759 clubs creating a million dreams and memories

For many people the FA Cup brings back dreams and memories. Dreams of making it to Wembley. For me the FA cup brings back memories such as Ian Rush scoring a brace in the all Merseyside Cup Final, John Aldridge missing a penalty against underdogs Wimbledon, Eric Cantona breaking my heart in my first and only visit to Wembley in 96, Michael Owen stealing the Cup from Arsenal at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium and of course in the same stadium Steven Gerrard's last minute equaliser against West Ham. they are all memories of Finals of course, but that is where our memories and dreams are linked. Because with every memory we have, we have a dream that can equal it. Maybe for us at Ashton Town our dream isn't to get to Wembley, maybe it is. But I think many people's dreams at Ashton would be to maybe one-day reach the 1st Round proper. For the 402 teams who will compete in the Extra-Preliminary round of the FA cup this year many of them will just dream of getting through one round. The £750 prize for winning in the Extra-Preliminary Round can keep teams at our level running for 6 months. I think for clubs like us at Ashton winning one round is more of a dream than ever getting to any final and you never know it may just create more memories than any final. That is why this competition is so special to many people, me included. That is why 759 teams have entered this competition and that is why the FA Cup is the biggest and most participated in sporting competition in the world.

For Ashton Town in this years FA Cup we have been handed a very tough draw. Ashton have been drawn away to Colne FC of the Vodkat League Premier Division. Many people will remember Colne Dynamoes who hailed from the same ground and were full time attracting players such as Alan Kennedy. Unfortunately Colne Dynamoes went out of business in 1990. In 1996 the current Colne FC were formed and elected to the North West Counties Football League.

Colne began this season with a 2-2 draw away at Runcorn Linnets before following that up with a 4-0 thumping of Rossendale at home. Just by them 2 results that tells you that Colne are a good side. It also tells you that to go to the Holt House Stadium and come away with our name in the hat for the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup is going to be difficult. But this is the FA Cup. This is the competition that is famous for giant killings, this is the competition that, as I mentioned earlier, generates so many dreams and so many memories. At the moment the thought of going into the hat, or should I say velvet bag, is merely one of the many FA Cup Dreams, I just hope by 5pm on Saturday that dream has changed into one of those famous FA Cup memories.

Onwards and Upwards