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Charles Runcie, Head of Sport for 麻豆约拍 English Regions, reflects on the early rounds of the FA Cup, the magic it holds for those smaller teams taking part, and the special coverage they will get via our 麻豆约拍 Local Radio stations.

I always smile when FA Cup ties played in early November are referred to as being in the “first round PROPER”. What, you mean all the action before then was a sham? Dozens of clubs have endured multiple qualifying rounds, aiming to get their name picked out of that FA velvet bag live on TV, and take their place near the summit of the footballing world.

The mighty FA Cup… the world’s oldest cup competition, giant-killing prospects, the media spotlight, the glamour. That’s the magic that drives romantic-sounding clubs like Sporting Khalsa, Runcorn Linnets and Rushall Olympic, all dreaming of a lucrative cup run. Sadly they didn’t make it to the first round, as the competition steps up a gear, but Didcot Town did. A place better known for its railway junction, their team is aptly nicknamed The Railwaymen and are the lowest ranked side still left in the competition. Normally they play in the Southern League, but for a day they can live in the spotlight, hosting League 2’s Exeter City.

Have a thought for Maidenhead United, who travel to Port Vale. Their boss Alan Devonshire must be one of the very few managers in the first round to have actually won the FA Cup. Remember when? The answer is at the bottom*. Also could Basingstoke be the only side in the round yet to win a league fixture this season? If they beat League 2 high-flyers Northampton Town that would more than compensate for their poor form.

Those stories and many others are all part and parcel of the FA Cup. For our network of 麻豆约拍 Local Radio stations, which cover these teams week in week out, it’s just reward for all those commentaries done from dodgy press boxes on rainy Tuesday nights at the other end of the country. Jerome Sale, 麻豆约拍 Radio Oxford’s sports editor, will be forsaking his beloved Oxford United for the day to commentate on that Didcot-Exeter cup tie. 麻豆约拍 Radio Leicester’s Russell Hobbs (and yes, he’s heard all the jokes) will be looking forward to the weekend after commentating on village side Barwell’s 1-nil replay win over Rushden + Diamonds.

They and dozens more hardy reporters will wonder if their game, their result will be the story of the round. For 麻豆约拍 Hereford and Worcester’s Dan Johnson it actually happened. . The with his commentary led Match of the Day that night. “It was without doubt the sporting highlight of my 43-year-old life so far” he remembers. “Having grown up watching Worcester City, to be able to broadcast their biggest win for over 50 years was as sublime as it was surreal. When it did, "Pandemonium at the Ricoh!" tumbled from my gaping mouth and the enormity of my beloved team's achievement began to dawn. To feel such pride, to be there to see this homeless band of brothers revelling in this, their moment in the sun, that day seemed impossible to beat”.  

The dream is not yet over for Dan, though. “We travel to Sheffield United to see if lightning can strike twice, safe in the knowledge that now nothing is impossible” Dan’s words and all those fans listening, hoping and wondering back home, sum up for me the special importance 麻豆约拍 Local Radio has for our communities. Special Cup, special coverage.

Charles Runcie is Head of Sport for 麻豆约拍 English Regions

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• *Alan Devonshire was in the West Ham United team that won the FA Cup in 1980. A Second Division side at the time, Devonshire started the move that led to the winning goals scored by Trevor Brooking.