Blubbing Like A Baby

There are few sports that impassions as much as football. From players to fans, managers to commentators, the game hauls you kicking and screaming, blubbing and weeping through the emotional mangle. The game tugs at every sense in the same way as compelling film, dramatic theatre or a gripping read. It matters not where you are; on the terrace, in the dugout, on the pitch, in the front room or in the pub.

In the aftermath of the emotional eruption at the end of the Chelsea-Barcelona game midweek, there have been a million-and-one flavoured reactions to the Stamford Bridge shenanigans. I can understand the huge disappointment of Chelsea fans and players. I can understand how painful it must have been to be so, so close to playing in the Champions League Final in Rome and then have the dream snuffed out at the death. I can also understand how Darren Fletcher must be feeling after his Rome dream was also snatched away by a poor refereeing decision in the other Semi-Final. And while the debate rumbles on about the over-reaction of the players, the inability to control high emotion, how the role models for our children should, or should not, behave, part of me struggles to be sympathetic for these guys.

At that level of football, at the pinnacle of the game, the players enjoy unimaginable wealth. They have their yachts, their Ferraris, their luxury apartments. They play at a standard of football that suggests, if they miss out on this year’s Champions League Final, they should get a reasonable chance to have another crack at it before their career fades. And they will experience other ‘huge’ games. There is no doubting their passion for the game, their gut-wrenching disappointment at seeing something they have worked so hard for come to nothing, but they have a couple of safety nets to cushion their fall.

I tried hard to feel very sorry for Chelsea, but I failed.

In the build up to the Glossop North End v Whitley Bay FA Vase Final on Sunday – it is here at last – I have been reminded how the emotion of football can really hit home. Whilst the Champions League stars seem so removed from reality, the players who ply their trade in the non League reaches of English football, and the fans who watch them, are not averse to exactly the same level of emotions. The joy, the despair, the ecstasy and the distress. For many who watch this level of football I would argue the emotion is closer to hand, it is easier to share and feel part of, and therefore it seems more real.

Pause and think for a minute how the Glossop and Whitley Bay players must be feeling this very moment. They are two days away from playing at Wembley. They do not get paid to play the game they love. This really is a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. Likewise for the supporters and club officials. Who would have thought they would ever be able to say “I’m going to watch Glossop play at Wembley on Sunday”. Think also for a minute therefore of the players and fans of Chalfont St Peter and Lowestoft Town who lost in the Semi-Finals. Try telling me that they felt any less hurt, any less upset or dejected than those associated with Chelsea do this week.

This week I posed some questions to a couple of unsung heroes up at Glossop North End FC. Jonathan Haggart and Neil Rimmer are two of the volunteers who spent most of their spare time and waking hours working behind the scenes at Surrey Street. The latter stages of this FA Vase run has seen their workloads balloon to popping point. I asked them both how they felt about this FA Vase run, what it means for the club and the fan base, what the high and low points were. Their responses included facts about improving attendances, the financial benefits and the plans for ground improvements. However, the single most powerful message that pervaded the responses was the emotion that the whole FA Vase experience has wrought.

I asked Neil how he feels about Glossop’s FA Vase Run. “Proud” he said “for all the volunteers who started the season helping out a struggling step 5 club and who now get the reward of a trip to Wembley. For all the supporters who were supporters before Vase mania took over. For all the players that have played at Glossop this season because they love the place, and the beautiful game, and who now get the reward that their efforts and commitment deserve”. Here’s Jonathan talking about that win over Chalfont in the Semis: “And then we scored and all hell broke loose. The emotion I felt when Kelvin scored was overwhelming...but mostly it was bewilderment. There have been many days that I'll never forget on this run, but that moment will be vivid when I'm 102”.

And what about the big day on Sunday? “This is everything I wanted as a kid," explained Jonathan "but I was never nearly good enough as a player. To do things as an official...drive up Wembley way, visit the dressing rooms, sit on the benches, and maybe even step on the turf...amazing”. Neil will get to see his own son lead the Glossop team out at Wembley as team mascot. A truly special moment.

In a week where football fans around the globe were implored to feel for Chelsea, I was reminded that there is a much more worthy cause. I listened with moist eyes to a montage of Glossop’s FA Vase highlights on High Peak Radio around the same time Drogba was screaming and swearing into our living rooms. At the climax of the piece, as commentator Ben Price’s emotions exploded over the airwaves in reaction to Glossop’s winning penalty, I wiped away a tear in the same way I had done on that day back in early April.

On Sunday, when Glossop and Whitley Bay step out under the arch, emotions will be running high, but for all the right reasons. Come the end of the day there will be cheers and there will be tears. If the emotion of the occasion gets too much for me, I’m not ashamed to say that I will end up blubbing like a baby. Football just does that to you.

Blue (And White) Is The Colour

One year ago I wrote about the build up to the FA Cup Semi-Final between Cardiff City and Barnsley. In a slight ‘tongue-in-cheek’ blog post I listed the Wembley merchandise that fans were clambering to get their hands on: the flags, foam hands, car stickers, scarves, replica shirts and the t-shirts.

A year on and it would be easy to write exactly the same article, with a few alterations in the detail. Swap FA Cup Semi-Final for FA Vase Final, change Cardiff City to Glossop North End and Barnsley to Whitley Bay. The sense of excitement of a visit to Wembley is the same as it was 365 days ago and the fans’ rush to empty their wallets for any type of memorabilia depicting their club colours is just as palpable.

The Final is only matter of weeks away now, but much has already been sorted since Glossop’s quite remarkable Houdini act. On a personal note, I have calmed down somewhat now. I've taken a well earned family Easter break (in Cardiff, coincidentally) and my Vase batteries are fully recharged after they were drained to the dregs up in Derbyshire twelve days ago.

So what exactly has been sorted? The Final will be played on Sunday 10th May, kick-off at 2:30pm and, as if I need to say, will be contested between Glossop North End and Whitley Bay. Whitley Bay overcame Lowestoft Town in their Semi-Final, drawing 1-1 in Suffolk to go through 3-2 on aggregate. No doubt much to the chagrin of the FA, we are going to witness an all-northern Final. Both clubs share blue and white colours; Whitley Bay won the toss for choice of shirt on the big day so the team from the North East will be wearing their home strip (see picture above). Glossop will be wearing a gleaming new white away kit. Glossop are the designated ‘home team’ and will therefore occupy the home changing room, even though both Wembley changing rooms are identical. The match will not be shown live on TV, although Setanta have the TV rights so may well screen highlights after the event.

Both sets of fans are now ready to buy their Final tickets which go on sale at the respective clubs within the next few days and the clubs have received an initial allocation of 5000 each. There is a long tradition at FA Vase Finals for the teams’ support to be swelled with fans from local teams and for supporters to represent their League. Therefore expect also to see fans at Wembley from a number of North West and North East non League clubs. In addition to tickets, orders are also stocking up for the Wembley Final merchandise. In Glossop, the range on offer include both home and away replica shirts, Vase t-shirts, Vase mugs, scarves, rosettes, car flags, car sunshades, badges and jester hats. The only thing missing is a Vase rattle. In Whitley Bay they have a similar range, but also have key rings, caps, gloves and air fresheners to entice. Add to this the blue and white wigs and face paint and there is no doubting which colours are going to dominate the Wembley scene.

It promises to be a marvellous occasion for both clubs and their supporters. There has been a great deal of good natured banter already between opposition fans, which is exactly how it should be, and come Sunday 10th May two trails of blue and white will set off south to ultimately converge in North London to share a special day. For me, it is fitting that I started with Chertsey Town who also play in blue and white; my (and my friends') trail to Wembley has been rather haphazard and wonderfully unpredictable. Proudly displaying their club colours in a myriad of different ways, supporters from Glossop North End and Whitley Bay intend to make the very most of every moment of a day out at Wembley. And just like the Cardiff City and Barnsley fans a year ago, they have every reason to.

Game 10: Chalfont St Peter 3, Glossop North End 3

Semi-Final, 1st Leg ~ Saturday 28th March 2009
Venue: Mill Meadow, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire
Attendance: 1,185

Distance travelled: 48 miles

Listening to the radio on Saturday morning it was hard to believe that there were Semi-Finals of a national football competition taking place. The football planet inhabited by the big boys continued to spin like a dervish on its axis as the airwaves were filled with stories about the World Cup Qualifiers, Beckham's 109th cap, the League 1 and the League 2 fixtures. Sidelined in Surrey, I felt the need to check that the FA Vase last four games were still being played and could only imagine what the inhabitants of Chalfont St Peter, Glossop, Whitley Bay and Lowestoft were feeling as D-Day dawned.

Yet I needn't have worried. The sound of clicking turnstiles as we arrived at Meadow Mill, the tidy little ground of Chalfont St Peter, prodded at the relative tranquility of the Buckinghamshire surroundings. By the time the travelling blue and white army from Derbyshire had emptied themselves from vehicles into clubhouse, there was no doubting whatsoever there was an important game about to take place. It wasn't long before the first renditions of "Wemberleee! Wemberleee!" pierced the March air. This was game on. Once again, the FA Vase delivered another beauty; final score 3-3, it could have been 5-5 and a tie left delicately balanced with everything to play for in the 2nd Leg.

Strangely though, the game took quite some time to find a gear. The weather had a huge part to play, with a very strong (and cold) wind blowing down the length of the pitch. In the first half the home side had the advantage of the wind behind them, and Glossop struggled with their tactic of trying to hit their wide men using the long ball. The only incident of note in a scrappy first 15 minutes was a small hailstorm; I predicted a low scoring affair at this stage. Yes, I know, I am an idiot.

With the wind at their backs, Chalfont could afford to play a very high line; the visitors were caught offside on numerous occasions and Glossop's goalkeeper Ashlea Gotham failed to reach the halfway line with his kicks. Chalfont really had most of the possession and pressure and they opened the scoring on 21 minutes. A shot from the edge of the area was fired in, Gotham reacted well, but the ball fell to Charlie Strutton who prodded home. Glossop failed to string more than two passes together and were half a yard off the pace. The Glossop captain Dave Young struck a long range effort wide on 23 minutes, this being their first real sight of goal.

Chalfont played the conditions better; they managed to keep the ball on the floor and brought both wingers into play whenever possible, Terrell Lewis on the right having a particularly good game. Chalfont increased their lead on 32 minutes. A corner was dropped in right on top of Gotham at the near post, but the visiting keeper somehow contrived to drop the ball thus presenting the simplest tap in for Chalfont's skipper John Carroll.

Things didn't look promising for Glossop. The massed blue and white travelling support behind the goal had lost their pre-match fervour. The Hillmen were simply not at the races, being beaten by a quicker team and a stiff gale. Disappointingly, Glossop failed to change their approach and still tried the long ball into space behind the back line. The assistant referee's raised flag thwarted them over and over again. But then suddenly, out of nothing, Glossop managed to jam their foot in the door of a game that was closing shut on them. A well delivered corner from Jamie Kay was met with a thunderous diving header from Jay Gorton, right into the roof of the net. 2-1 with 5 minutes to half-time and Glossop had bagged a lifeline.

As the teams emerged for the second half one sensed that Glossop, playing with the wind, would now take control and it would be Chalfont St Peter who would struggle. But within 4 minutes of kick-off, The Saints had restored their two goal cushion. Once more, it was sloppy defending that allowed a Chalfont player to turn in the box and square the ball for Barry Brosnan to tuck a shot just inside Gotham's left-hand post.

This is just what Chalfont had needed and looked as if they would go on and dominate. Glossop, however, refused to rollover. The game opened up now; Glossop attacking with the wind at their backs and, at last, managing to get somewhere with their wide players exposing the home defence. Chalfont still looked dangerous and likely to add to their tally as they managed to break at pace on several occasions. Glossop were in a difficult position now. The next goal would be crucial and the visitors could not afford to concede again. Stick or twist? To Glossop's credit, they pushed on and took the game to Chalfont at every opportunity, in a brave attempt to try and get back into the tie.

On 59 minutes a mad scramble in front of the Chalfont goal saw the ball pushed away to Lewis, who continued to threaten. As he advanced on the Glossop goal, he was brought down. The resulting free-kick was blasted over the Glossop bar. A minute later Gotham horribly skewed a kick from a back pass; he was having a poor game. A Glossop fan behind me moaned "Glossop are not playing very well at all". I had to agree. The clock was ticking down and Chalfont looked as if they were going to hang on and take a welcome advantage into the 2nd Leg.

And, just as I thought that, Glossop were back in the game. That long ball to Hodges on the left, which had failed in the vast majority of the game, caught the Chalfont defence napping. This time, the assistant referee kept his flag down and Hodges ran onto the ball and with one touch coolly lobbed the very tall Mark Oliver in the Chalfont goal. The ball nestled into the net and Hodges continued running to the delighted Glossop fans behind that goal. If the game had ended there and then, with 73 minutes on the clock, I'm sure the travelling support would have happily taken a 3-2 scoreline back to Derbyshire.

But, quite amazingly, we were treated to a barn-storming conclusion to the game. With Chalfont's heads down, Glossop drew level with 11 minutes to go. Another long ball was the undoing of a tiring Chalfont rearguard and this time it was Tom Bailey who outpaced his marker to slot home. Dramatic stuff and Glossop were well and truly back in the tie.

But it didn't end there; both sides could have won it in a frenetic last couple of minutes. On 90 minutes, Bailey again broke through for Glossop only for Oliver in the Chalfont goal to get to the ball first. Up at the other now and Lewis sprinted down the right and Edward Chemial flashed a header inches wide. Edging into the 4th minute of added on time, the excellent Lewis again found space to cross, only for Chalfont's Adam Louth to blaze over. The last action of the game saw Glossop's Sam Hind reach the dead-ball line and cross into a swarm on on-rushing blue shirts. Some tired leg-swinging from the players in blue and some last ditch defending meant that Glossop were agonisingly denied a dramatic last ditch winner.

At the final whistle, the reaction of the Glossop players told its own tale; they stood to a man with their hands on their heads. They genuinely felt as if they could have won it at the end and it was Chalfont who probably came off the pitch the most relieved. For me, PB and Mackem, another marvellous afternoon's entertainment.

This was a very good game between two committed teams, but I must admit the atmosphere seemed a tad muted, even with such a large and enthusiastic crowd inside Mill Meadow. Maybe the strong wind carried the noise off over the hills? Perhaps the very open ground dampened the sound of the support? It is an understatement to say I am very much looking forward to the 2nd Leg at the more compact Surrey Street where there is everything to play for and where there promises to be an electric atmosphere in front of a sell out gate.

I'm sure this FA Vase has another helping of tension, nail biting action and excitement in store. Already the mind games have started; Danny Edwards (the Chalfont St Peter manager) has declared that Glossop "will be favourites so the pressure will be on them". The good news is this: there isn't long for us all to wait to find out.

For more of my photos from the game, please pop over [here].

Semi-Finals Day Is (Almost) Here

At last, the day of the Semi-Finals is almost here. That First Qualifying Round game at Oakwood last September is but a distant memory. 6 months, 9 games and 1268 miles later, I am off to Chalfont St Peter tomorrow with my good friends PB and Mackem. 280 miles north, Whitley Bay will be hosting Lowestoft Town in the other Semi. At opposite ends of the country, fans from four non League clubs will now being getting really anxious and excited in equal measure. Nothing will be decided tomorrow, as 2 legs need to be negotiated, but even so...Wembley is a matter of 180 minutes away. Deep breaths all round.

The town of Glossop has gone FA Vase barmy, and I am reliably informed that football fever has taken its grip. The local newspapers are now giving tomorrow's game in Buckinghamshire front and back page coverage, even the Manchester Evening News has got in on the act. Ticket sales for the home leg on 4th April have been crazy, and the local press are reporting that they have all but been sold, over 1000 going in the first few days. Ahead of tomorrow's game, some news from the last few days:

1. The G.N.E. Bitter. This is great. The local Shaws Brewery has produced a special ale to celebrate Glossop's Semi-Final games. They have called it 'G.N.E. Bitter' and it has been well received. Some ingenuous Glossop North End fans are working out how to smuggle a keg or two onto the coach on Saturday. I look forward to trying some! Thanks to Mandy at the Star Inn for the photo above.

2. The Glossop View. I listened with interest after the Semi-Final draw when the Glossop manager, Steve Young, said that he was disappointed with not being at home in the 1st Leg. This a strange thing to hear as the majority of managers and coaches up and down the land normally prefer to be away in the 1st Leg; go to 'their' ground, shut up shop and finish them off at home in the 2nd Leg. Young's take on this was quite revealing; he explained that clubs at this level in the FA Vase really know nothing about each other. His plan was to shock Chalfont in the first game, and he would have preferred home advantage first to execute this plan. By the 2nd leg, they will know far more about each other and there will be no element of surprise. Young still intends to use the shock tactics tomorrow: "It's important that we go to Chalfont looking to win".

3. The Chalfont View. Chalfont have been a little more reserved in their build up to the game. They have a very young team (average age 20) and are based in a part of the country that is not traditionally a hotbed of football. They play in front of crowds of 75-80 but are expecting closer to 1000 tomorrow. Chalfont St Peter FC are a real community club and over the past 8 years or so, since the current Chairman Denis Mair took over, they have worked hard to build a solid club infrastructure and have developed a sound coaching set up. They do not pay their players. They have been favourites to win the FA Vase ever since the Fourth Round, a tag they are keen to dismiss. Coming from a small community they have had less coverage than other teams in the competition and they believe they are underdogs for the tie. The Chalfont manager, Danny Edwards, has a pragmatic view: "It will all come down to who adjusts and copes best with the pressure".

4. The 'W' Word. I am intrigued to understand how both sets of players, being so close to Wembley, actually feel at the moment and cope with this "pressure" that Edwards talks about. How do they control their nerves, how do they channel their excitement, how do they keep their feet on the ground? Can the pressure be simply too much? I put these questions to two Glossop players, captain Dave Young (son of manager Steve) and Rick Whelan. Both were very clear on this subject; their manager keeps them in check. Using the old cliché, they really do take one game at a time and are still in the hunt for League honours. The manager has them well focused and ensures that their feet are firmly nailed to the floor. Young believes that "whoever conquers their nerves will go through" and the manager has worked hard to ensure the players do not get carried away with things. The word 'Wembley' is well and truly banned amongst the North End players and coaching staff. Mention the 'W' word and a swift £5 fine follows. I wonder how big the kitty is?

5. Prediction? Talking of a kitty, throughout this FA Vase I and my friends have had small wagers to predict the scoreline of games we have been to. In the early rounds, PB seemed to scoop the kitty every time. But after any of us failed to get the score correct at Bitton AFC (2-0 to Glossop) and more understandably at Glossop (5-2 against Marske United), for tomorrow's game there is a double-rollover at stake. On this blog I have never predicted scores, in an effort to maintain an air of neutrality. A bit like Switzerland. To keep with tradition I'm not going to tell you want scoreline I have predicted for tomorrow. However, knowing our prediction skills, and the total unpredictability of this wonderful FA Vase competition, I would guess that we may have another rollover for the Wembley Final in May.

As Paul Gascoigne once said: "I don't make predictions and I never will".

Semi-Final Draw

Waiting for the Semi-Final draw to be made today, I couldn't help wondering whether there would be another 'balls-up' (no pun intended) from the FA and how anything could possibly go wrong with only five teams left in the competition. Mistakes are so frequent on their website they are now to be expected. It must be highly embarrassing for the FA, but no longer newsworthy. But today they excelled themselves. This is the message that appeared at lunchtime on their site:

"The draw has been made for the Semi-Final of The FA Vase, with last year's losing Finalists Whitley Bay being drawn out to face 2002's winners Whitley Bay".

Add to that the fact (as I write this on Monday evening) they still have the Needham Market v Chalfont St Peter result from Saturday’s Quarter-Final as 0-0. The game actually ended 1-1. For the game I was at, they report that Ben Thompson scored two goals for Marske United (both in the 23rd minute?!) when in fact he only scored one.

Laughable.

Anyway, the actual draw has sent Glossop North End to either Needham Market or Chalfont St Peter in the Semi-Final 1st Leg on Saturday 28th March. The 2nd Leg at Glossop will be on Saturday 4th April. The other Semi-Final pairs Whitley Bay with Lowestoft, a repeat of last season's Semi-Final.

More reaction from me on this draw - and the logistics of Whitley Bay playing themselves - later in the week.

Marske United

The Fifth Round of this season's FA Vase was finally completed today when Marske United won 3-0 against St. Ives Town at Cambridge City's ground, with goals from Wilson, Thompson and Swailes (whilst the FA website incorrectly reports that Diamond, Newton and 'Swales' scored...good grief...)


Next Saturday's Quarter-Final line up is now complete:

Whitley Bay v Biggleswade Town
Lowestoft Town v Bideford AFC
Needham Market v Chalfont St Peter
Glossop North End v Marske United

Glossop will therefore host Northern League Division Two outfit Marske United at Surrey Street on 28th February 2009. Kick-off 3pm.

That leaves just enough time for me to plan my trip, put some petrol in the tank and set the Sat Nav to "home". I can't wait.

Don't Bet Against It.

Many people, far more knowledgeable and experienced than I, have explained to me in recent weeks that the Fourth Round Proper of the FA Vase is when the competition really catches the imagination with fans. From this round on, ties are no longer regionalised, attendances will rise as will hopes, dreams and expectations. As 2008 draws to a close, we are now down to the last 32 teams and the relative few still standing must feel they now face a realistic chance of walking out onto the Wembley turf in May 2009.


But who are the favourites to lift the trophy? One thing is for sure, I can't tell you. I've absolutely no idea. Many of the teams still in the competition I have barely heard of; others I am slowly starting to recognise. Last season's finalists are holding onto their dream of yet another day at Wembley. In the next round, the holders, AFC Fylde (formerly Kirkham & Wesham) face a tricky journey to Needham Market in what will be, on January 17th, a repeat of last years' Semi-Final. The beaten finalists last May were Lowestoft, and they will host Witney United.

In the betting markets, there is only one bookmaker laying odds for the FA Vase. SkyBet do not, rather surprisingly, have AFC Fylde installed as favourites. That honour goes jointly to three teams, namely VT FC, Leiston and Lowestoft (odds 10/1) whilst AFC Fylde are slightly longer odds to retain the trophy (12/1). I can understand why Leiston are up there - they had a great FA Cup campaign this season, and Lowestoft. But VT FC? Who are they?

I guess the bookmaker can only derive odds based on League position and recent FA Vase history; I doubt that anyone at SkyBet has a detailed understanding of any of these non League clubs. VT FC are actually based near Southampton and in case you are wondering (I had to look this up) VT stands for Vosper Thornycroft, the name of a public limited shipbuilding and engineering company. VT is essentially a work's team. There you go - that is the one thing I have learnt today. As for their FA Vase pedigree, this is the first time they have reached the Fourth Round Proper. They are third in the Wessex League Premier Division having lost only one League game this season, and as a Step 5 team on the pyramid VT are therefore one of the highest ranked teams still in the competition. Joint favourite kind of makes sense then.

Down at the other end of the pecking order are FC Clacton and Stone Dominoes. Both are Step 6 clubs and currently lie mid-table in their Leagues, the Eastern Counties League Division One and the North West Counties League Division One respectively. At odds of 66/1 they are not fancied. But could they be worth a punt?

In the FA Vase, League position and ranking in the pyramid seem to mean little. When AFC Fylde won the competition last season, they were one of the lowest ranked teams competing. Last season was their first time in the competition and they entered at the earliest stage (First Round Qualifying). At this stage of the competition last year they were 66/1 outsiders. That alone is enough to suggest that any of the teams remaining have a chance to win it. Even FC Clacton or Stone Dominoes. You never know.

I am a crap tipster and usually lose any football bets I make, so if you are waiting for a tip, I'm afraid you are in for a long wait. All I know is that in a few weeks time, I will be at Bitton AFC (20/1) for their tie with Cogenhoe United (40/1). I have no idea who will win the game. However, there is a 1 in 16 chance that the winner of the FA Vase 2008-09 will come from that tie. Don't bet against it.

Chasing The Vase

It has been a rather hectic summer for me. After last season's FA Cup exploits, in which I travelled over hill and dale in search of real football, I have had little time to sit down and reflect on what was quite an experience. Writing a blog, fielding newspaper interviews, even a slot on the radio and a brief appearance in front of a TV camera were all alien to me and somewhat surreal. Not to mention the great football along the way.

But I entered the summer months, with Euro 2008 and the Beijing Olympics on the horizon, knowing I was going to be kept very busy. The FA Cup blog turned into an FA Cup book; details, if you are interested, can be found here. Writing a book is a first for me, and as much as the FA Cup journey itself was a real eye-opener, so was publishing a tome about it. I have learnt so much in a short space of time. Whoever said "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" was wrong, frankly. But that is a different story - suffice to stay I have not stood still for four months.

Whilst all that was going on, I had in the back of my mind plans for a significantly more low-key venture for this new season, 2008-09. Many have asked "would I be doing the FA Cup journey again?" The answer? Maybe in a few years' time, but not again so soon. But I felt as if I should do something. I enjoyed many, many things about the FA Cup last season: the new grounds; the travelling to uncharted parts of the country; making new acquaintances and friends. But the fondest memory is that of watching non League football, down in the lower reaches of the English football pyramid. The tiny grounds, the part-time clubs, the small but dedicated helpers, all in places I'd never heard of before.

So for this season I have chosen to take a butchers at the Vase - the FA's knockout competition for clubs at Steps 5, 6 and 7. Another journey to Wembley is on the cards and seems appropriate. Last season's FA Vase winners were Kirkham & Wesham (since renamed AFC Fylde) who beat Lowestoft in the Final. Those names alone give you an idea of the level of football we are talking about. I know I won't attract as much interest as I did last season, but that's not why I'm doing it. Getting into the matches will be far easier; the only real challenge will be the possible distances to travel, once again a potential nightmare if I should be faced with a mid-week replay. I'm already looking forward to a journey into the unknown, and having no control over where in the country I will be sent or who I will meet along the way.

As the publication date for my FA Cup book approaches I can begin to breathe a little easier and focus on my 2008-09 journey. This season 513 teams have entered the FA Vase and I will start (as I did last season in the FA Cup) with my local club, Chertsey Town. They have been drawn away, in the First Round Qualifying (on Saturday 6th September 2008) to Sussex County League Division One side Oakwood.

Never heard of them? No - neither have I. This is where the fun starts.