Thursday, 5 January 2012

Time to dust down Ronnie Radford... The FA Cup 3rd round

The first full weekend of January. Resolutions already starting to fade... Christmas decorations coming down. Wrexham fans reminisce over 1992. The FA Cup reaches the third round, and the big boys join the party.

Will this season be any different? Every year after the second round draw, the cameras park themselves in the player lounge of a small team waiting for the big draw. This year, the David v Goliath draws appear to be Everton v Tamworth, Liverpool v Everton and Tottenham v Cheltenham. Will we be showing clips of those in 40 years?

Friedel misses the ball, and his wig

There is always the accusation that the big clubs don't take the cup competitions seriously any more. Try telling Manchester City last season. Will Redknapp be sending out his Europa League team on Saturday? Those looking for shocks will be perhaps nervous that even the stiffs will probably have plenty of international caps between them, and playing for places. Those clubs in mid-table mediocrity will be more concerned with avoiding relegation than a trip to Wembley.

In 1989, Sutton United (Conference) beat Coventry City (Division One, 1987 winners) 2-1. Everyone remembers the result. Who cares that Sutton got dicked 8-0 by Norwich in round 4?! Newcastle's conquerers in 1972, Hereford made it through to round four, and were beaten by a Geoff Hurst hat-trick in a replay (I have it on good understanding the ball crossed the line all three times).

Dave adds another scalp

The greatest cup shock of all, the 1988 final. Wimbledon (as they were) beat that season's champions Liverpool courtesy of a Lawrie Sanchez goal and a Dave Beasant penalty save. What happened after that? Wimbledon gradually sank down the divisions, moving to Milton Keynes, and the fans evolving into AFC Wimbledon, even taking ownership of the honour of winning the 1988 final. Will we ever see the likes again?

Probably the best final in the world. Probably...

I meant the likes of rising from non-league to win the cup. Not Dave Beasant's hair.

No comments:

Post a Comment