there be a good Cup run for Maine Road this afternoon?

Cruelly no. Bamber Bridge score early in the second half, Maine Road do a breakaway and pull it back. That's the point in the game when you feel it will turn. It does and Bamber get another three. Felt the score flattered them and is no reflection on "AJ" the regular keeper in Maine Road goal who is let down by the defence.

The Biffa herself comes to pick me up outside the gates and everyone goes home with most of the world none the wiser that a FA Cup tie was played in Whalley Range this afternoon.

Admission £5, programme £1.50 (lots of stats), cup of tea 50p, charity collection £1. Took own pie and biscuit. Weather: 18 degrees C, force 2-3 breeze SSW. Just like a summer's day.

Stayed local for FA Cup

Maine Road 3-1 Alsager Town
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round; attendance 65
At some point in the morning I wondered if I would get to this game. Didn't feel well. Need to be match fit for tomorrow's trip to Old Trafford. What a start to the season? Anyway there are four of us for the annual trip to an early round FA Cup tie. Most football fans don't know this competition starts in August. We always take the little lad from next door, he's now aged two and this will be his third season of the annual visit. He now has the ability to run on the pitch if let. His pitch invasion is quickly stopped.

Glorious fine afternoon after the morning showers, now warm and breezy. Alsager are in red, and from a town near Crewe. So how come they have Scouse accents? Maine Road are the other sky blue team of Manchester, and have a very youthful squad - I'm getting old.

The game settles into Maine Road battling away in Alsager's half, but it is the visitors who score first with a breakaway after 17 minutes . Road pull it back after 37 minutes. Game could go either way.

Visit the tea hut at half time. Noticed they had some programmes for sale, but the big typo saying it was still the 2008-09 season put me off.

Second half we basked in the sunshine. Road put on the pressure and got two more goals. Even got a video of one from a corner. It's rubbish as the sun prevented any monitoring of the pictures and i got caught up following the action as Alsager failed to get the ball out of the area. Alsager had a player sent off - straight red for a foul and the presumably the conversation with the ref who might have be intimidated a little as he walked backwards for 30 metres as the player went forward.

Maine Road go into the Preliminary Round at home against Ramsbottom United on 29th August. They will be sent a cheque for £750 from the FA for winning today.

Admission £5; hot chocolate 80p. Temperature 20 degrees C, wind force 3.

Out of Cup on pens

Everton 0-0 United (aet 0-0, penalties 4-2)
FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley; attendance 88,141
When the United's team was announced it was clear there are games coming ahead that are considered more important. But a good effort all round. Strong solid defending. The only let down was perhaps too many touches in front of goal almost trying to walk the ball into the net.

So when it comes to penalties it's a bit of a lucky lottery. Did well to win the last three shoot-outs I've witnessed but today it wasn't to be. If you don't get your win with two hours of football you can't have any complaints over what happens next. Good luck to Everton in the final - you'll be able to see the pre-run on Wednesday when they meet in a league fixture. Live on Sky Sports.

Thinking about the Portsmouth home game on the same night. Not on Tv but usual seat to see a different line-up.

Canter Across The Cottage

Fulham 0-4 United
FA Cup 6th Round : attendance 24,662
ITV1 served up the coverage and we went round to a neighbour to watch it on his vintage 1996 Tv - state of the art when England hosted the European Championship. A bit of a flakey start but the game soon goes into United's comfortable groove. It's not a question that we'll win but how easily we'll win. Tevez bags a couple and I'd like hime to get a hat trick, Rooney is fired up and gets the second. Park who has a mission to run constantly, get fouled, get up and never complain and resume running is rewarded with the fourth. That'll go down well in Korea.

Another semi-final awaits, another fixture to be re-arranged, it's Wigan away as a game in hand, and another trip to Wembley, though I won't be going. All made possible by having probably the strongest and best squad of players for years.

Leap over the Rams to the QF

Derby County 1-4 United
FA Cup 5th Round; attendance 32,103
Looked forward to this all day. Booked the some hours off work, oh I hate the Sunday shift it's so boring, to get home in time for the cup clash. Now these sort of games can go either way, but after the first goal it was only going to go to the red shirts.

Derby did make a game of it when they got back to 1-3. Nigel Clough is a good manager. I always look for that Fergie body language when he talks to the opposition manager. Alladyce, Zola, Curbishley, Mourinho, Bruce, Clough - they probably swap tales over red wine post match. Benitez, Wenger and others maybe not so cordial.

There was a brief shot of what looked like a goat coming on the pitch. I finally realised it's a bloody long haired male sheep with horns. That's fantastic. What a great mascot. All we get at Old Trafford is someone who is called Fred The Red - a bloke in a padded suit who does a parade around at half time for muppets wanting his autograph.

Strangest lino flag waving when disallowing a Ronaldo goal. You're the lino with a yellow flag, you do that strange side style running down the pitch, you watch a one on one with the goalie, back of the net, watch the celebrations and then you put the flag up. You almost think it's a conspiracy between the officials to keep the match alive for Tv interest. I wonder what goes on in those headphones and microphones between the four men in black.

Nani 29 (scorcer right foot very welcome), Gibson 44 (power drive from a set piece in a crowded box), Ronaldo 48 (header no mess, keeper no chance), Welbeck 81 (a clear chance but didn't blow it, however celebrated on his own, game over).

Next round Swansea or Fulham away. Don't have to buy a ticket and I'd like it to be Swansea only 'cos I've seen Fulham many times.

Cup Win Over Spurs

United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
FA Cup 4th Round; attendance 75,014
When the Spurs team was read out over the speakers it didn't sound like a particular weak team to me. Maye it's because I've seen quite a bit of them on Tv and are familiar with the names. So a goal down after a few minutes. A very good header from Pavlyuchenko who would make my own starting XI every game.

I was suprised that Spurs didn't press for a second goal - one is never going to be enough. Eventually United's attacks paid off. Sat there, just about seeing the play at the far end, wondering when the goal is going to happen when we get a Paul Scholes rocket on target. How they travel through a forest of legs and get to the back of the net is one of those football moments. Berbatov knocks in another a minute later - the tie has changed.

A few new faces in the line-up. I'd seen Fabio play one half of a Reserve game two days previously, and Eckersley who played the second half of that match. The new signing Toscic came on for the last ten minutes. Looks lively. As for James Chester, I never really notice him, but that could be a good thing in a defender. Obviously not making mistakes.

Last five minutes is always a bit edgy. Spurs moved up a gear and went looking for the equaliser. Too late we're in the 5th round. Call me old skool but I love a good cup run.

Sail past The Saints

Southampton 0-3 United
FA Cup 3rd Round; attendance 31,901
Left work early to get home for this match, wouldn't miss a FA Cup tie with United and a chance to lie on the sofa with a cup of tea whilst Setanta Sports dished up the pictures. After an unsettled ten minutes with a changed team it starting looking promising. Well it was. When Southamption went down to 10 men I thought game ruined now - they'll run out of steam chasing about. Good to see Danny Welbeck back in action for the first goal. Nani takes the penalty, a harsh call by the ref for handball. Noticed he's picked up that Ronaldo trick of stopping in the run up before firing. Rooney coming on lifted the game after a second half spell of sitting back. Made the third goal for Darron Gibson who before then was booting the ball high and wide.

I'm looking forward to the next tie against Spurs. Promises to be a cracker, they play attractive football and have enough players on the bench to create mischief. Bring it on. The FA Cup is still magic, except for the final that's usually bobbins.

FA Cup Prelim Round at Trafford

Trafford 2-4 Stocksbridge Park Steels
FA Cup Preliminary Round, attendance 147

FA Cup Prelim Round Action from biffadigital on Vimeo.
So it was off to Shawe View in Flixton to see if Trafford FC can progress in the FA Cup. A goal up after 18 minutes and it looked promising. This meant I didn't win "the time of the first goal competition" as I had 37 minutes. For those who have never done grassroots football - you pay a quid and get a piece of paper with a number from 1 thru 90 and either an A (away team) or H (home team) printed on it. That's 179-1 odds no wonder I've never won.

Stocksbridge had brought along about 20 supporters and they soon had something to cheer about. When 3-1 up the looked like having a comfortable win. But a Trafford come back got it back to 3-2. But a breakway goal from Stocksbridge put an end to it. Even managed to get two goals on video.

Game 39: Admission £6, first goal ticket £1, tea 50p. No transport costs as got a lift from the man next door. No programme bought.

FA Cup Starts This Weekend...

Forget the ney sayers who moan that the FA Cup isn't what it used to be - it's the 128th season in an era of endless games on the telly so it'll never be the same. But it's still a big competition - 762 clubs entered this year, and it still has magic matches to watch. You still want your team to win its tie - United bundled out by Portsmouth 1-0 with Rio Ferdinand in goal, FC United lost at Fleetwood 2-1 in front of 3,112.....oh one of the teams for 2008-09 South Normanton Athletic has dropped out already....

This year ITV and Setanta have the Tv rights. I've been critical of ITV coverage in the past but it looks like they've pulled their socks up. Usually the very earlier rounds get ignored but this season there is a live game and highlights from the start. The Extra Preliminary Round this Saturday is on the internet. Wantage Town v Brading Town live on Friday night 15th August from 1820h BST (1720h UTC) on the ITV Local website.

There will be highlights of teams like Leek County School Old Boys - I remember FC United had their first competitive fixture at their ground 3 years ago. Anyone for Racing Club Warwick, Cadbury Athletic, Jarrow Roofing or Shepton Mallet. I think I just like the names.

FC United don't enter until the First Qualifying Round with an away trip to Nantwich Town on Saturday 13th September. It'll be interesting if they want to move the kick-off from 1500h to suit the Tv schedule - don't think there would be a fans boycott this time.

Links - http://www.itvlocal.com/facup/.

Bundled out of the FA Cup

United 0-1 Portsmouth attendance 75,465
I never thought we'd be going home mid-afternoon in the drizzle having been knocked out of the FA Cup. One minute it's comedy capers as the ball refuses to go in the Portsmouth net. Still have the mental image of staring down at Carrick desperately trying to get a toe to it in those few inches over the line. Next minute the action is at the order end. Your substitute goalkeeper gets a red card, Rio Ferdinand is now wearing a blue goalkeeping shirt, and they just scored a penalty. After that United lost their shape and Portsmouth did time wasting. Pretty miffed that the 2008 cup adventure ended on a damp note.

Got home and checked events in Yorkshire. Not Barnsley beating Chelsea, that came later, but FC United winning at Goole 1-3. That put's them in the Unibond President's Cup Final which is no consolation if they don't win promotion.

The Cup still has magic

FA Cup Magical Crowds from biffadigital on Vimeo.
It's a Monday and you're still in the FA Cup. So along with thousands in Bristol and Barnsley I'm waiting until 1325h to find out who has whom in the draw. Running round at work to find a PC but settle on an old radio in the kitchen. Perfect. It's Portsmouth at home - another £33, but what the heck. I don't know how many more years I'll be going to Old Trafford - so many people I know have quit for various reasons - age, commitments, expense. So just look forward to it. This year I have a personal target of watching 40 games. After spending 45 minutes having a hair cut last week, a dull first half is total nirvana. Got to make 20 games before the summer break so a Cup run is welcome. I'm not going ground hopping it's United and FC United as first choice. Bring it on. The FA Cup is still has magic as you can witness in the short video. Bit of crowd trouble with two blokes getting thrown out - not a clue what that was about. Pity the Final is the disappointing over-hyped bit at the end.

Four Past Arsenal - Brilliant !!!

United 4 Arsenal 0 FA Cup 5th Round att: 75,515
Turned up thinking this could go either way, depending on who is playing and who is up for the clash. But you don't go to football knowing the outcome you want that unscripted drama. Well you've read the reports and this was a superb performance. Evra is such a good player - he repeatedly runs the whole length of the pitch to attack and defend. Darren Fletcher had a great game, not just 'cos he got two goals, but because he was making moves by being in the right place. Rooney - well we won't win anything without him. Arsenal can take comfort in that they won't play this badly again, and Lehmann can take credit to keeping the score down to four.

Other trivia highlights : Spotting Sylvestre getting out of his 4x4 in the car park behind the Stretford End - forgotten all about him. A ridiculous uncomplimentary song about Adebayor with a reference to elephnats, and not so sure the ditty about Ji Sun Park eating your labrador is appropriate either.

Forward to the last 16

United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
FA Cup 4th Round att : 75,369
The scoreline suggests it looked easy but it a was tense affair for a lot of us. Fortunately Spurs missed a couple, Van der Saar saved a sprawling shot on the ground and there was a Malbranque header that hit the post. Don't know if it was mentioned on tv but when Ronaldo lined up to take the penalty those very annoying and distracting electronic advert boards were put on freeze. No repeat of the miss at West Ham. That should be mandatory for all penalties. Not so sure about watering the pitch at half time - appeared to be a bit of slipping around in the second half. Other item of note - the return of Paul Scholes after a long layoff. Greeting with enthusiatic singing and applause. The late third goal by Ronaldo sealed the game - one of those low ground shots were the keeper didn't get to ground early enough. Took me an hour to wind down after all this.

United Beat Villa (Again)

Aston Villa 0-2 United on BBC1 FA Cup 3rd Round

Round at next door's chomping thru 'Bombay Mix' and sipping Peroni all thru the first half. One of those games were both sides try and grind each other out looking for the first goal. Not quite what we were hoping for. It's a delightful home made Thai curry for half time. Plates on knees catching up on earlier FA Cup goals and some exits from the top division. Half way through the second half we thinking it'll be shelling out £66 (2 tickets) for the replay. Either that, or Villa will sneak one and close up shop. But Vidic is a class act and the defence is superb. The rest you'll know about. First goal is when Giggs actually nutmegs a defender and Ronaldo gets to it first to bundle it in. The second is the substitute called Rooney at his best. Finish off the 'Frizzante' and the chocolates.

3rd Round Day

The first Saturday after the New Year marks a particular point in the season. It's 3rd Round of the FA Cup when the big clubs come in, the minnows are hoping for a pay day and the commentators would like an upset to write about.

Hopefully United will get the result I want at Villa Park. If Wayne Rooney is back on the pitch we might just nick it. My useless prediction is 1-2 for United. Lawro has it down for a 2-2 draw. That's not a result I care for....hands up who wants an extra game in a long, hard season. As it's a 1715h kick off I'll have to find some distractions in the daylight hours.

FC United are away in a 5 a-side competiton in Reisa, Germany. It's called Hallenfussball, and there is a rumour it's live on the internet from 1200h. Can't find any streaming links to it on the DSF TV web page. Having a German vocab of 30 words doesn't help.

Villa Again and again

Watched the thrilling and very muddy FA Cup tie on BBC1 - Harrogate Railway Athletic coming from 1-3 down to make a game of it. I kept wiping the tv screen but it was the cameras splashed with lashing rain. Mansfield won 2-3....

Then comes to draw for the January, third round tie. The number to listen out for was 24. Yet again it's Aston Villa. That's the 4th time in 7 seasons. On a positive note its an away tie - so save £33, and it surely must be on tv. The positive will be that a full strength side will play. Not one of those tinkered make-shift set up that gets you a draw with Burton Albion, or Exeter City and a not needed replay. This time last year United beat them at home with goals by Larsson and Ole in injury time, neither who play for us anymore.
Romance of Cup by Biffafootie January 2007.

Winter Weekend : Fulham Monday

Going to have to wait until Monday before United play again. Two easy fixtures at home coming up. Fulham on Monday night with a promised return of Wayne Rooney, followed by Derby County on the Saturday...can't afford another Bolton blip.

The question is what do on Saturday. I can't face the shops or the Manchester Xmas market on a weekend off. So it could very possibly be a tram trip to Radcliffe where FC United take on Rossendale United. Depends on any hangover, weather and the laziness gene. FC United have lost their last three games so a reverse of fortunes is much needed.

Sunday is going to be an armchair afternoon. Harrogate Railway Athletic are on taking on Mansfield Town in the FA Cup - BBC1 k.o. 1310h. The game is a sell out. For some strange reason I've been following the progress of the smaller Harrogate team. Obviously I want them to win and come to Old Trafford in January for the 3rd round. Bet they'd like that too.

If you're not up for the Cup there is the PFA Centenary match England XI v. Rest of World XI at the Council House (actually it's a very good stadium with balti pies available, not that any City fans read this weblog) - it's on Sky Sport 1, k.o. 1300h. Also available is Fiorentina v Inter Milan - Channel 5 k.o. 1400h and eleven other televised games. So cup of tea, slice of parkin, central heating, Sunday papers and a packet of crisps at halftime. Does it get any better than this?

So

Head to head in Harrogate

Can anyone explain why I've taken an interest in the goings on in Harrogate? Only been there once and that was in the last century. Following a previous post Double Header in Harrogate when both Harrogate Town and Harrogate Railway Athletic had FA Cup fixtures on the same Saturday, both clubs now face each other in the 4th Qualifying round. Story.

Previous Round - 3rd Qualifying
Harrogate Railway Athletic 3-2 Matlock Town att. 254
Harrogate Town 2-0 Clitheroe att. 516
That's 770 people who didn't watch England v. Estonia on the same afternoon.

Double Cup Header in Harrogate

The delightful spa town, and the only postcode in mainland UK not to have the evil Tesco empire robbing the local economy (though they are trying to open yet another boring supermarket for sad sheep on the north of the town) has two FA Cup 3rd Qualifying round games on the same day. Can the place handle it?

Harrogate Town v Clitheroe; kick off 1300h
Harrogate Railway Athletic v Matlock Town; kick off 1330h

Town are in the Blue Square Premier (average gate 513) , and Railway are Unibond Division 1 North (average gate 103). Probably a lot more people in Harrogate will be watching the England game against Estonia that afternoon.

Well not for me, I'm off to see FC United v. Wakefield at Gigg Lane and hopefully a much needed 3 points to get the promotion prospects realised.

FC United Video

FA Cup FC United first ever match
Took a while to encode this. Great day out Chorlton Five go to Altrincham on the tram. Only caught the penalty on the video but got the atmosphere. Trafford 2-5 FC United

FA Cup Tram Trip

Went off to Altrincham on a damp Sunday afternoon. It's FC United with their first ever FA Cup match and it's against the rivals Trafford FC. Two up in about 15 minutes, turns to 2-2. A penalty award for handball puts FC United ahead before half time. The final score is a 5-2 win though the play was a lot closer than the score records. Back home to Stretford on the tram, a good day out for the five of us. FC United now have to travel to Fleetwood Town away on September 15th. Attendance 2238.

Flixton whom we watched in the earlier round won 1-0 yesterday. A 90th minute goal over Salford City.

Road to Wembley

So going to watch United v. Sunderland on Saturday, and then the FA Cup on Sunday absolutely marvelous. The road to Wembley, and I've actually been at an early round game when a dozen fans were singing that. Come to think of it was at Trafford FC in August 1999 and MUTV cameras were at the game - the year Manchester United were pressured to go to Brazil for a FIFA World Club tv tournament. Well FC United are up for the cup - you can download cut out FA Cups for the event. Link.

Flixton v. Bootle

FA Cup Early Round.
That time of year again and off to see a very early FA Cup round. It doesn't get earlier than the Extra Preliminary Round. Our first ever visit to Valley Road, made a wrong turn and had to ask for directions. However this was young Archie's first ever match. He lives next door even at 8 months old he was impressed by the shouting and the flag waving linesman in front of the stand. It was a close game, managed to see all the goals but not capture them with the camera.
Flixton 2-1 Bootle
HT 1-0 Attendance 49
Now meet Salford City at home September 1st.

FA Cup Final

A dull first half, a disappointing result loosing to one Drogba goal in extra time. Ah well, another season over. A rest for two months...watch some cricket, gardening, allotment, film making, holiday in the sun. As you can see I lost my only bit of gambling all season, a pathetic 5 pound treble fell at the first hurdle. Don't know whether to carry on blogging footie...well not for a while anyway...Back in August.

FA Cup Semi-Final

Watching this in my hotel room in London. A small telly at the end of the bed. The last time I was in these circumstances was the 1999 FA Cup final in the Metropole Hotel, Brighton. A comfortable game. A good half time break nipping out to Spar across the road for crisps and confectionery. Noticed a few empty seats, even though I know people who couldn't get a ticket for the game. Do the F.A. know how to sell a game? Also the last semi at lucky Villa Park for a long time to come. The F.A. are desperate to re-coup on the new Wembley, read all future games. Maybe it's a good stadium but a shame about its location. Football - the national game exploited by people who have a world view that fits on a map of the Underground. United 3-1 Watford.

FA Cup on a Monday

The only goal of the game is a penalty, and it clearly was a penalty. Filmed here from the Stretford End. Packed Middlesboro defence proved very frustrating for United. It was a frustrating game but a 1-0 win was a good win. Dreading any extra time, even worse a penalty shoot-out. Wouldn't have got home until very late. It was a rush to get here and about 3 degrees when we did. Crowd down to around 64,000 but not bad for a Monday night...

FA Cup Replay

BBC1, 2005 ko, waiting for Eastenders to finish. Not happy with the team selection, what do i know, a brilliant start, goals at 2, 4, and 6 minutes. It's going to be a 5 or 7 goal victory. What happened? Second half was a shambles, could have lost this one, hanging on at 2-3, three minutes stoppage time. Reading 2 United 3. Noticed the pitch looked worn out and had faded rugby markings...Bring on Middlesboro..

FA Cup 5th Round

United v. Reading at 1715h...after beating them a couple of weeks ago this game was a big disappointment, a 1-1 draw disappointment. Poor game, squandered chances and bad passing.
Note the empty section of Old Trafford in the East Stand - you don't see that very often.

Romance of the Cup #2

United v. Portsmouth 1715h kick off. Crowd is down to 71,000, a lot of tourists and kids. After a goal less first half, the crowd chanted for Wayne Rooney and eventually he ran on to change the game.

Find this video and thousands of others at vSocial!
Wayne Rooney's Second Goal, well I thought it was going over the bar and obviously David James in the Portsmouth was thinking the same. Link to YouTube video

Romance of the Cup

So the romance of the FA Cup is dead, well not today, not in front of 74,000 spectators. It was a tourist game, the cameras snapping all around us, the leaping to feet at inappropriate moments watching the corner kicks with eyes on a small screen. But it didn't distract from Henrik Larsson's debut goal, nor from Ole's injury time winner. Fantastic, the romance lives, especially when you win.

TV broadcasters are actively encouraging people to video their FA Cup day - no playing action for copyright reason. BBC Story