The FA Cup. Part 16.

Saturday, 15^th February 2014

Fifth Round Proper

Sunderland AFC v Southampton

The Stadium of Light

Sunderland

SR5 1SU

K.O. 12.45pm

Half time 0-0

Final score 1-0

1-0 Graig Gardner  49 mins

Attendance 16,777 (away 859)

Miles travelled approximately 290 (not including the 425 miles)

STUPID!

Yeah. That’s the word. If you ever needed proof that the people who run the game don’t know what they are doing then there it was. Frankly, they couldn’t run a bath.

The FA Cup 5^th Round draw threw up some interesting ties. Once the replays had been played the two ties that stuck out like a sore thumb were Brighton v Hull and Sunderland v Southampton.

Brighton and Hull are approximately 280 miles apart while Sunderland and Southampton are approximately 320 miles apart giving fans a 4 hour 30 minute and 5 hour 30 minute journey time respectively.

So what do the powers that be decide to do? Show them live on TV. Not at a normal time, but 7.45pm on Monday and 12.45pm on Saturday, respectively.

If you still haven’t figured it out yet, it would mean that any Hull fan would need to leave Hull at 2pm at the absolute latest on a Monday, giving them an approximate returning home time of 3am Tuesday. While Southampton fans would have to leave at 5am at the latest on Saturday morning. 

Here is the full draw with the TV times. Draw your own conclusions.

Arsenal v Liverpool   BT SPORT Sunday KO 4pm

Brighton & Hove Albion v Hull City   BT SPORT Monday KO 7.45pm

Cardiff City v Wigan Athletic

Everton v Swansea City   ITV SPORT Sunday KO 1.30pm

Manchester City v Chelsea   ITV SPORT Saturday KO 5.15pm

Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest

Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic

Sunderland v Southampton   BT SPORT Saturday KO 12.45pm

It’s Friday 14^th, it’s 4.15pm, I’m in Barnet, it’s still raining, I’m still soaked from my last delivery in Kilburn, my phone starts to ring. I answer it. It was Chris from Sunderland AFC. We chat. God! He talks more than me (I shall pause while you all insert your own punch lines to your own jokes… Finished? May I continue? You’re very kind…) I felt an instant attraction to him. He’s as bonkers as me. Brilliant!

Before we hang up we arrange a meeting time and place for Saturday, Chris also offered me his parking space for the day. Here comes that big fish from St Margaretsbury.

By the time I’d finished work and get home it’s close to 9.30pm and I finally stagger into my bed at 10.30pm.

3AM! My alarm goes off and I wake up with a big smile on my face like I used to do when I was a boy knowing my favorite toy was waiting for me exactly where I’d left it.

A quick look online to find a post from Jason on the IMFC Football Forum stating that Tom Finney had died. *SIGH!*

4am and I’m leaving. A quick short cut past the oncoming floods. M11. A14. A1. A1(M). The Moon looked good. The miles fly by. The 80’s compilation CD takes me to a place along time past. My mind starts to wonder. First loves. Loves lost. The dreams I had shattered, the hearts I broke and vice versa. THAT girl. The ONE. I wonder where she is now. Married? Kids? Happy? I hope she’s happy. I hope she’s not out there somewhere thinking of me. What a waste that would be. Strange the things that go through your mind…    

Wetherby arrived a lot sooner than I thought it would. I quickly dived into the services, before continuing north bound.

8.45am and I’m racing into Sunderland. Because of the lack of traffic every landmark I’d looked up before travelling is flying by, a few miles later and I’m completely disorientated.

9am. I arrive at The Stadium of Light. It was the same view I’d seen all those years ago with Walsall. Security stopped me. I explained who I was, who Chris was and the parking bay number. I park the car and while taking photos of some people on the roof of the stadium Chris arrives.

A few minutes later and we’re in his office drinking coffee. If he’d had been a girl I’d have kissed him. I tell him my story while he tells me his. I want his job. Not here but at Walsall FC. He’s truly living the dream.

I tell Chris the same thing that I’ve told everybody else that I’ve spent time with, “Anything you say to me, stays with me and doesn’t go in the blog”. We continue to gossip like it’s a newly invented Olympic sport.

We come from different generations but we see the game in a surprisingly similar way. Maybe the future of football is in safe hands after all.

As a side note, during E Mails to and from each other over the last two weeks, I just happened to mention that my new Depot Manager is from Sunderland and a fan. While we chatted in his office Chris started to rummage around before handing me an envelope full of match day programmes and signed photos for my Depot Managers son. I know were on the coast but how many fish do you think I need… SLAP!

As the time moved towards 10.30am we made our way to the Main Entrance where Chris had arranged to meet up with Keith. Keith is doing the same as me, but he’s doing it for charity. His wife has MS so Keith is raising money for MS.

Once the introductions had been made Chris took us into the stadium and a tour of the memorabilia before taking us down to pitch side and the dug outs. God that stadium looks big when you’re at pitch level. Back up into the maze of corridors that never end – did I just see a white rabbit with a pocket watch…? Door after door after door, Chris opened everyone and made sure Keith or I went through first, not once did he go through first – yes Chris I was watching – eventually we emerge into day light in the Black Cats bar which is a massive bar area behind the goal taking up the whole width of the pitch.

Chris showed us around the ground like a proud father showing of his new born. Sunderland staff went about their individual duties. Everyone knew their place. Everyone knew what to do. No one spoke. That familiar well-oiled machine that I’d witnessed before.

Chris whispered something to another member of staff, within seconds the staff member had returned with, match day programmes, tickets for the South Stand right behind the goal (Row 5) and vouchers for food and passes so that we could get back into the bar at half time and full time. OK! Enough with the fish.

Chris went off to do his usual duties for the day and other Sunderland staff came over and introduced themselves. The staff members that spoke to us basically put themselves at our use. They were falling over themselves to help, to be friendly, to be honest, it wasn’t that slimy Americanized nonsense that you sometimes bump into, it was people just genuinely wanting to help.

While Colin was telling us about Jimmy Montgomery who should walk up, only Jimmy F*****G Montgomery (and yes it does state that on his birth certificate). We did the photo thing. I also asked about Tom Finney and should we have a minutes silence instead of a minute’s applause.  We all agreed that people should stand still and shut up. The only problem is that the decision had already been made to have a minute’s applause. More nonsense that clutters up the game.

I popped back into the empty stadium to take more photos. Stewards started to take their posts. TV crews ran around making final touches.

The KO was fast approaching. I went back to the car to pick up my ticket and get some cash from the cash point. Hemel Hempstead anyone?

Once back inside the Black Cats Bar I continued to listen to Keith and why he was doing what he was doing and the other adventures that he’s had while raising funds for MS. I wish I’d had thought about doing this for charity. I must be honest, I felt pretty daft for not doing so.

Eventually Keith and I went off to find our seats. I was originally up in the West Stand. While I remember, Sunderland had capped the prices for the game at £15 for adults £5 for OAP and Kids. Another nice touch from a club that didn’t have to do it.

The teams arrive, that stupid handshake, the minute’s applause for Tom Finney and we’re all ready to go.

The game kicked off. Southampton fans were making all the noise. They had bought about 500-ish fans. The ground was empty. Sunderland are going through that classic case of Cup Final fatigue, there is only so much money to go around. They have Arsenal away next Saturday which has sold out. It’s a shame that the 5^th Round takes the hit.

The game itself was like a gynaecological examination - wide open with no penetration. The first half whizzed by, with nothing really happening with nobody or team willing to take the game by the scruff of the neck, which was a shame, because the team that did it would win it. It was literally there for the taking.

Half time arrived and I went back up to the Black Cats bar. Where did all those people come from?

I looked up at one of the dozens of large screen TV’s hanging from the ceiling to see Jake Humphrey talking to whoever he was talking to in the studio, then I heard him say – while talking about the small crowd – something along the lines of, “Something has to be done”. Mr Humphrey you are a TIT!

Here is a solution straight away. Stop putting games on at 12.45pm. Go back to the top of this blog and start reading it again. I spy with my little eye something beginning with “Mobius Strip”.

So the FA has a product that they think they can sell and make a profit. Fine. TV companies want to buy the product because they think they can sell advertising space off the back of it and make a profit. Fine. So far so good.

The problem arises when the TV companies decide when the KO is. Suddenly, TV companies are not showing games that are taking place, they are moving KO’s in the hope of attracting a viewing audience in the hope of making money, it doesn’t matter about the fan who will continue to go to the game when the TV cameras are not there. All that matters is the hope of making money. By doing that they then start forcing games into TV schedules where they simply don’t belong. The fan who goes every week, now find themselves in the position of trying to get to a game at an unnatural time for a KO, so, the crowd is a lot less than it should be, would normally be, which results in some presenter on TV complaining about the lack of a crowd. Mobius Strip anyone?

But I guess no one really cares. The FA hope to make money. The TV companies hope to make money. The clubs hope to make money (TV revenue). This is not investment in the game of football. This is not even prostitution because that is a straight transaction of funds for services rendered. In my opinion, what is happening to football is gambling.

While all of that is going on, the fan struggles to get to the game.

No one likes us

No one likes us

No one likes us, we don’t care

We love football, we love football

No one likes us, they don’t care…

While I’m up in my ivory tower, remember Leon from BT Sport? He wasn’t at the game today. They’ve cancelled that road to Wembley thing that they were doing. They have four rounds left, 5^th, 6^th, Semi Final and Final. Draw your own conclusions.

I missed seeing Leon today. He was a constant. Seeing him at the games was like looking at a jigsaw puzzle when you’ve only got a few pieces left, you knew you nearing the finished picture. I shall miss him.

Before I leave my ivory tower here are some facts and figures for you.

Next Saturday is Arsenal v Sunderland. Adults £35.50 OAP’s £15.50 Kids £10.00 Travel £? Car? Coach? Train? Food, drinks, match day programme, souvenirs.

The following, SUNDAY! Man City v Sunderland League Cup Final. KO 2pm. Tickets £40.00 £56.00 £72.00 and £100.00 Coach £40.00 Train? Hotel? Food, drinks, match day programme, souvenirs. Day off from working the following Monday? Do you know how difficult it is to get from London to Sunderland on a Sunday evening/night?  What happens if it goes into Extra Time?

So, if you were a Sunderland fan. Could you afford to do what they have to do AND still make it to a 12.45pm KO…?

I didn’t hear what Mr Humphrey offered as a solution. Did he offer one?

After failing to meet up with Keith at half time, I decided to use my complimentary ticket for the second half. What a view. Row 5, aisle seat. The only problem was it was raining. Standing in the rain is one thing, sitting in it is another. Back up into the West Stand and my front row seat.

What a bugger, smack bang on 49 minutes Graig Gardner hit a screamer of a shot that clipped the underside of the bar and hit the back of the net before the keeper started to flap at it like a long skirt being blown around in a summer breeze. I promise you’re closer to the ball now then he was then.

I leapt out of my seat like a die hard Sunderland fan. Well that worth getting up at 3am for. I cheered and clapped like my life depended on it. What a goal. If only I’d have stayed in Row 5. D’OH!

If the first half was open then then how do I describe the second half? Both teams just went for it. Both teams wanted to win. It wasn’t the best game, but neither team sat back, simply a good entertaining game of footy. Sunderland could have and maybe should have been 3 or 4 up.

Both teams had chances to finish the game off. Neither did. Southampton started to get more of the game. They started to get more of the chances. I started to think about the possibility of a replay. They were never going to win it, but they did look like getting an equaliser.

Towards the end of the game Southampton had two very clear chances to win the game. They didn’t. Lambert in particular missing a chance that frankly was easier to score than miss. An open goal 2 yards out and he put it over the bar. So, that’s him playing for England in Brazil this summer then. WHAT!?

Southampton pilled on the pressure. Then more pressure. Sunderland just couldn’t clear their lines. One final corner resulted in the keeper going up for it, 22 players all in and around the Sunderland box. Don’t tell me the FA Cup doesn’t mean anything, don’t tell it’s lost it’s magic, 22 professional, international, players desperate to win, to get through to the next round of the Cup. Please don’t tell me it doesn’t matter, because it does. THIS IS THE FA CUP!

I sat there watching through my fingers. The thought of a replay filled me with fear. Another one of those, I know that I can’t make it to the replay moments. If the ref doesn’t blow for full time I’m going to run on the pitch and blow the whistle myself. Ironically I missed the finally whistle because I was busy thinking about Southampton away. Suddenly everyone stood up and cheered. I almost burst into tears.

While I remember, around 70 ish minutes, Southampton’s Steven Davis had the ball about 10 yards inside his own half and about 5 yards from the touchline. He hoofed a diagonal ball up field as the advancing Seb Larsson left his foot in the air. He bought his foot down on the right knee and shin of the planted right leg of Steven Davis. We all cringed. Seb instantly apologised to Steven and Steven just shrugged it off as he continued to move up the pitch. I have not seen the TV footage of the game and I don’t know if it got picked up or mentioned, but both players did the right thing especially Steven Davis.

(If I’ve got the players wrong I will happily correct my mistake).

After the game I made my way back to the Black Cats bar. Keith had already left because he was booked onto an early train.

I watched the seagulls take over the stadium eating up all the waste food that had been left on the floor. The grounds men started to work their magic on the pitch. Seeing a pitch without the goals is still a strange sight.

As I stood there drinking my coffee, people watching, up rocked Chris. He really is as bonkers as me. He really does see the bigger picture. We chatted more about the plans that SAFC have for their future. Presentations are made to Sunderland fans from Ex Players. They really do get it.

Chris then gives me another tour of places that he didn’t have time to take me to earlier. Corporate boxes. Hospitality Suites. Back out to look at the pitch. Quinn’s Bar, which was still full of people eating, drinking, watching TV, making plans for the future, it doesn’t matter what future, what matters is that were spending money there and not somewhere else. We even found a Walsall FC shirt in a frame.

We finally staggered out the ground at 15.45 only to be passed by the Southampton team coach, which looked stunning, in all the excitement of the day I’d forgotten to take photos of Southampton’s arrival.

I said my final thank you and goodbye to Chris before going into town to do the post card thing. He even offered me a lift into town. Next time I’ll bring a trawler to take all the fish home with me.

I got back to my car at 16.30 a quick stop off at the BP garage around the corner and by 16.45 I was on the way to Cumbria to pick up my daughter.

As I travelled towards the A66 I saw the Southampton team coach leaving Newcastle on the A69. Walsall FC on the M25 anyone?

At 392 miles I got to Cumbria at 19.15 and by the time we got to our hotel I just crawled into bed somewhere to close to midnight for my own good.

We finally got back home on Sunday 16^th, at 16.15, 716 miles later and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Finally, let me give my last thoughts to Keith and his wife. As I mentioned before, Keith’s wife has MS. Keith raises money for MS by doing things like this. I wish I’d have thought about doing this for charity. It’s a little too late for me to do anything about it now, but it’s not too late to give you this. Here is a link to Keith’s charity page.

www.justgiving.com/keith-raymond/

Its well worth a visit just to see some of the items that have been donated by some of the clubs Keith has been to.

Noggin xx