Imagine what it would be like to walk into work on Monday and have your co-workers asking you “So what was it like to stand on the pitch and look around at the Anfield stands?”. Very few of us average Joe’s will ever get the opportunity to play on one of the biggest stages in football. I know that some people think that having the weekend warriors in this most prestigious of domestic competitions is not necessarily a good idea (see http://daverossfootball.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/fa-cup-giantkillers-heroes-or-zeros/ for thoughts on this). While others enjoy the idea of part timers getting their day in the spotlight (http://ianheath653.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/go-havant-waterlooville/). And both sides have their good points.
But, let’s remember just what it is that makes this tournament so magical. It’s not just about the Cup Final that caps off the end of the domestic season, it’s about the possibility that a Hereford United can knock out a Newcastle United or a Wrexham can end the dreams of an Arsenal. When clubs like Chasetown FC and Havant & Waterlooville make it far enough to get their shot at the upper level clubs they remind us of the storied games of the past. When Yeovil Town, Peterborough United, Blyth Spartans, Sutton United and many others took their opportunity and put their stamp not only on the record books, but in the lore of their loyal supporters.
The FA Cup isn’t about how you’re doing in your league table. It’s about whether you can be better than your opponent on a given day no matter who they are or where they play. The League Cup can lay claim to a higher level of competition from start to finish and that’s great, but it will never reach the heights that the FA Cup has.
There are some possibly intriguing match-ups for round five as it could pit two giants together, paving the way for clubs like Cardiff City, Barnsley, Preston North End or Southampton to make it to the quarter finals.
