The (Long and Winding) Road to Wembley

Southport FC V Altrincham FC (Saturday 16th October 2021) Alan Randall’s 1970 ukelele-classic, Football Football I Like Football, lists the then members of the football league sort of alphabetically. Southport proudly takes its place in the final verse after Swansea and before Scunthorpe. There's no mention of  Altrincham of course but later in the 70s could have, should have, would have been if the league's re-election process had favoured them (and if Randall ever re-recorded it). No doubt about it, this was a big name cup tie. Southport, The Sandgrounders, former members of the football league, quarter-finalists in 1930/31. Altrincham, The Robins, riding high in the National League, with a giant-killing pedigree that this Birmingham City supporter shall say no more about. Nothing to see here. In was a lovely Autumnal Lancashire day at The Pure Stadium, Haig Avenue.  The First Round Proper was the prize at stake, with Owls, Black Cats, Monkey Hangers, Tractor Boys and many mo

Bedfont Sports Club FC v Sholing FC (Saturday 2nd October 2021) Wow. Half time entertainment by Wet Wet Wet covering Rhianna's 'Umbrella' and Bob Dylan's 'A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall'? It was raining here at The Bedfont Recreation Ground. The sort of rain where you think it can't possibly get any heavier and then it does. And then it does again. Fair play to Bedfont Sports (The Eagles), Sholing (The Boatmen), the officials and 151 hardy souls who cheered on both teams in this exciting encounter. The Bedfont Recreation Ground has a 3G surface and, thankfully, some decent overhead cover in a few seated and standing areas. I learned that the venue was a host for the 2018 CONIFA World Cup; a tournament I wasn't aware of until now. It's an international trophy competed for by states, minorities, stateless peoples and regions unaffiliated with FIFA. The 2018 tournament was held in and around London and won by Kárpátalja (a Hungarian minority mostly in wes

Carshalton Athletic FC v Ebbsfleet United FC (Saturday 18th September 2021) Onto the Philadelphia-leg of my Saturday FA Cup double-header and it was over to the 3G pitch at Carshalton Athletic for the meeting of The Fleet and Carshalton's Robins.  Carshalton Athletic has an impressive focus on community with several junior teams, an extensive community programme and awards galore including a UEFA European Community Club silver award. The community and family ethos is clear around the ground and the tie had a real family-friendly feel. Formally registered in 1905, the club moved to their current home after World War I, dedicating The War Memorial Sports Ground  to members of the club who lost their lives in the conflict.  Roy Hodgson has connections with both clubs, from 1969 to 1971 playing for Gravesend & Northfleet (Ebbsfleet's previous club name until 2007), and from 1974 to 1976 ending his playing career with The Robins. His management career then took in a zoological s

Sutton Common Rovers FC v Jersey Bulls FC (Saturday 18th September 2021) I won't go on about it, but just like Phil Collins at Live Aid, I was going for the double-header today. For Wembley Stadium read Gander Green Lane, Sutton and for JFK Stadium Philadelphia read The War Memorial Sports Ground, Carshalton. Against All Odds, I made it. First up was a tie between a team I'd already seen in this year's competition hosting a team that's been making waves; the top scorers in the FA Cup this season to date. The Commoners versus The Bulls at the home of League Two's Sutton United. On a lovely warm late-summer's day in South London there was No Jacket Required for this live BBC stream. I like Jersey Bulls style. As they said when launching in 2018, "Jersey may be most famous for its cows, but they'd be nowhere without the bulls." After a cagey start from both sides, Jersey ably demonstrated  that you can't beat a bit of Bully by going 2-0 up with a

Worksop Town FC v Newport Pagnell Town FC (Saturday 4th September 2021) Prior to kick-off an impeccably observed minute's silence at The Windsor Foodservice Stadium, home of Worksop Town, noted the passing of Lance Hardy. Lance spent many years at BBC Sport covering World Cups and other major events but started his journalism at The Worksop Trader and had a long affinity with the club, playing a leading role in the club's recent recovery from financial challenges. Programme notes tell the story of long-standing and close relationship between Lance and Worksop Town. The fourth oldest association football club in the world, founded in 1861, Worksop Town's 'Tigers' roared in the FA Cup in 1955/56; Bert Trautmann's season. A year when my team, Birmingham City, reached the final and lost to Man City and the incapacitated German goalie. The result doesn't change no matter how often I watch the 2018 film 'The Keeper'. Always 3-1. Every time. In that season

Sutton Common Rovers FC v Steyning Town Community FC (Wednesday 25th August 2021) Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing Halesowen Town and Sutton Coldfield Town in the preliminary round. Tonight it was Sutton Common Rovers "at home" to Steyning Town Community in a preliminary round replay. I promise I'm not a Sutton-obsessive, after all there are others. Sutton Athletic in Kent, Bishop Sutton near Bristol, and obviously new members of The Football League, Sutton United. If you're reading this, Chris Sutton, don't worry...you're safe. I say "at home" because I was expecting to be paying a visit to Gander Green Lane, the home of Sutton United, where The Commoners ground-share. However, after some wet weather causing delays in pitch upgrades Sutton United have had to postpone the start of their home campaign in League Two. So it was off to Merland Rise, the home of Banstead Athletic FC, for me and 83 other hardy souls to witness this gateway to the