FA CUP - From Beginning to the Final (I hope)

Me and a friend had been thinking the same thing for a few years, watching a very first preliminary round FA Cup match and follow the winners right through to Wembley. We sat outside a café in Birmingham late July to study the ‘Extra Preliminary’ round to be played August 16^th.  Ah, says Steve, I’m on holiday on that date…. On my own then. Here we go!!

Atherstone v Brocton - Extra Prelim Round

Saturday 16th August

Att 146  

Winner receives £1500 from FA

Arrived at the ground shortly after kick off. £3 at the turnstile and £1 for the program which was great value. Entrance to the ground was situated by the corner flag. To the left of the entrance was the club house/bar about the size of a large container. Could well have been one. Peeped in, a few blokes finishing their pints. Open for alcohol only when football is not being played. To the right of the entrance was a shed type ‘Cup of Tea Shop’. Normal fair, chips and pucka pies. Had a cup of tea and was slightly embarrassed when asking a supporter which team was the home team. He pointed out the colour of the stand and every building around the ground which matched one of the teams.  Oops.

The first half was uneventful. Atherstone hit the post but I thought Brocton slightly shaded it. The second half began with Atherstone scoring early and with the wind behind them expected to go on and win it easily. Brocton, however, thought differently and continued to play the better football and equalised mid- way through the session. Went for a second cup of tea but they had run out of milk. 

Game ended 1-1. Replay Tuesday.  

The crowd was 146.

 I didn’t win the raffle.

Brocton v Atherstone - Extra Prelim Round (Replay)

Tuesday 19th August

Att 95

Played golf just down the road this morning at Ingestre Golf Club. Almost 100 mile round trip. Bite to eat late afternoon at home then off to Brocton. Arrived in Brocton approx. 720pm and asked a couple, walking their dog, where was the ground? “Not played in Brocton for years” he replied. Moved 5 miles down the road. Eventually found the ground.  £3 entry and £1 for the program. Again a really good program called ‘The Badgers’.

A quick look round, not a bad setup. Good pitch, no bar as I could see, but I could see the ‘Cup of Tea’ shop where I immediately headed for. Not up to the culinary delights of Atherstone. Just tea and biscuits. Nevertheless the setup was quite good and there was a second playing pitch where youngsters were playing. Good.

The game kicked off and was very much the same as the first game where both teams were fairly evenly matched but, again, Brocton had that little bit more in mid-field and it came as no surprise when Hopkinson threaded a through ball for Fife to fire low into the far corner. The second half carried on in the same way as the first half, both sides battling hard with Brocton having the upper hand in midfield so it was a surprise when Ashley Grange was sent to score the equaliser. Within minutes Brocton stamped their authority on the match with a cracking goal again from Fife.

It was getting cold towards the end so left 5 minutes before the final whistle. 

It was an ok match and now look forward to going to see Brocton battle out the next round at Sutton Coldfield. 

Approx 140 in attendance. 

I didn’t win the raffle.

Sutton Coldfield Town v Brocton - Preliminary Round

Saturday 30th August 

Winner receives £1925 from FA

£5 entry and £2 the program. Getting more expensive. Eventually found a spot to park my car inside the ground but at the furthest point. First impressions good. Got that semi pro feel about it. Bigger shed for the C O T shop, bigger menu. I had a Bovril and Burger. Not bad.

Kicked off and the game was good with lots of open play. Against the run of play Brocton broke and a cross from Bell was side footed in for Lomas to score. However, with Brocton trying to hang on till half time, Turton crossed for Kolonji to head the home side level.

At half time I went into the quite impressive newish clubhouse. General room available for all types of functions. However there was a room to the right of exit on the way out. 4 or 5 blazer and tie gentlemen made their way into what could only be a committee room with a notice saying “What is spoken in this room stays in this room”. Bloody Hell! Mafia speak. Thought those days had long gone.

Not too interested in the second half. Sutton scored against the run of play, Brocton equalised and near the end Sutton slotted home a penalty. That’s it I thought. 5 minutes to go. Mega problem. My car is at the furthest part of the ground and if I wait until the end I will be 20 minutes getting out. So, I’m off.

Journey home just as bad as the one going. Awful. Going from south of Birmingham to north of Birmingham using A roads not recommended.

Worst scenario was realised around 7pm when the FA cup results were posted on the internet. Brocton had equalised in the last minute. 

Bollocks, back to Brocton on Tuesday night for the replay and I didn’t win the raffle.

Brocton v Sutton Coldfield - Preliminary Round (Replay)

Tuesday 2nd September

Arrived late. Nothing new there. Wow, twice as many here as there was against Atherstone. Not all Sutton supporters either.  So much so they had run out of programs!! Not a bad game except nobody wanted to score. So much so that at full time it was 0 – 0. Expletives time. Hang on, if I watch extra time, 30 minutes, half time break, getting out of the ground etc. I could miss having a last pint. Mmm watch first ten minutes then off. Slunk away in first half of extra time to discover later on that Sutton had scored a lonely goal and progressed into the next round.

Got to quite like the Brocton set up. Not a clue whether I won the raffle or not.

Halesowen Town v Sutton Coldfield Town - 1st Qualifying Round

Saturday 13th September

Winner gets £3,000

Played 9 holes in Devon at 10 in the morning (Day 3 of Captains Trip). Left 12 O Clock, arrived Halesowen at 315. Strange amount to get in. £5.50. Think it must have been half of £11. Pensioner. Met Steve and Ian on the terraces and Steve had got me a program. Yet again the program was really good and was called ‘the Yeltz’. Will have to look where that name came from. Cup of tea and a burger was the order of the day.  It’s a good job the tea and burger were ok because the football was awful. Who could kick it the furthest and the highest and run after it was the order of the day. In the corner near the bar and c o t shop, a few of the home supporters, a little worse for the odd lemonade, were constantly telling the referee and lineman what they could do with their whistle and flag.  More entertaining than the football.  

The second half saw Halesowen prove too strong for Sutton and ran out 3 – 0 winners.

Would have put the gate at 200+ and never saw a raffle.  Ah well see what the draw brings on Monday. 

Ellistown & Ibstock Utd v Halesowen Town - 2nd Qualifying Round

Saturday 27th September

Winner gets £4,500

Arrived at the ground just before kick off. £5 to get in and the programs were sold out. The support was very good following their 2-1 win over Hereford United. How the mighty have fallen. I went straight to the C O T shop. Normal large shed affair and with familiar menu. Burgers, Bacon/sausage sandwiches and chips with everything by the looks of things. Just paying for my drink when a muted cheer was heard from the far end where the Halesowen supporters were.

Centre Forward Lyseden Christie had opened the scoring. He scored 3 more before half-time, all headers.  He was no more than 5’ 9” but could leap and head a ball as good as I’ve seen. The marking wasn’t brilliant I must say. Halesowen went on to win 7 -1 with Lyseden Christie scoring 6 of them. I was talking to local supporters who informed me that Christie was on £400/week. Not bad for a part timer but a good striker is like gold dust in any class of football. I had a look round the set up during the second half and discovered what must be the smallest bar in the league. It did have a telly in so I could catch up with other football. 

Very enjoyable day though. Not a clue what the crowd was and never saw a raffle.  

The draw on Monday handed Halesowen an away trip to Guisley (Leeds).  Ere we go …  272 mile round trip.

Guisley v Halesowen Town - 3rd Qualifying Round

Saturday 11th October

Winner gets £7500

Att 751

Sat Nav got lost in Leeds!!  Take the third exit at next roundabout. Must have taken a wrong one because the next thing I know is I’m in Leeds town centre. From then on in it was saying take the next left which was followed by ‘re-calculating the route’. This happened about 10 times before I spotted a sign to Kirkstall. Knew my way from there.  Got to the ground 10 minutes before kick-off. £7 but no programs left. Had to settle for a 10p A4 photocopy of the team sheet. Think I’ve lost it.

Guisley had, in the previous 4 seasons, been unsuccessful in gaining promotion to the top conference level having achieved the play offs. Unlucky.

Match began and after the last round I specifically watched Lyseden Christie. So disappointed. So idle. Really liked the set up. Especially the clubhouse which was situated centrally and acted as a pavilion for the Cricket Ground next door and clubhouse for the football.  Looked like an excellent drinking hole which a number of people were taking advantage of!! Pucka pies are doing a good trade these days, decent selection, and I rather enjoyed a steak pie. Wasn’t a bad game. Guisley looked stronger throughout and deservedly went in at half time winning 2 – 0 through goals from Bushell and Rothery. They maintained their superiorority in the second and with a goal from Brooksby ran out easy 3 – 0 winners. 

Look forward to the draw for the next round and hope it’s fairly local. NO CHANCE!!  GRIMSBY AWAY. 296 miles Round trip

Grimsby v Guisley - 4th Qualifying Round

Saturday 25th October

Winner gets £12,500

Att 1,761

Straightforward to get to. Strange thing is, the ground is not in Grimsby, it is in Cleethorpes 2 miles up the road! Arrived 45 minutes before kick-off. There’s a first.

Getting serious now. Have to purchase a ticket in the ticket shop then take it round to the turnstile. “Funny way of doing things round these parts” I joked. “Always been done that way here lad” he replied sternly. Lad!? I’m bloody 69.  

Decided a ticket in the seats behind the goal with the home supporters was the order of the day. Went to the snack bar and guess what…..  yes.  Pucka pies. But that was it. NO CHIPS. So cup of tea and pucka pie and to the game. 

The first half proved uneventful. Not many real assaults on goal. The second half started the same as the first but it was the home side that scored first through substitute Nathan Arnold. After that Grimsby pushed on and scored two further goals from centre forward John-Lewis. John-Lewis is a big strong old fashioned centre forward and I thought looked useful and a handful.

What I found fascinating was that there was over 30 Stewards, which works out at 1 Steward for every 58 spectators. Strange. There we go. 

Good game. Could do with a kinder draw on Monday evening.  Sod it. Back here at home to Oxford United.

Grimsby v Oxford United - 1st Round

Saturday 8th November
    

Winner gets £18,000

Att 3241

What a journey. Driving rain all the way. 50mph on 20 mile stretch of M1. Two and three quarters later I arrive with still an hour to kickoff. Dragged myself past the fish @ chip shop. Very tempted and reminded me I was hungry and thirsty. 

Went the ticket shop and decided I would go in the main stand in the hope of better culinary delights. Went through the turnstiles and found the c o t shop and a massive bar which was heaving. Around the room were 7 tv’s. 6 showing the Liverpool game and the other sky sports news. Great news. Liverpool were getting beat 2 – 1 by Chelsea. Had something to eat and a drink and went up in the stand and got to my seat. 

The game got underway and for the first 20 minutes things were fairly equal and John-Lewis could have put Grimsby in front when hitting the post with an excellent effort. Gradually Oxford got on top and were rewarded with 2 goals before half time. Both scored by Jamie Roberts on his first team debut. Went down to the bar at half-time. In the bar the 6 TV’s showing the Liverpool game were now showing the Grimsby match. Result. Go back up and watch 15-20 minutes then back down to see the rest. Danny Rose scored a third for Oxford shortly after halftime and although Shaun Pearson got a goal back in 80 minutes the comeback never materialised. Grimsby have got to support john-Lewis more and I think Oxford have got a potentially good winger in Callum O’Dowda. 3 – 1 with 5 to go. 

Off to get my kippers.  Now I hope Oxford can get a home draw.  

There we go…  First out of the hat. Tranmere at home.  Wouldn’t have minded Tranmere away. Close to my birthplace Wallasey.

Oxford United v Tranmere Rovers - 2nd Round

Saturday 6^th December 

Winner gets £27,000

Att 4,681

40 years ago I worked for a short time in Oxford and had some digs up the road from the Manor Ground in Headington. Imagine my surprise when I arrived an hour before kick-off only to find that the ground was not there anymore. They relocated in 2001 to an out of town location named the Kassam Stadium which I remembered once I saw the name. Eventually found it and purchased a ticket in the main stand. It’s a new stadium but what a disappointment. I have to assume Mr Kassam ran out of money because there was only stands on 3 sides of the ground. Nothing behind one of the goals.  For me it was soulless. All concrete and no sit down areas under the stands by the snack bar. 

Got a Bovril but there was no pepper!! Bovril without pepper…  sacrilege. Pies were from an obscure manufacturer so gave that a miss.

The game wasn’t too bad. Sort of 50/50 when Stockton scored from close range to give Tranmere the lead at half time. It was obvious to me that the Oxford centre forward Barnett was extremely strong in the air and they hadn’t played to his skills at all in the first half.  They did early in the second half and he rewarded the home side with 2 goals, the first a header would you believe. Tranmere played their trump card in 73^rd minute by bringing on ex premier league player Jason Koumas who equalised 3 minutes later with a left foot curler into the corner. 

Finished 2-2 so another replay for me and off to Prenton Park Tuesday the 16^th.  

The draw for the 3^rd round took place on Monday and the winners are at home Swansea.    

Tranmere Rovers v Oxford - 2nd Round Replay

Tuesday 16th December

Winner gets £27,000

Att 3,296

Off to my sisters for tea in Cheshire, drop in at a friends for half an hour, then off to Prenton Park. The weather was deteriorating on the way there and the rain was in full swing by the time I arrived at the ground. 

£5 car parking, £8 entry and £3 for a program. For the second game in succession I was disappointed with the inside of the ground. Tranmere underwent a massive ‘stands’ rebuild in 1997 as a consequence of the Taylor reports’ requirement for ‘all seater’ stadiums. Concrete/Breeze block jungle but much better than Oxford. 

Having eaten heartily at my sisters I was not in a position to test the local ‘Fayre’ but that will be remedied against Swansea. Yet again no pepper for my Bovril. What is the matter with these second division teams!! 

The game got underway with both teams playing at 90mph. For me Oxford were the slightly better team in the first half but they went in 1-1. Odejayi scrambling in the equaliser for Tranmere after Potter had given the visitors a deserved lead with a glancing header. Oxford began the second half the better and how Joe Riley missed early on I don’t know. As an old manager of mine used to say “Our Deborah could have scored that”.  She was his 14 year old daughter. After 76 minutes Max Power drove past Ryan Clarke in the Oxford goal to give what was to be a Tranmere victory.  The rain had been relentless all the way through and there were occasions when the ball was getting caught in the lying water. Don’t you dare postpone it Ref!! . I was told by a friend that it is not good form to leave before the end of a game. But, IT IS ‘B…… FREEZING’, so, sorry Chris, I’m OFF!! Caught the last 10 minutes of the Derby v Chelsea game on the radio and heard that the Tranmere game had not been postponed and they had prevailed.

Wednesday morning and got my ticket for the Swansea match. After last night I had accumulated 1,622 miles so far and with another 240 mile round trip on Jan 3^rd it will be 1862 miles.  Phew. Must remember to take some pepper with me!!    

Tranmere Rovers v Swansea City - 3rd Round

Saturday 3rd January

Att 10,007

Winner gets £67,500

Many thanks to Notcutts Garden Centre Restaurant for their sponsoring my supply of pepper(they don’t know yet). 

From setting out to arrival the weather was atrocious. Seems to be a pattern emerging. The weather is so much different to the short sleeved days of Atherstone in August which seems an age ago. 

Left very early to go to Wallasey and find the house I was born in. After a few hiccups, a stop off at a pub, I found it and also found it an eerie disappointment. Knocked the door – no reply so up the road to the match.

Half hour to kick off and buzzing compared to the Oxford replay. Not surprising. Went into the bar which was rammed.  Having already had a sandwich at a pub I thought I would save the culinary delights till after half time. Took my seat high up in the stands and watched the preliminaries. So many photographs on the half way line with the officials alongside dignitaries, ball boys, mascots and anyone else that could be rounded up. 

The match began with both sides eager to get the upper hand but it was obvious where the class was and it was no surprise to see Swansea go ahead through Dyer after 34 minutes. The Tranmere fans behind the goal were convinced there was a handball. Will have to look at that later. Half time 1 – 0 and off to try a pie and Bovril. Massive long queue. Man and wife doing all the cooking and serving on their own. Obviously too tight to pay any helpers. Forced to watch the first 10 minutes of the second half in the bar on closed circuit TV eating my pie. The pie was excellent and was sourced from a local butcher. No chips!

Saw Swansea score 2 more goals through Carroll and the very impressive Mo Barrow. Back in my seat now but I nearly didn’t go back. Bloke next to me repeats everything I say. “Knock it wide”, he says “Knock it wide”, Swansea’s attack cuts open the Tranmere defence, I say “Too Easy” he turns to his mate “Too easy”.  Ah well. Power gets one back to give the Tranmere fans a little hope only for Gomis to make it 4-1. Stockton got a second for Tranmere but Swansea killed the game off with goals from Routledge and Gomis again. At least the rain had relented and not too bad getting off the car park. 

A friend of a friend reading my blog pointed out the ever widening gap between grass roots football and the mighty commercial juggernaut the game has become. Brocton earned £1500 for beating Atherstone in the first preliminary round. In any given week it takes Eden Hazard 76 minutes to earn that amount!! Just under 3 days to earn Swansea’s winnings of £67,500 on Saturday.  Brocton would be delighted with the £1500. 

Bought a ‘Tranmere Equalizer’ raffle ticket on Saturday before the match and the guy who sold it to me said to “listen carefully” at half time for the winner. I think they must whisper the winner. I never heard a thing. 

1862 miles covered and Blackburn next. 1245 kick off.          

                                                                                                                                                                            

Blackburn Rovers v Swansea - 4th Round

Saturday 24th January

Att 5,928

Winner gets £90,000

Can’t understand the gate. Almost half the Attendance of the Tranmere – Swansea match. Perhaps it’s devaluing the FA cup with 6 changes to Blackburn and 5 changes to Swansea??  Notice that the winner gets not quite half of Eden Hazards reputed weekly pay!!  The weather was very good and I arrived at the ground with half an hour to spare. I had decided to have a seat in the Jack Walker stand when booking my ticket. I never saw a program seller on the way round and went through the turnstiles into the concourse under the stand. There were 2 bars in a very large area of concrete and breeze blocks. One television mounted on the wall and the atmosphere was non-existent. There were no programs on sale, nowhere to get a raffle ticket, which was named a ‘Rovers return’. The television had Blackburn’s PR man on explaining what were the prize’s for the raffle etc. Ok, Got a cup of tea and took it my seat. First half got underway and after 7 minutes Kyle Bartley was sent off for what seemed to me to be an innocuous challenge. Well, not innocuous, but what seems to me to be a legitimate challenge these days. He only had one arm round him. 83 minutes with 10 men. Uphill challenge.  After 21 minutes Sigudson let fly from about 25 yards and it rocketed into the net. Cracker!!. Swans one up. Didn’t last long, 2 minutes later it was 1-1 after a well worked goal scored by Taylor.

Halftime and off to the snack bar. Bovril and a peppered steak pie. Yes, you’ve guessed it. No pepper. Good job I brought my own!! Pie supplied by Clayton Park Bakeries, Accrington and not bad either. Lots of pastry with a dash of peppered steak.

Second half got underway and although even for the first 25 minutes or so you could see the extra man advantage taking its toll and after 78 minutes Gestede (off the bench) scored from close in and 11 minutes later a long range shot from Conway somehow squirmed under the keepers body. Game Over. One minute plus injury time to go. I’m off to elude the mass exit. Round trip today of 260 miles making it a total of 2122 miles. 

Can I have a nice draw for Round 5?  The Baggies away would do. Please not Blackburn at home.    

                                                                                                                                                                                       

Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City - 5th Round

Saturday 14th February 

Att 13,934 

Winner gets £180,000

Here we are back at Blackburn. For me a very poor attendance again.  A place in the 6^th round up for grabs and less than 14k here and that includes almost 6k from Stoke City. £80million in debt and being owned by an Indian poultry conglomerate I can’t see much hope of a future here.

Arrived at the ground 2.15pm only to find I’d come without my ticket. Got Car Parking ticket and envelope it had been sent in. Took to ticket office and having my membership number on the envelope they just reprinted another one. Marvellous. Starving so got myself a Bovril and burger. It was just OK. Wasn’t too happy with the main stand last time so got a seat behind the goal in the Blackburn end. Better atmosphere and decent spec. Game got underway and Stoke were ahead after 10 minutes. A gangly Peter Crouch seizing upon a loose ball in the 6 yard box. The game just wandered on and I was surprised not to see Stoke showing their class and pressing for a second. If anything, Blackburn were taking the game to Stoke and missed 2 clear chances to level with both King and Gestede guilty. It was King who equalised 10 minutes before the interval with a goal similar to Crouch’s. Just before half time Cameron brought down King in the box and Gestede scored from the spot. Bizarrely, what I didn’t see was that the referee sent Cameron off!! It wasn’t until 530pm on the way home when I heard about it on the match summary on Radio 5 Live!!. No wonder Stoke capitulated in the second half. King scored 2 excellently taken runaway goals in the second half to wrap up proceedings. 

Nearly 3 hours to get home so a cup of tea and a ‘Clayton Park Bakeries’ meat and potato pie before I go. Tell you what, that was worth waiting for.  Mmm delicious. Must call in on Accrington sometime.

While I have been writing this, the draw for the 6^th round has taken place, and my next venue is Anfield. Great news for any Everton supporter. Anyway, I will be there, cheering on the Chicken Farmers.

2382 miles on the clock now.    

Liverpool v Blackburn - 6th Round

Sunday 8^th March

Winner gets £360,000

Att 43,820

Thank you ALL for trying to get me a ticket. Nothing materialised so chose to see if I could get one at the ground. I set out early and called to see my ‘other’ friend on the way up, no bacon sandwich offered!,  and eventually arrived at the ground around 130pm.

Took a copy of my blog with me to help my plea for a ticket. I went to the ticket office, showed them my blog. I explained my plight but they said all tickets were sold and nothing could be done. They looked at me as though I was some kind of nutter. Announcements were being made on the loudspeakers that the public should not buy tickets off any members of the public since they would be fake. What??!, Scallies In Liverpool??!  .   I decided to hang around near the ticket office and see if any returns came in. However, the Stewards said that I must move on. I showed them my blog and pleaded with them. They then became quite interested and said they would help and try and get me a ticket. OK, I’ll grab a coffee next to the ticket office and be around if you need me. Don’t have anything from there laa, charge too much. Go to Linda’s café over the road. Not in a position to argue, so cup of tea and bacon and egg sandwich. 

Went back, hung around for half an hour, general chat with the Stewards and then it happened. Season ticket holders Richard Williams with his father, also Richard, in a wheelchair minus his son who couldn’t make it because he had had to work. Paid Richard for the ticket (face value) then round to our seats for the match. Understandably Richard and his father dressed from head to toe in red. Hadn’t got the heart to tell him I was an Everton supporter. Anyway, for the day, I was merely a ‘football’ supporter. What a seat, right by the touchline near the corner flag. Fantastic.

Being nearly 90 minutes before kick off the place was mostly empty so easy to walk around. Went down to the player’s entrance where Steve Mcmanaman was setting up for BT sport. Got his autograph for a friend but had to refuse when he asked to have a selfie with me. Seemed a nice enough guy.  Got some decent photographs and was generally impressed with the setup. No pepper for my Bovril but not complaining Anfield. Lots to say but the match looms. 

Liverpool were on the front foot in the early stages, in fact, Liverpool were on the front foot for all of the game. No doubt they should have had a penalty in the first half. At halftime I spoke again with Richard and said what an awful journey I had had up from Birmingham with the wet weather. Yes he said, had to go through it himself, he said. Where are you from then? I asked. Bournemouth he replied. He lives in Bournemouth and travels back and too for every match. That’s a supporter.  Second half and the game proceeded much the same as the first. This is third time I’ve watched Blackburn in last few months and not a bad side. But a Championship side. I find it a bit worrying that a team that contains 4 leading England players Llana, Henderson, Sturridge and Sterling plus the odd Brazilian cannot break down a championship side. What chance England in the Europeans? One of the features of the modern game these days is possession at all costs, keeping your shape, tackling back, filling the hole etc etc. What about entertaining the 40 odd thousand of paying public?? Can’t believe Keegan/Toshack or Dagleish/Rush would be on the end of a 0-0 against lower division competition. But, that’s what has happened and back to Ewood Park for the replay. 

Hopefully I will now get a ticket more easily, being on their ticket distribution website. The draw has ensured another exciting match in the semi final. How many goals a game have Villa scored this year?  Anyway, many thanks Richard and goodbye Anfield. Very Good.    

Blackburn v Liverpool - 6th Round Replay

Wednesday 8th April

Winner gets £360,000

Att 28,415

Third time at Blackburn so no problem getting a ticket. Came down early today and got to the ground 2 hours before kick-off!!  Came off the motorway and the first pub I passed, the ‘Golden Cup’ I think it was, was absolutely rammed, cars and bodies, with Liverpool supporters. Think they had made the afternoon of it. Past another pub which was very deserted in comparison, when I spotted the sign ‘No Away Supporters’. There we go. 

Got to the ground and parked on Car Park H which is adjacent to the Rovers end of the ground. Couldn’t believe the number of supporters already there. The band was playing and the atmosphere very good. Bought a meat and potato pie with mushy peas and gravy!! Some combination that!! OK though. Was having a walk round to the Liverpool end to see if I could see Richard and his dad when I spotted a gathering of supporters by the players’ entrance. The Liverpool bus was due any minute. In for a penny so I joined them. The bus duly arrived and off got the players. It was all very quiet and subdued until Raheem Sterling got off and was greeted with chants of ‘Who’s a greedy bastard!!’ Quite funny. It actually continued during the game. Every time he had the ball he was booed and chanted at. Must admit, no sympathy. Not a bad player though and alongside Sturridge and Coutinho they were a class above the other players on the pitch. Blackburn were a very hardworking team and seemed to set their stall out not to concede a goal and make it difficult for Liverpool, without accusing them of playing for penalties. Blackburn didn’t offer a lot in reply to going one down through a well taken 70^th minute goal by Coutinho. Blackburn’s  best effort coming from Eastwood, the Blackburn keeper, in the final minutes. Liverpool through. 

I have already got a semi-final ticket high up in the gods in the Villa end. Thanks to my son-in-law Darren and grandson James who are Villa season ticket holders. We go down to London on Sunday morning to Wealdstone FC where will park the car, have breakfast and get the tube to Wembley. 

With a 200 mile round trip to Liverpool and 260 mile round trip to Blackburn makes my total miles so far 2842. Wow. 

Anybody with a spare Final ticket please get in touch.  07866091002 or 01217445430                   

Aston Villa v Liverpool - Semi Final

Sunday 18th April

Winner gets £900,000
Loser gets £450,000

Att 85,416  

930am and called at my daughters to pick up Darren and James and off to Wembley for the semi-final against Liverpool. Arrived at Wealdstone Football Club around 1030 am to find the place packed with Villa supporters. 6/8 coaches and loads of mini buses and cars. The club house is actually Ruislip Social Club and what a great setup the whole thing is. Just around the corner is Ruislip Underground station and is approx 7 stops from Wembley. Club officials were telling me they had permission to cater for 600 fans on the day. Saw one official who was grinning from ear to ear. Must have been the Treasurer!! Great for the club, great for the supporters and win win for everybody. On site was a burger van and I had a sausage and bacon bap. The problem was that the sausage was massive and the bap didn’t hold it all together very well. Consequently I had a job holding it all and found I was lunging at a double handful of it all and eating the napkin as well. No more of them!!

Eventually went to the tube and off to Wembley. Usual atmosphere along Wembley way. Looking at the burger bars and ‘fish and chips’ stands you got the feeling that you were entering ‘Rip-Off’ City. No, you WERE entering. Confirmed, cup of tea £2.20.

My seat was up in the gods and having climbed a few set of steps the rest we went up on an escalator. Got in the queue for a cup of tea. The bloke in front of me asked for 2 pints of peroni. The lady returned with 2 pints and said “that will be £19 please”. After I had helped the guy to his feet and administered smelling salts the lady explained that a bottle of peroni was £4.75 and each pint contained 2 bottles. Mmm. Gotcha!!

Got to my seat just before Kick-Off and wished I’d brought my Binoculars. Probably the furthest I’ve been from the players at a live match. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the game and the view not a problem. The first 15 minutes were a little bit of teams finding their feet. On half an hour the ball broke into the Villa area and Coutinho was on hand to bury it. Great to see that Villa continued to play a somewhat expansive game compared to that employed under Lambert. Where has Grealish been all season?? Radio West Midlands have beeanging on saying the same thing all season. Playing very well the ball was fed through into the area and who else was on hand to equalise but Benteke. What a handful he is. Villa fans absolutely ecstatic around me. After Villa equalised I felt that Liverpool were just not functioning and that if any side were to score next it would be Villa. After 54 minutes Delph , with some great individual skill, put Villa in front with an excellent goal. Very impressed with Delph and others including Grealish. I went to see Villa get beat 3-0 by Everton at Goodison in October. After which I advised some to get their money on for them to be relegated. Maybe they will still be relegated but Sherwood has got them playing excellent football. Liverpool pressed but to no avail. I think Gerrard has played one season too many at Liverpool. A feeling I picked up from their supporters in the previous 2 games. Final whistle and Villa into the Final. What chance have I got to get a ticket. Very slim I fear.

Back to Wealdstone and Ruislip Social Club. Stayed an hour or so then back home. 194 miles round trip and now accumulated 3,036 miles. Could have driven to North Africa and Back.

Arsenal v Aston Villa - Final

Saturday 30th May

Winner gets £1.8m
Loser gets £900,000

Att 89,283

Different approach going to the Final. Darren and James went on the train so I was on my own. Same format once in London and arrived at Wealdstone Football Club around 1200 am to find the place packed with Villa supporters. Didn’t stop for a drink went straight for the tube. Usual atmosphere along Wembley way. Very busy. The night before some of the lads went down and were staying at an hotel along Wembley Way and invited to meet me to have a drink with them. Needless to say that when I rang them there was no reply, in fact never saw them for days. Pickled all weekend no doubt. Darren and James were in a bar along Wembley Way. He rang me 3 times. I rang him back 3 times and on all occasions couldn’t make head nor sense what was being said. Gave up and went to the ground. An hour and a half to kick off. A £2.20 cup of tea seems in order. I had a job getting a ticket for the final. Put out feelers everywhere and eventually got one (Actually got 2) from a Director of Solihull Moors. Not a problem to me but they were excellent tickets, 10 rows back from the pitch but in the Arsenal end.  So, not many takers for the other ticket then. The week before the final I said to my daughter that I would sell the ticket for as big a profit that I could get which would go some way to recoup some mileage money from the months of travelling. She was disgusted with this and told me that I was to do no such thing and was to sell it face value to a needy supporter. Well here goes. I’m here now and how do you spot a needy authentic supporter? Spent a very interesting 20 minutes outside the Wembley Club entrance watching celebrities and their wives going in. Half of them never seen a football kicked. At one point a very large car drew up. A big black man got out looking round making sure all was ok. For what?? Not sure but frightened me. A couple then got out followed by another henchman. The couple were dripping money and didn’t look as they cared where it came from. At no point did either of the henchmen look at the couple they just looked all around them in military fashion. Scarry. Wandered round and 30 minutes before kick-off I went to the ticket office area. There were quite a few people milling around hoping to get ticket. I approached one Arsenal supporter and asked if he was after a ticket. Yes please was his reply. £120 changed hands (face value) and that was it. Made my way to my seat and watched the fireworks. Five minutes before kick-off a chap who I had never seen before came and sat beside me. I said to him “how much did you pay for your ticket?, I sold it half an hour ago at face value”. £270 he said and he said the chap wanted £400 for it. Ah well, I tried.

The game began. Well, it began for Arsenal. It never began for the Villa. Where was the team that had floored Liverpool a few weeks before.  What had gone wrong. Where was the Grealish magic? He couldn’t pass a ball. Nobody could pass a ball. Arsenal could and Walcott put them ahead and went in 1-0 at half time. For the Villa this was damage limitation. At least it gave them chance to regroup and come out fighting in the second half. That was the theory anyway. Didn’t happen. Sanchez gave them a second and it was obvious it was going to be a case of how many. In the row behind me and a few seats down was a Villa supporter covered top to tail in claret and blue. Oh what a mistake that was. He was ever so brave and fronted it out. The big German centre half Mertesacker was left on his own in the six yard box to head in the third goal. I had seen enough. In fact, I couldn’t see anything else, because all the Arsenal supporters were now on their feet and didn’t look like they were about to sit down anytime. I motioned to the Villa fan that I was off and did he want to come with me. He declined. He must have been hoping for a miraculous Villa fightback. Some hope there. I was walking out through the open gates when another cheer went up. Yes 4-0.

Felt lonely going down Wembley Way to the train station. The journey was over.  3,230 miles and lots of memories. I really enjoyed it and so glad I did it. Think I enjoyed the early games more than the later ones. I liked the set up at Guisley and thought the supporters bar at Grimsby the best. The most disappointing ground for me was Oxford. Totally soulless and only 3 sides of the ground built. The most enjoyable game for me was the defeat of Liverpool in the semi-final and the worst was Halesowen Town v Sutton.

Next….   Definitely doing the village cricket knock-out next summer and end up at Lords.