Emirates FA Cup 2019/20 First Round
It's the FIRST ROUND PROPER. Back at the start of August, the 2019/20 FA Cup began and now we've made it all the way to the first round! Well done everyone. As a Birmingham fan, I've some experience of this stage of the competition. From 1989/90, Blues gloriously got straight through to the first round in five of the next six years. Those first round matches resulted in 3 wins and 2 defeats.
The 6th year in that period was the 1993/94 season and the luxury of joining the Cup with the big boys in January's third round. Two words. Kidderminster Harriers.
The 6th year in that period was the 1993/94 season and the luxury of joining the Cup with the big boys in January's third round. Two words. Kidderminster Harriers.
My first vivid memory of giant killing exploits in the FA Cup was not the ubiquitous Motty-Hereford-Newcastle-Ronnie-Radford moment (which I probably did see at the time, but don't remember remembering, if you get my drift), but a few years later when Leatherhead did the business in the 1974/75 FA Cup.
After beating league sides Colchester and Brighton, The Tanners landed a 4th round tie at home to Leicester City (but played at Filbert Street). Another Motty commentary - it's on YouTube. It was dreamland for Leatherhead as they went 2-0 up. Could have been 3-0 but The Foxes pulled it back with their First Division fitness to win 3-2 - possibly their only away win at home? I said at the time that Leicester would probably go on to win the league at some point.
Next in my memory bank comes Blyth Spartans - another green (the colour, not envy, environmental awareness or naivety) outfit, currently managed by Lee Clark, former Birmingham manager. Blues fans probably have mixed feelings about the Lee Clark years. Anyway, back to the Blyth Spartans of the 1977/78 vintage...
League sides Chesterfield and Stoke were dispatched as The Spartans found their way into the 5th round against Wrexham, and then a 5th round replay at home (a packed Newcastle's St James' Park). YouTube again helpful in filling in the details. A dodgy penalty and a second from Wrexham was too much for The Spartans, but getting to the 5th round was some achievement. The Spartans very nearly did for Birmingham a few years back, but somehow Blues snuck through.
Then we have Altrincham. The best non-league side for ages (this is my personal memory bank, so apologies to other non-league sides) and unfortunate not to be elected to the league during the late 70s and early 80s, prior to the days of automatic promotion. From the mid 70s to the mid 80s, The Robins seemed to get past league outfits just about every year in the Cup.
At the tail end of that run, they reached the 4th round in the 1985/86 season. Away from home in each tie, The Robins were the victors against Chorley, Blackpool and then the mighty Birmingham City in the 3rd round. York City were the victors in the 4th round and ended Altrincham's cup interest that year, just as they had done in the 1981/82 season. Thanks to The Alty Files (http://www.lusaweb.co.uk/cuphist.htm) for the info.
First Round: 10 November 2019
So there's a bit of history between York and Altrincham. We have a guaranteed National League North (EFL level 6/NLS level 2) side through to the 2nd round and there's also the Blues connection with The Robins' 1985/86 giant killing and Steve Watson as the current manager of The Minstermen. During the Lee Clark years at St Andrew's, Steve Watson was a first team coach.
All of that is good enough reason for me to make the trip to Bootham Crescent for this Sunday lunchtime fixture, with The Minstermen flying high at the top of the league hosting The Robins from the bottom half of that table at this early stage of the season.
York City FC versus Altrincham FC
Ticket £10. Programme £1.50. Decent Cheese and Onion Pasty £3.50.
Attendance: my estimate 3,000, actual 3,222 (announced on excellent PA system towards end of the match).
Remembrance Sunday was immaculately observed with a laying of wreaths, attendance by members of the armed forces and The Last Post followed by a minute of thoughtful silence around the ground. A memorial plaque near the players entrance of Bootham Crescent pays homage to five York City players who lost their lives in service.
Onto the match and an impressive crowd in terms of size and noise. Hats off to York for keeping the ticket price at a tenner. About 350 fans made the trip over from Altrincham and definitely made themselves heard.
The first half was pretty even with goal-mouth action at both ends of the ground. The best chance of the half fell to York's Sean Newton with a free-kick which smashed against the crossbar after 24 minutes. Like a dry breadstick, it just didn't have enough dip.
Half time 0-0.
Into the all-action second half. Another crossbar incident, this time for The Robins, but even without the benefit of VAR (Variable And Random?), the off-side flag was raised. Just a couple of minutes later, 10 minutes into the second period, it was a penalty to The Minstermen. It looked like a decent spot-kick from Andy Bond, but Tony Thompson in the Alty goal dived the right way and made a good save. But wait,..., there's more. From the rebound we had what seemed like a couple of minutes of goal-mouth-pin-ball and some desperate defending, including another save by the cross-bar.
More end to end stuff for the next 20 minutes or so before the only goal of the game came after 82 minutes. From a slightly fortunate midfield deflection, The Robins quickly broke down the left and Tom Peers curled a shot into the corner of the York City net.
Despite York's best efforts to give us a grandstand finish, that was that. Altrincham through to the second round draw for the first time since 2015/2016 (thanks, Football History Database) and avenging those cup exits at the hands of York City back in the 80s.
Full time York City 0 Altrincham 1
Well done to The Robins and best of luck for the rest of the season in the National League North to both teams.
Nice city York, by the way.
The first round was a pretty eventful thing with many cup upsets including Maldon & Tiptree who join Chichester City in the second round draw. Check out @FACupFactfile (as seen on Football Focus) on The Twitter, for all the stats!
Round 2, coming soon, with all the teams vying for a potentially lucrative 3rd round tie against the mighty Birmingham City!
PS - there won't be too many more matches at the historic Bootham Crescent. York City are moving to a new ground, once all the necessary safety checks and test events have taken place. The 8,000 all-seater Community Stadium at Monks Cross will host both The Minstermen and York City Knights Rugby League FC, probably from early in 2020.
All of that is good enough reason for me to make the trip to Bootham Crescent for this Sunday lunchtime fixture, with The Minstermen flying high at the top of the league hosting The Robins from the bottom half of that table at this early stage of the season.
York City FC versus Altrincham FC
Ticket £10. Programme £1.50. Decent Cheese and Onion Pasty £3.50.
Attendance: my estimate 3,000, actual 3,222 (announced on excellent PA system towards end of the match).
Remembrance Sunday was immaculately observed with a laying of wreaths, attendance by members of the armed forces and The Last Post followed by a minute of thoughtful silence around the ground. A memorial plaque near the players entrance of Bootham Crescent pays homage to five York City players who lost their lives in service.
Onto the match and an impressive crowd in terms of size and noise. Hats off to York for keeping the ticket price at a tenner. About 350 fans made the trip over from Altrincham and definitely made themselves heard.
The first half was pretty even with goal-mouth action at both ends of the ground. The best chance of the half fell to York's Sean Newton with a free-kick which smashed against the crossbar after 24 minutes. Like a dry breadstick, it just didn't have enough dip.
Half time 0-0.
Into the all-action second half. Another crossbar incident, this time for The Robins, but even without the benefit of VAR (Variable And Random?), the off-side flag was raised. Just a couple of minutes later, 10 minutes into the second period, it was a penalty to The Minstermen. It looked like a decent spot-kick from Andy Bond, but Tony Thompson in the Alty goal dived the right way and made a good save. But wait,..., there's more. From the rebound we had what seemed like a couple of minutes of goal-mouth-pin-ball and some desperate defending, including another save by the cross-bar.
More end to end stuff for the next 20 minutes or so before the only goal of the game came after 82 minutes. From a slightly fortunate midfield deflection, The Robins quickly broke down the left and Tom Peers curled a shot into the corner of the York City net.
Despite York's best efforts to give us a grandstand finish, that was that. Altrincham through to the second round draw for the first time since 2015/2016 (thanks, Football History Database) and avenging those cup exits at the hands of York City back in the 80s.
Full time York City 0 Altrincham 1
Well done to The Robins and best of luck for the rest of the season in the National League North to both teams.
Nice city York, by the way.
The first round was a pretty eventful thing with many cup upsets including Maldon & Tiptree who join Chichester City in the second round draw. Check out @FACupFactfile (as seen on Football Focus) on The Twitter, for all the stats!
Round 2, coming soon, with all the teams vying for a potentially lucrative 3rd round tie against the mighty Birmingham City!
PS - there won't be too many more matches at the historic Bootham Crescent. York City are moving to a new ground, once all the necessary safety checks and test events have taken place. The 8,000 all-seater Community Stadium at Monks Cross will host both The Minstermen and York City Knights Rugby League FC, probably from early in 2020.
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