It's that time again ... let the minnows begin their swim
The 2013/14 FA Cup kicks off this weekend, and although you won't see every match on NBC here in the states (or anywhere), games will be played and giant killers in the making begin their dream runs.
It's hard to believe that Wigan, of all teams, are the reigning FA Cup title holders, having beaten Manchester City, 1-0, in the 2013 final. A disastrous Premier League season saw them get relegated to the Championship, yet, they're in the Europa League group stage (by way of winning the FA Cup). Who else is in the group stage? Valencia and Lazio have also qualified for the group stage. Seeing Wigan in that group is mind blowing.
This year, 89 Level 10s are in the competition.
One team I like in these early stages of the Cup is South Park. In last year's Cup, the team went all the way to third round qualifying AND had three replays along the way! They travel to Mole Valley SCR this weekend. Should be an easy win. Tadcaster Albion, Badshot Lea, and Blackfield & Langley were three other teams that began in the Extra Preliminary Round last year and advanced to third round qualifying and both begin this year's Cup run this weekend as well, the former taking on Bishop Auckland, the other two playing Staines Lammas and Petersfield Town, respectively.
The most notable match of the Extra Preliminary Round is Wembley FC at AFC Kempston Rovers. Last year, much was made about Wembley as the club brought in former stars such as Graeme Le Saux, Claudio Caniggia, and Brian McBride, specifically for the FA Cup, only to fall flat on their face and bow out in the Preliminary Round to Uxbridge.
There are only 10 Level 10 v 10 matches this weekend, so that guarantees at least 10 L10s will move on to the Preliminary Round.
Well there's a few bits and bobs to mention this week so I'll get straight to it:
Budweiser seem to have put the cat amongst the pigeons in their move to drive value from the FA Cup rights that they bought last year. Having whacked out an estimated £24 million on the 3yr title rights deal they have with the FA they subsequently went on to sponsor non-league side Wembley FC (you can see the link already can't you?) This week they announced the signing of 6 former England Internationals to play for said non-league Wembley FC who play in the rather charmingly titled Cherry Red Records Combined Counties Football League (now there is a tongue-twister) in the FA Cup matches next year. Cue outcry from non-league club supporters (clearly not Wembley FC fans) citing the unfair advantage. The FA's position has been to state it's in the rules and it's a separate sponsorship deal & Budweiser has highlighted this strategy at work elsewhere in the States. ESPN has picked up the story and will run a fly-on-the-wall documentary following the team next year.
In my opinion - a neat bit of activation - it'll certainly get coverage. Whether that will outweigh those fans that feel the need to buoycott drinking Budweiser for providing a non-league club with an advantage - who knows?
Elsewhere I've just been reading about two new Tour de France cycling team deals that see team sponsors become co-team sponsors. Gotta say I can't quite see the rationale in that (bar from a financial point of view) but you can read the ins and outs of it here. New sponsorship trend emerging? I do hope not.
