So it was that time of year again on Saturday as my local side Margate FC started their FA Cup campaign in the 1st qualifying round with a trip to tricky Hellenic Premier Division side Binfield FC.
Binfield, a small village side near Reading, went into the match unbeaten this season and hoping of springing a suprise that the FA Cup has come to know and love. Being unable to make the match due to work it was a tense afternoon as I lived off text updates from a friend at the match.
The first text simply saying '0-0 ht', thoughts immedietly taking me back to previous cup campaigns following the 'Gate' where defeats against lower league opposition such as Banstead and Potters Bar FC.
A much more dominant second half seemed apparent as three messages appeared in my inbox to say that we had a 3-0 lead and looked like progression to the 2nd qualifying round was secure.
Fair play to Binfield and I wish them all the luck for the remainder of the season. Back to Margate thouh and after their first league victory last week and now a win in a potential banana skin tie in the FA Cup things are looking up for the 'Gate'.
The draw for the 2nd qualifying round takes place later today and I am hoping that this post will hopefully encourage people to follow not necessarily Margate but the FA Cup from the early stages as it does offer excitement and magic, even at the early stage.
I will be following the 'Gate' in all their FA Cup action this season and you can follow their progress on this blog.
Monday 13 September 2010
Wednesday 1 September 2010
SAINTS MARCHING THROUGH HELL
Sheer disbelief can be the only way of describing my feelings when I heard on Monday that Southampton had sacked manger Alan Pardew.
A lot of teams can be galvanized with a new man at the helm, there is no doubting this, just take yourself along to White Hart Lane and watch Tottenham in the Champions League this season under Harry Redknapp for proof, although it can back-fire, in which I think will be the case at Southampton.
In Pardew, Southampton had a man that had managed in the top level with West Ham, and certainly had an excellent season last year with the Saints narrowly missing out on the play-offs.
The start of this season can only be described as hell for the Saints. They lost their opener to Plymouth 1-0 at St Marys, which was then followed by the tragic news that owner Markus Liebherr had died aged just 62.
Defeat against Bolton in the Carling Cup followed as well as a fall out with national newspapers regarding photography at St Marys with 'The Sun' newspaper now refusing to print Southampton's name, calling them a 'South Coast Team'. Despite all this things appeared to be on the up for the club after the 4-0 win over Bristol Rovers before the disgraceful decision to dismiss Pardew.
The decision is certainly a strange one, made even more so by the Chief Executive saying it was not 'results based' (well thats a relief after a 4-0 win, no one would be safe), It only makes me feel that the Saints must have someone lined up to take over, if thats the case it HAS to be a top name to help the loyal Saints fans recover from this devastating blow.
I as much as any Southampton supporter would love to see the club bounce back from this early season ordeal which they have endured and win promotion to the Championship, however in the back of mind I have a feeling the club will struggle now to make a real impact on the division until some stability is brought back to the South Coast, starting with naming a new manager.
I would like to know who you think will get the job at St Marys and how you think the dismissal of Pardew will affect the club this season.
A lot of teams can be galvanized with a new man at the helm, there is no doubting this, just take yourself along to White Hart Lane and watch Tottenham in the Champions League this season under Harry Redknapp for proof, although it can back-fire, in which I think will be the case at Southampton.
In Pardew, Southampton had a man that had managed in the top level with West Ham, and certainly had an excellent season last year with the Saints narrowly missing out on the play-offs.
The start of this season can only be described as hell for the Saints. They lost their opener to Plymouth 1-0 at St Marys, which was then followed by the tragic news that owner Markus Liebherr had died aged just 62.
Defeat against Bolton in the Carling Cup followed as well as a fall out with national newspapers regarding photography at St Marys with 'The Sun' newspaper now refusing to print Southampton's name, calling them a 'South Coast Team'. Despite all this things appeared to be on the up for the club after the 4-0 win over Bristol Rovers before the disgraceful decision to dismiss Pardew.
The decision is certainly a strange one, made even more so by the Chief Executive saying it was not 'results based' (well thats a relief after a 4-0 win, no one would be safe), It only makes me feel that the Saints must have someone lined up to take over, if thats the case it HAS to be a top name to help the loyal Saints fans recover from this devastating blow.
I as much as any Southampton supporter would love to see the club bounce back from this early season ordeal which they have endured and win promotion to the Championship, however in the back of mind I have a feeling the club will struggle now to make a real impact on the division until some stability is brought back to the South Coast, starting with naming a new manager.
I would like to know who you think will get the job at St Marys and how you think the dismissal of Pardew will affect the club this season.
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