FA Cup first round proper.

To be honest I am not that bothered how pissed off Manuel Pellegrini is with his Manchester City team, and I don't really care that If his team showed a lack of professionalism in Europe.  I couldn't really give a stuff whether Raheem Sterling got called up for the England squad and Daniel Sturridge didn't and if Brendan Rodgers is talking to Roy Hodgson or if Arsene Wenger is talking to Roy Hodgson about Theo Walcott.  At least I don't this weekend, because this weekend is not about the big boys, this weekend as far as I am concerned is not about International call ups or the premier league or even the championship.  Its all about the biggest and longest running cup competition in the world.  Ladies and Gentleman I give you the FA Cup.

Pellegrini is not happy.

This weekend sees the football league 1 and 2 enter the cup for the first time this year and as usual there will be dreams of a long cup run and a chance of pulling a big tie against the big boys in the 3rd round.  It all began back on the 15th August and now finally we have got to the first round proper.

There are some mouth watering ties over this weekend and quite a few potential upsets.

Top of the Conference Barnet are up against top of league 2 Wycombe in what could be a very close game, elsewhere Basingstoke Town who top the Conference South are at home to bottom Conference side AFC Telford United.  High flying league 2 side Bury take on Hemel Hempstead Fc,  Gosport Borough take on Colchester and there is an all league 2 clash between Luton and Newport County.  The lowest ranked team remaining in the competition is Warrington Town from the Northern League Division 1 who take on Exeter from league 2 live on BBC tonight.  Northern Premier league side Norton United are up against conference outfit Gateshead and there is a battle between two former giant killers as Blyth Spartans take on Altrichnam.


My team Dagenham and Redbridge have been handed a home tie against conference side Southport.  With Daggers poor recent home form Port will be coming to Victoria Road with high hopes of pulling off a shock result.

Southport are a team that the Daggers used to play regularly in their conference days, I remember on one occasion playing against them in 2002 where we lost 3-0, however the game will not be remembered certainly from Daggers fans for the score, but more for the poor refereeing performance.  The man in the middle Martin Yerby dismissed two Daggers players in Mark Stein and Steve Potts.  Former West Ham defender Potts was shown a straight red for deliberate handball when it was clear to everyone that it hit his thigh, former Chelsea striker Stein received his marching orders after an aerial challenge that left his opponent rolling around on the floor, it all kicked off and Stein was the man sent down the tunnel.

Mark Stein sent off!!

 The game was played in bad blood and the Port players tried to con the ref after almost every tackle.  The home fans were getting more and more frustrated as the game went on, away players were hurling abuse at the crowd and the crowd were giving it back.  At half time in this game I remember the home fans being taunted by the away fans and it was the first time really I ever thought it was going to kick off.  I remember being really angry at the time and for some unknown reason started shouting a load of abuse at the Southport  substitutes who had come on the pitch to warm up, suffice to say they just laughed at me.  Luckily it never did kick off but it was an awful game with an awful referee and a lot of awful Southport players.  The one Southport villain to stand out for me was their left back Chris Lane who whenever he came to Victoria Road always seemed to antagonise the home supporters.

Daggers fans favourite Southport player Chris lane.

I really hope that tomorrow's game is not played in the same vain and obviously the Daggers can come out with a win.  The FA Cup may just be the tonic the players need to spark their season, hopefully the pressure won't be too much and they can go out and put on a bit of a show for the home fans.

If your team is involved in a FA Cup match tomorrow enjoy your game and good luck to all the teams playing in the greatest cup competition in the world, all except Southport of course.

Come on you Daggers!!!