TO quote that famous Andy Williams song: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
No, I am not referring to the increasingly early build up to Christmas but the first round of the FA Cup.
It is indeed a wonderful time when our fantastic NonLeague clubs create so much national interest. However, I just wish the mainstream media would stop dragging up the day jobs of NonLeague footballers.
Let me start by saying the FA Cup is still the greatest cup competition in the world as far as I am concerned. It was the highlight of the football season when I was growing up in the 1970s.
For me, the real magic of the FA Cup lies with the NonLeague teams. I still vividly remember those fabled giantkilling feats of the past.
That thunderbolt goal by Ronnie Radford of Hereford United against Newcastle United, Wimbledon goalkeeper Dickie Guy keeping out a penalty from hotshot Peter Lorimer of Leeds United and Harlow Town beating Leicester City, who had a young Gary Lineker in their team.
People always love underdogs and a footballing upset. That is why the Non-League teams add so much intrigue to the FA Cup. And it brings a great deal of much-needed publicity for our level of football.
In saying that, I believe our Non-League footballers are totally disrespected by the once-yearly patronising obsession with trotting out their occupations in the national newspapers and on television.
When I attend a NonLeague match, I don’t start thinking that a carpenter has just passed the ball to a personal trainer. I just watch the football – as does everyone else present.
Esta historia es de la edición November 01, 2020 de The Non-League Football Paper.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 01, 2020 de The Non-League Football Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.