Sponsored by
Magic of the FA Cup is worth protecting: TALKING SPORT
THE reputation of the FA Cup was dealt a blow in 1999 when Manchester United initially accepted an offer to take a break from the competition and go chasing the World Club Championship instead.
But nearly 10 years after the message inadvertently went out that the competition was an irritating distraction on the fixture calendar rather than the most prestigious domestic knock-out tournament on the planet, it is time to reassess its worth.
Not because of Histon's victory over Leeds or the fact that Barrow - a team whose most recognisable achievement, until now, was being voted out of the Football League in 1972 - have been paired with
Middlesbrough in the third round.
Nearly every season a collection of postmen, painters, decorators and paper salesmen claim a prized professional scalp.
No.
With the Premier League title likely to be carved up by just four clubs for the foreseeable future, the FA Cup, as last term's semi-finalists prove, represents a wonderful opportunity for everyone else to get their hands on some silverware.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will always take it seriously when they get to within touching distance of Wembley but, as they've discovered over the past 12 months, getting there is sometimes easier said than done.
With the greatest of respect not even Gareth Baldwin, Histon's chairman, will believe his club are going to be taking part in May's final.
So it is up to the likes of Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers, as well as some of the top-flight's less glamorous clubs, to accept the challenge.
Rather than simply concentrating solely on promotion or survival.
Football is like government.
You get the game that you deserve.
Click here for full FA Cup Third Round Draw
NO DOUBT everyone will have an opinion on whether England's cricketers should return to India for the two Tests scheduled to take place there later this month.
Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, it seems, have already voiced theirs and following last week's terrible events in Mumbai they are unlikely to be the only members of the squad harbouring reservations about travelling.
Like most professionals involved in high-profile sports, Flintoff, Harmison and their team-mates are exceptionally well rewarded.
So inevitably there is an argument they should head back to the sub-continent because that's what they're being paid to do.
Not to mention plenty of pontificating, mostly from individuals who will spend the festive season in their own living rooms, about the dangers of letting terrorists win.
I've got my own opinion but I'm going to keep it quiet.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
READ MORE
Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So Far
Owls Watch 08-09 - The Season So Far
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more
Football headlines
More Blades
More Owls
More Spireites
More Rovers
More Reds
More Millers
More Ice Hockey
More rugby league
More rugby union
More boxing
Sports columnists
All sport categories
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
