The FA Cup & What It Means
What the FA Cup means to me.
With the extra preliminary round of the FA cup on the horizon this weekend. I want to ask some players what the FA cup means to them.
732 clubs enter the FA Cup this season and it wont just be
the winner on 3rd June 2023 who have their story to tell. Every
round and every tie will throw up stories. Every story will be different, and
the FA Cup will mean so much to so many. There is always a buzz when the FA Cup
is on the horizon. Whether it be the hopes of a giant killing, a record
breaking run or the hopes of going all the way. No matter how unrealistic it
may seem every single team in the FA Cup will secretly fancy their chances of
one of the above. From 1874 Northwich FC to Yorkshire Amateur every side will
hope this season in the cup is a memorable one.
In this blog I have asked some players & ex-players just
“what the FA Cup means to you?” alongside with them sharing their cup stories. If
you’ve ever been involved in the FA Cup as a player, manager, club official or
just us fans. We all have a cup story to tell. Now let’s relive some magic of
the cup!
First up…
Craig Westcarr, Ex Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Notts County
& current Hucknall Town Forward
Craig had 2 memorable cup runs throughout his career.
Firstly with Kettering Town in 2008/09 season as the National League side knocked
out teams such as Burton Albion, Lincoln City, Notts County & Eastwood Town
before falling to Premier League Fulham 4-2 at Rockingham Road. Craig scoring
both goals against Fulham. Craig was also part of the Notts County side knocked
Sunderland out at The Stadium of Light and Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City to
a replay.
So, Craig… What does the FA Cup mean to you?
Means the world to me I grew up watching The FA Cup and it
was always my dream to play in this great competition, I have had some great
memories during my time playing in The Fa Cup I have played against some great
players and also played in some great games.
Also, Craig, With Two memorable cup runs with Kettering
& Notts. What is a big cup game like to play in and what are your memories
of these days?
A big game is all about the city you play for. The
excitement and interest it generates through the city, it’s a great week if
your involved in it, match day is all about looking forward to who you are playing
against and the feeling of winning the game is just ridiculous you are
literally on cloud 9. My memories are the excitement throughout the town and
city, the week of the game is incredible training is always at a higher
standard than usual and focused more, and then there’s the tickets for friends
and family making sure they get into the stadium.
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| Craig up against David Silva |
Next, we hear from…
Craig Swinscoe, Ex Eastwood Town & Current Long Eaton
United Manager.
Craig was part of Paul Cox’s Eastwood Town side who made
history getting to the 3rd round beating the likes of Wrexham &
Wycombe Wanderers before Kettering Town in the only all non league 3rd
round tie stopped the dream of Fulham at Coronation Park. As Long Eaton United assistant
manager Craig helped Gaffer Ian Deakin match the record for Long Eaton’s
longest cup run last season knocking out Holbeach United, Shepshed Dynamo, Coleshill
Town & Bedworth United before falling to Stratford Town in the 3rd
qualifying round.
Craig, what does the FA Cup mean to you?
To me the FA Cup is the one Cup competition all players,
managers and coaches like to really have a good go at to see how far they can
progress, testing themselves against higher level opposition. For the clubs a
good run can be financially rewarding which is a huge incentive for teams in
nonleague.
Personally, allowing nonleague teams to compete in FA Cup is
essential and makes the whole competition special. The Cup wouldn't be the same
without nonleague teams and I think the whole nonleague family gets behind
those teams that go on a good run and overcomes teams from higher levels
especially when football league teams come into the mix. I also feel from a players
point of view, most of those in non league who didn't make the cut in the
professional ranks it enables them a chance to go and prove a point and see if
they can compete with players at higher levels.
There is always a special feeling/buzz on FA weekends and
the worry of knowing if you don't get the result that's it, the journey is
over! The excitement and suspense of waiting for the draw to see who you get in
the next round has to wait until next season, hoping you get that chance to be
involved again.
And Craig, how fondly do you look back on you FA Cup runs
as a player & coach?
I have had fairly good success in the FA Cup,
As a player I was part of the Eastwood Town squad in the
2008/09 season that made the third round proper beating the likes of Harrogate,
Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers eventually get knocked out by Kettering Town.
As part of the management team at Long Eaton last season we
had a great run with making it to third round qualifying. We manged to knock
out teams a level above us including Shepshed, Coleshill and Bedworth which set
up a third round qualifying clash away Stratford Town unfortunately getting
knocked out conceding a goal in final moments losing 3-2! One highlight from
this was the BBC camera following us at the Bedworth and Stratford game which
highlighted on the BBC FA Cup show, I know the Gaffer (Deaks) loved those
interviews!
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| Craig Swinscoe Pre Match for Long Eaton |
Keeping the Long Eaton United theme, we hear from…
Danny Gordon, Current Long Eaton United midfielder &
Ex Belper Town Cup goal scoring hero
Danny has made a bit of a reputation for himself as a cup specialist
when it comes to goals. Not just the famous goal for Belper Town v Notts County
at Meadow Lane but also popping up with FA Cup goals for current side Long
Eaton United’s Cup run last season.
So, Danny… What does The FA Cup mean to you?
The FA cup is a special competition where special memories
can be made, no matter what stage of the competition. It is a chance for
players, clubs, fans and everyone involved to dream big.
And, I must ask about that goal against Notts County. Was
it in as soon as it left your right foot and what was the big cup game atmosphere
like?
The whole experience of the Notts County game was exciting.
The build-up was huge, the morning of the game was filled with positivity, the
support and atmosphere was tremendous, and the game couldn’t have started any
better where we let Notts County know that they were in for a tough game. The
goal is something I’ll always remember, I’ll never strike a ball as pure as
that again, as soon as it left my foot, I knew it was heading for the top
corner like a bullet. In the end, we were naturally disappointed of losing the
game but for it to be so close throughout the tie, it was even more
disappointing that we couldn’t take them back to Belper for a replay where I
think we would have beaten them.
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| Danny Gordon in action against Notts County |
Onto another Belper Town cup hero,
Danny South, Belper’s towering centre half & captain
against Notts County.
A mountain of a centre back with an eye for a goal. Danny is
still currently club captain at Belper Town and was also captain throughout
their historic cup run where they knocked out the likes of Sporting Khalsa,
Wittion Albion & Rushall Olympic before falling to Notts County at Meadow Lane
I the 4th qualifying round.
Southy, what does The FA Cup mean to you?
The FA Cup is massive for non league players and personally
I love it. Playing in the biggest cup competition in England is brilliant, as
soon as I know it’s getting drawn I’m looking straight away for it. I want to
finally make it to the first round proper soon!
And leading out Belper Town in one of the biggest games in the club’s history. What did that mean to you?
Leading the group of lads out for The FA Cup run was special and I loved every minute of it. Just leading this team out in every game is brilliant and one proud moment.
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| Southy & his Belper side celebrate going 1-0 v Notts County |
Finally, as a fan myself and “what the FA Cup means to me”
As somebody who sees every side of football. Being a
Manchester United season ticket holder for over 10 years but an avid passion
for non league too. The FA Cup is really the cup of dreams. I’ve been lucky
enough to see the team I support win the cup but also see non league sides and
people I call friends make history.
My 1st memory of the cup was the 1996 cup final.
A 5 year old me can just about remember King Eric Cantona’s volley on the edge
of the box to give us a 1-0 win against the old enemy Liverpool. “The Cantona
Final”.
But for anyone who knows & loves non league like I do.
Some of the best memories come when a team beats the odds and the cup sprinkles
a bit of its magic on those sides. For me, a few stand out. Firstly, a long
trip down to Exeter City with Eastwood Town. The 1st time they had
ever made the 1st round proper and truly something special. All my
family used to go and watch Eastwood. I was mascot and the excitement of 1,
being on Match of the Day and 2, spending the cup journey with family is
something truly special. It wasn’t to be for The Badgers on that day but for
those of you who know him. Richard Smith will tell you how good his goal was
and how Eastwood at least deserved a replay!
Eastwood’s second cup run also gives me goosebumps. I was now
a fresh faced 18 year old and did I ever think I would see little old Eastwood beat
Wrexham, unbeaten at the time Wycombe & get to the 3rd round. Well,
no I didn’t but Coxy’s side made me dream if the draw fell right, The Badgers
could just host my Manchester United. That wasn’t to be Eastwood drew the only
other non league side left in the cup Kettering Town. Instead United got
Southampton away. What could have been! There isn’t a month go by when I don’t watch
the Eastwood v Wycombe highlights on YouTube though. Seeing myself in the pre
& post match footage reliving Lindon Meikle’s wonder strike in the fog over
The Tip End.
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| Lindon's goal v Wycombe! |
For me the cup loses a bit when the big boys come in. I do
have a feeling it means more the further down the pyramid you go. However, I will
say as a fan of a big club. Give me an FA Cup win over 4th place
every season. There is nothing like winning the cup. The long trips home after
a defeat also live long in the memory too.
Maybe it’s just me but there’s something special about the
FA Cup. On the day no matter who you’re playing. You have a punchers chance. It
may have been devalued on the pitch (including the club I support) but I think
I speak for 95% of all football fans when I say. We love the cup. That’s what
the FA Cup means to me. Its memories with family and friends that just gives
you that warm feeling inside when you look back. There really is something
special about the FA Cup.
I look forward to my FA Cup journey this season. I am
starting with Sherwood Colliery v Long Eaton United. A cracking cup tie to get
us going in which the now 151 year old cup will no doubt create club legends, history
and memories. Selfishly I hope come the 3rd June 2023 I’m seeing Erik
ten Hag’s Red Army lift that famous trophy at Wembley. The cup of dreams and we
call can dream!
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| A Personal Picture From The 2018 Cup Final. |
Luke @PL2NL
