Rebels dreaming of Wembley date

September 25, 2006

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FC UNITED hit the Wembley trail at the weekend with a mission - to become the first Manchester team to play at the new stadium.

The Rebels eased through their first FA Vase match, winning 3-1 at Brodsworth Miners Welfare to make it to the first round proper of the nationwide competition.

And they are among the favourites to win the trophy, after a record-equalling start to the season of 12 straight wins in all competitions to sit on the top of the NW Counties League.

FC now face a trip to second division Padiham in the first round, and victory in that one would leave them five ties and a two-legged semi-final away from the final.

That final is scheduled to be at the new Wembley, if the legal dispute which is holding up completion of the construction can be overcome in time.

The Rebels' boss Karl Marginson is refusing to get giddy about his team's prospects, even though his team has already beaten Nantwich in the league. He says his thoughts are only on next Saturday's home league fixture against Bacup, when a victory would see FC equal the record for the best start to a league season, set by Skelmersdale last season.

Incentive

"We will just keep going as we have been going and see what comes of it," said the manager after goals from top scorer Stuart Rudd, Josh Howard and Rory Patterson had seen off Northern Counties East premier side Brodsworth.

"I don't know about being the first Manchester team to play at the new Wembley, but the thought of playing there is a big incentive to everyone who plays football.

"I am happy with my squad and in the next round we are playing Padiham, who we know all about. But this is cup football, and we will need a bit of luck."

FA Vase rules are in FC's favour as well, as players must have been registered at the time the previous round was played in order to be eligible.

That rules out the common league practice of clubs drafting in "ringers" against FC. Last season it was rumoured that one midfielder had played against FC for FIVE different clubs, who took advantage of the league's relaxed attitude to player registration.

Things began badly for Marginson and his team when the coach driver was given an incorrect post code for his satellite navigation and ended up on a tour of the south Yorkshire countryside, followed by several carloads of bemused supporters.

"Brodsworth weren't the best of teams, to be honest," said Marginson. "But they worked hard for the first half-hour, and after that we virtually camped on their 18-yard line."

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Mark, Chorlton (25/09/2006 at 16:30)

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A great Cup day out, let's hope for many more. Says a lot for the quality of the North West Counties League as well, our opponents, Brodsworth, are at the same level and doing well in their own North East Counties League but the gulf in football was plain too see.

Steve, Horwich, Lancashire (25/09/2006 at 17:11)

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We're on the march with Margy's Army!
We're all going to Wembley!
And we'll drink in all the bars, when we win the FA Vase!
Cos United are the greatest football team!

Danny, Timperley (25/09/2006 at 17:26)

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It was brilliant, what football is all about... WEEEMBERLEYYYYYY.....

Tommy, Tampa (25/09/2006 at 20:09)

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Laughing my ass off about the bus getting lost!!! Was not Free Red leading the caravan with his Mega-GPS 3000 system??

Impossible dreamer, North Manchester (26/09/2006 at 02:45)

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FC United at New Wembley before either MUFC or Citeh would be an incredible feat - as if this club has not achieved enough already. Tommy Tampa must be spewing all the way to Fergies shoelaces. Football eh? Nay doubt aboot it.

Mighty Red Skins, Walking over Buccclosers (26/09/2006 at 13:35)

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Hey Tommy. 12 wins out of 12 for the mighty Fc United. 3 losses out of 3 for the butt low Buccclosers. Read it and weep Tampa boy, R-E-A-D it and W-E-E-P. Now what was that you said about Fc United getting relegated? What about the Bucs then eh, just sing it out loud you LOSERS, LOSERS sing it thrice times LOSERS. You are OUT OF THE SUPERBOWL Buccclosers! ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Tommy, Tampa (26/09/2006 at 14:05)

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Hey I can take flack as well as I give it out. Little U is doing well. The Bucs do stink very badly. Quarterback Chris Simms took a beating in the game and had to have his spleen removed at the hospital after the game. Since the Bucs stink this season, I'll have more time to support my new favorite club: FC United. Let's go FC! Let's go FC! On to Wembley we go, on to Wembley we go, hi HO the dairy-O, on to Wembley WE go!!! And I emphasize WE to show my never wavering allegiance to the greatness that is FC United!!! Where is the closest Megastore??? Me needs a jersey, a scarf, a jester hat, a coffee mug and a BIG SPOON to eat my humble pie. He he. I'm on the bandwagon boys, let's get this thing moving. Can we get Sky Boxes set up at Gigg Lane??? I need somewhere to sit you know.

Free Red, Manchester (27/09/2006 at 01:05)

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Our first cup tie of the season was a sunny Leighesque Autumn away day with an emphatic display from our players. Brodsworth played a VERY defensive game and were fast to close our lads down, but a Brodsworth flat back 10 were no defensive match against FC United. We had to play the waiting game, but after Stuart scored the opener we were always going to win. It was great to play an away team at there own ground for a change. The intimacy of the near side action at a proper football ground cant be replicated at a track side type Stadium. I think all this relocation business we have become accustom to at FC detracts from the away experience. Neither clubs fans are at home and so we meet as strangers in a strange place instead of strangers made welcome at anothers home patch. We had a fantastic display of flags along the Main stand side with a few new flags I havent seen before. I think we could go all the way in this competition as we have already beaten the current holders. Our biggest opponents in my opinion are Complacency AFC. I know that every team who plays FC in the league treat each tie as a cup final. Our players will need to tread each FA Vase match as a C.L. Cup final if we are to go to Wembley ¿¿" if its built on time. Viva la revolution, come on FC.

Mighty Red Skins, Walking over Buccclosers (27/09/2006 at 11:14)

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Hey Tommy, would that be humble pie eaten with a BIG SPOON but NO SUPERBOWL! Bon appetite.

Eddie., Salford (27/09/2006 at 15:06)

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You gotta doth ya cap to old Tommy, he sure is a star and a stripe short of a full flag! Hehe. Way to go FC, Its what footballs all about, living the dream. Que sera, sera, What ever will be, will be!

Impossible dream?, We're living the dream (27/09/2006 at 21:42)

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Wembleeey, Wembleeey, we're the famous Fc United and we're going to Wembley. Wembleeey, Wembleeey, we're the famous Fc United and we're going to Wembley. Fantastic day, great atmos. We have Padhiam in the first round proper then follow the trail to whoknowswhere.

Malcolm, Tampa (29/09/2006 at 07:50)

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Just thought I would pop in to see how you are all managing to cope without my illustrious presence. Looks like the usual suspects are still continuing to promote their plastic empire on a muddy patch some miles north of the City of Manchester. Despite all of Free Reds efforts it looks like the coach driver would rather leave it to his own GPS gizmo (aka to you boy scouts as a compass). I don't know about the FA Vase but the local yard sale has a very attractive vase for sale for 10 cents. Where should I mail it?

Little Johnnie John John, Bexleyheath (29/09/2006 at 10:15)

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I am hoping for Santa to bring me an FC kit this Christmas but I guess I am going to have to settle for a Chelsea kit. Lifes like that. A box of chocolates. Didn't Andy Gump say something like that?

Andy Gump, FC Towers (29/09/2006 at 10:24)

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No Little Johnnie John John what ah say ed was that lifes like a box of chocolates you never know what you're gonna get. Unless they are maltesers in which case you get an MUFC branch.

Dan Brown, Paris (29/09/2006 at 10:27)

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Has anyone noticed that when you add up the sum of the words FC United and Andy walsh (A = 1 etc) and organise each group of numbers into three you get the number 666. The sign of the red devil? Is this deliberate?

Free Red, Manchester (29/09/2006 at 10:52)

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Next up, FC UNITED v. BACUP. Our next home match will be on Saturday 30 September 2006. k.o. 3.00pm. Admission ¿¿7 Adults, ¿¿5 concessions, ¿¿2 under 18s and FREE for students with a NUS card. This will be our first match against Bacup so they are another unknown quantity. They were beaten by Glossop midweek so I bet they will be really up for this one. Mal, Tampa, you have put your foot in it again. You do you realise that when you call Gigg lane a muddy patch (which it is not) its Bury FC you are insulting not FC United. As for directions, I am flattered by your vote of confidence and know how much you love to read them. But I dont think even the FC coach driver will need them for Gigg lane. By the way, I did the ¿¿ pounds signs just for you. I know how much you like them too. Viva la revolution, come on FC.

Torpey's Ghost, Main Stand Gigg Lane (29/09/2006 at 12:27)

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I'm bringing 2 FC virgins on Saturday, we have a chance to equal the record for the best start to a NWCFL season with 12 straight wins. With no United game on and kids in free it should be a decent turnout.

Will, Scarlet (29/09/2006 at 13:27)

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For some months now, we've been spared the contributions of the PE teacher from Royton, but now he's back. Still the same rubbish, though.

Robbing Hood, Sherwood Forest (02/10/2006 at 04:42)

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Surely Will you can't be referring to Andy and his band of "merry" men relieving the FC faithful of their riches to give to the coffers of the more derving "cause"?

claire, middleton (03/10/2006 at 13:40)

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me and the kids took the trip to Brodsworth and loved it on the way home my 8 year old asked when we are going to wembbley and mthe answer came of soooon i know we will be there we have to be fc are true football.when you stand there with your kids(aged 6 and 8)and hear them singing from behind the goal with the rest,when they wake you up at 6am on a saturday so they are not late you know you have found it,a team with heart,a team with soul OUR TEAM OUR FC OUR MANCHESTER OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS TEAM see you all at wembley!!!!

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