The road to Wembley starts here
December 11, 2008
For many teams,this weekend will commence what they believe will be the road to Wembley. However none of the players who will be dreaming of a trip to the capital are on thousands of pounds a week, subject to multi million pound transfer fees or are inundated with offers to be part of lucrative sponsorship packages.
Most of these players play for the love of the game and combine their passion with a regular job which pays the bills. They play for clubs that use a wooden gate for security, as opposed to full-blown roller shutters as is seen at most professional football grounds. The competition to which I am referring of course is the FA Trophy.
Since 1970 the competition has provided non league teams with the chance to play at the national stadium in a once in a life time experience. The levels of passion and commitment which characterise the competition are of the same magnitude as those displayed within the FA Cup, and some memorable games have been played out as part of the battle to secure the famous trophy.
Last year Ebbsfleet United overcame Torquay to become the defending champions in this years competition and they start with a tricky looking tie at Bogner Regis Town.
The two sides relegated from the Football League last season, Wrexham and Mansfield will lock horns at the Racecourse Ground whilst upwardly mobile AFC Wimbledon make the journey to Uxbridge.
Make sure to keep an eye on the FA Trophy this season and revel in a competition characterised by pure unadulterated passion.
Maybe one of the small teams will defy the odds and earn themselves enough of a following to make some roller shutters worthwhile.
Wrexham edge closer to relegation
April 1, 2008
League Two side Wrexham looked destined to be relegated after losing their bottom of the table clash with Mansfield Town at Field Mill this evening.
The Red Dragons are now eight points away from safety yet the picture looks very bleak for Brian Little’s side.
Gareth Evans was penalized for handball five minutes after the interval and Jefferson Louis duly converted the spot kick to give the Stags the lead.
Worse was to follow for the Welshmen just three minutes later when John Mullins combined well with Matty Hamshaw who finished well to double the hosts lead.
Mansfield continued to press yet Stuart Nicholson’s fierce shot was only parried by Carl Muggleton and Marc Williams was on hand to give the vistors a glimmer of hope twelve minutes from time.
Yet Wrexham could not find an equalizer and now face an anxious end to the season.
Dearden departs as Stags suffer
March 9, 2008
Mansfield Town boss Billy Dearden has left the club by mutual consent following the four nil home defeat to Rochdale.
The Stags could have moved clear of the relegation zone yesterday but a woeful display appeared to seal Dearden’s fate.
Mansfield are two points behind Macclesfield, currently in 22nd place , and have two games in hand which should see them pull clear. But Stags Cheif Executive Steven Booth told the club’s official website that following an emergency meeting ” we have agreed that it is in the best interests of MTFC and Bill that we part company”.
Booth suggested that an announcement will be made within the next couple of days regarding Dearden’s replacement – initial rumours suggest that former Manchester City defender Ian Brightwell has expressed a serious interest in the role.
FA Cup – Lookalike
January 26, 2008
This morning Middlesbrough manged to scrape past Mansfield in the F.A. Cup winning 2-0 at Field Mill. While watching the match I noticed a lookalike, Stags boss Billy Dearden and Statler the old man muppet.
