Portsmouth for the Cup!

London, UK

I've been saying for quite some time that Portsmouth have their name on the FA Cup. The south-coast team have only won the Cup once, in 1939. Also through to the semis are Cardiff City who famously beat Arsenal in the 1927 final. Barnsley, conquerors of Chelsea yesterday, captured the trophy in 1912. West Bromwich have won the Cup on 5 occasions and are expected to despatch Bristol Rovers later this evening.

UPDATE - West Brom beat Bristol Rovers 5-1 to reach the semi-finals.

It'll be the first time in 100 years that only one side from the top flight of football has reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

FA Cup - 2nd Round round-up

Here's my article which has appeared on the BBC London 94.9FM Non-League Show website:

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©David Haines

FA Cup - Round Two review

Jeremy Jacobs

Jeremy Jacobs takes a look at the highs and lows of the FA Cup Round Two games

I’m feeling a little chuffed after this weekend's FA Cup 2nd Round matches. I predicted, in my last article of a couple of weeks ago, that Havant & Waterlooville would overcome Notts County. They did 1-0.

Not the best of goals but a win is a win is a win! The Hawks, who were formed just nine years ago (a merger of Waterlooville FC and Havant) now face the victors of the Swansea City/Horsham FC clash.

Horsham, managed by former Crawley Town goalie, John Maggs, fought back to equalise with a penalty in the mud and rain at Queen Street last Friday night. Sixty years ago, Horsham had their first taste of the FA Cup Proper. They lost 9-1 to Notts County. I don’t believe there will be such a scoreline at the Liberty Stadium for the replay on December 11th.

In the draw for the 3rd Round is Chasetown. The “Scholars” as they are known, held Port Vale 1-1 and have the prospect of playing Cardiff City at home should they beat their “Potteries” opponents. This was a tremendous result for the Midlanders who were only formed as a junior side in the 1950s.

Much was expected of Staines Town of the Ryman Premier, particuarly after they put out Stockport County, albeit on penalties, in the last round.

In the run up to their home tie with Peterborough United, Staines players and officials, when interviewed by the BBC, were hoping for another upset. Fatal. Darren Ferguson’s side, probably riled by the comments gave hapless Staines a lesson in quality football. They took a three-goal half-time lead with two more following in the second-half.

In the end, they could have scored nine or ten. All goals were scored by former non-league stars. Craig Mackail-Smith, the former Dagenham and St Albans striker moved his Cup tally this season to seven and Aaron McLean, once of Aldershot, also scored. Staines were lucky to get nought!

Up t’North, Harrogate Railway FC in their distinctive red and green parrot-style kit, gave Mansfield a run for their money. When Mansfield scored their third and killer goal, Harrogate seemed to run out of steam!

Elsewhere, Oxford United and Burton Albion live to fight another day but Torquay, following their heroics against Yeovil in the last round, succumbed to Brighton. Kidderminster and Rushden also fell by the wayside.

In the only Blue Square Premier tie, Cambridge United beat Weymouth and now face a glamorous tie at Wolves.

last updated: 07/12/07

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FA Cup 2nd Round Proper

London, UK

It's the FA Cup 2nd Round Proper this weekend. It's that time of year when the smaller clubs have the opportunity to advance to the 3rd Round and meet one of the "big boys" like Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United of the Premiership. Some of those smaller clubs are from outside the Football League

The two fixtures that stand out for me are Horsham v Swansea City (playing Friday night) and Staines v Peterborough United. Both Horsham and Staines play in the same league as my club Margate and both play teams that Margate have played previously in the FA Cup. In the 1972/3 season, Margate beat Swansea (then of League Division 3, now League One) 1-0. Four years earlier, Peterborough United beat Margate 4-0 in front of over 7000 spectators at Hartsdown Park.

The last time Margate had the opportunity to reach the 3rd Round was 5 years ago. After beginning their FA Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Gravesend & Northfleet (now affectionately known as Ebbsfleet United) in the 4th qualifying round, the 'Gate beat Leyton Orient 1-0 after a 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road. Due to the ground re-development at Margate, the victory over Leyton O. and the ensuing 2nd round clash with Cardiff City were played at Crabble, the home of Dover Athletic

In front of BBC "Match of the Day" cameras, Margate lost 3-0. But hit the woodwork twice.

FA CUP "Giantkillers" Yeovil Town

London, UK

Poor old Yeovil. For years they stunned the football pundits by their several shock FA Cup victories over clubs from the Football League. The most famous being the 2-1 defeat of Sunderland in 1949.

But today, as a League club now themselves, they suffered the humiliation of being defeated 4-1 by Blue Square side Torquay United, who lost their League status after 80 years last season.
So the famous "giantkillers" were "giantkilled" themselves. But I do find the term "giantkillers" in relation to Yeovil a tad incongruous. Yeovil is a market town in south-east Somerset with a population of not much more than 40000.

I've never liked the "green slime" from down the A303 - it all goes back to a nasty incident involving their goalkeeper just after the final whistle in a match against my team, Margate FC. It was a Southern League fixture at Hartsdown Park on December 2nd, 1967. Coincidentally, Margate had already drawn Yeovil in the First Round of the FA Cup. The fixture was meant to have taken place at Huish on Saturday, December 9th. Inclement weather and an icy pitch meant that hundreds of Margate fans had to curtail their journey at Paddington Station. But just a few days later, in front of over 6000 fans, Margate dented West country pride by winning 3-1 in the re-arranged tie. A gallant 4 made the journey from Margate.

Sick as a parrot ou mal comme un perroquet

Well what do you expect if you don't take your chances and play badly in defence?

Answer, you tend to lose.

Today's FA Cup exit at the hands of Hitchin Town (how embarrasing is that) was awful. We allowed a very average side to dominate possession and paid the price. 1-0 down after 20 minutes, Margate did come and should have equalised before half-time. Two further goals were conceded before a dramatic comeback. Three goals in ten minutes to get back to 3-3 before the home side slotted their winner with a quarter of an hour to go.

Three goals in the last 10 minutes were enough to beat Fisher Ath. in the last round but no such luck today.

Elsewhere, "les rosbifs" shatter French dreams by reaching the Rugby World Cup Final with a 14-9 victory over the home side in Paris.

Tangerines, Robins & Canaries

A title of a poem or some form of abstract art? Well neither, just the latest post at MFC's official website. It's the FA Cup again next week. I'm travelling a few miles up the A1(M) to see, hopefully, Margate conquer the Canaries. Not Norwich City but Hitchin Town who share the famous Norfolk club's nickname.

Whilst the rest of the population is glued to the "box" watching England v Estonia ( how riveting is that) in the Euro qualifiers or France v England in the Rugby World Cup, several hundred souls will be watching one of the most fascinating qualification round ties of this seasons FA Cup. For those of you who'd like to know a little more, please go to the FA website.

If you live in the London area, BBC London 94.9FM, has the "Non-League Football Show" on Monday nights at 9pm.

Mighty Margate

Whether my non-appearance had an effect or not, I was delighted to see that Robin Trott's Blue & White army has progressed to the next round of the FA Cup. 0-2 and 1-3 down away at Fisher Athletic the boys in blue won 4-3.

The new football season.........

...............is now well underway. Yesterday, I took my father along to see Margate battle out a 1-1 draw in the Ryman Premier with Chelmsford City. (Luke Coleman is pictured celebrating his first Margate goal).

I know it was only August 18th yesterday, but it was also the Extra Preliminary Round of the **FA Cup!

Over 730 clubs have been accepted into this years competition and many of the "minnows", according to the brilliant Tony Kempster site, did battle yesterday.

Here a just a few of the results that caught my eye:

Billingham Synthonia 2 Northallerton Town 1 (Billingham Synthonia is derived from "synthetic" and "ammonia")

Dereham 12 (yes 12) Fakenham Town 0

Epsom & Ewell 1 Crowborough 7

The beautifully named Glasshoughton Welfare 1 Liversedge 1 (Glasshoughton managed by Bruce Grobbelaar)

Ledbury Town 2 Boldmere St.Michaels 6

Team Northumbria 0 Consett 11 (yes, 11)



Acknowledgements:

Tony Kempster
Margate "Don"
Non League Paper

** Margate enter the competition in two rounds time. Our opponents will be either Ringmer from the Sussex County League or Chatham from Ryman One South. In December 2002, we were on BBC1 Match of the Day losing to Cardiff City in Round 2. How times change - but that's football.