Friday 30 March 2012

From Falmouth To Wembley: Toffees Set Up Merseyside Derby

It's time to catch up with my look at the 2011-12 FA Cup competition with the latest match summary from the FA Cup Quarter Final.

Those of you who have been following this from the start will know that back in the Summer of 2011 I started to follow this season's FA Cup with Falmouth Town.

As each round has progressed the FA Cup baton been passed as follows during this season's competition:

Falmouth Town AFC
Bodmin Town
Godalming Town
Maidenhead United
Aldershot Town
Sheffield Wednesday
Blackpool
Everton.

The simple notion here is that eventually one club will get to Wembley and you'll be able to look right back to the start of the Competition to see where it all started.

When I say 'get to Wembley' I really mean 'get to the FA Cup Final at Wembley'. Of course the winners of the Quarter Finals get to play their Semi-Finals at Wembley too, but it's the Final I'm referring to in the "Falmouth to Wembley" title.

You can see links to the match reports from the previous rounds at the end of this article.

FA Cup Quarter Final
Saturday 17th March 2012
Everton 1-1 Sunderland


FA Cup 4th Round highlights Everton 1-1 Sunderland
Source: Uploaded on YouTube by TheFACup on 18th March 2012

Everton's Assistant Manager Steve Round said after the game: "It's an opportunity missed, because we had a lot of the game. We are disappointed, but it is within our capabilities to win at Sunderland."

Sunderland manager Marton O'Neil said after the game: "We are a million miles from winning the Cup...it was a tough game and I doubt if the replay will be much easier. The only slight advantage we will have is being at home."

Goalscorers: Bardsley for Sunderland (12), Cahill for Everton (23)
Match played at: Goodison Park
Attendance: 38,875
Everton team: Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Sylvain Distin, Johnny Heitinga, Leon Osman, Tim Cahill, Philip Neville, Marouane Fellaini, Royston Drenthe (replaced by Denis Stracqualursi in the 85th minute), Seamus Coleman (replaced by Magaye Gueye in the 72nd minute ), Nikica Jelavic

Sunderland team: Simon Mignolet, Michael Turner, John O'Shea, Wayne Bridge, Phillip Bardsley, Craig Gardner, Jack Colback, Sebastian Larsson, James McClean, Fraizer Campbell (replaced by David Vaughan in the 74th minute), Nicklas Bendtner

Next up in the FA Cup: Sunderland versus Everton in the Quarter Final replay

Interesting fact: Sunderland were without Lee Cattermole and Stéphane Sessègnon for this match because of suspension. They are available for the replay.

Reference
Sunderland are favourites for FA Cup replay after stalemate at Everton

FA Cup Quarter Final Replay
Tuesday 27th March 2012
Sunderland 0-2 Everton


FA Cup Quarter Final replay highlights Sunderland 0-2 Everton

Source: Uploaded on YouTube by TheFACup on 27th March 2012

Goalscorers: Jelavic (24th minute) and Vaughan OG (57th minute)

Match played at: The Stadium Of Light
Attendance: 43,140
Sunderland team: Simon Mignolet, Wayne Bridge (Fraizer Campbell, 63), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (replaced by David Vaughan in the 54th minute), Phillip Bardsley, Michael Turner, Lee Cattermole, Stéphane Sessegnon, Sebastian Larsson, James McClean, Craig Gardner, Nicklas Bendtner.

Everton team: Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Sylvain Distin, Johnny Heitinga, Philip Neville, Marouane Fellaini, Darron Gibson, Leon Osman, Tim Cahill (replaced by Tony Hibbert in the 92nd minute), Magaye Gueye (replaced by Phil Jagielka in the 82nd minute), Nikica Jelavic (replaced by Denis Stracqualursi in the 87th minute).

Next up in the FA Cup for Everton: Liverpool in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday April 14th.

Interesting fact: Tim Cahill scored against Sunderland for Millwall against Sunderland in an FA Cup semi-final.

Reference
Nikica Jelavic sinks Sunderland to set up derby semi-final for Everton

Previous Rounds
You can read the match report from the Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Falmouth Town AFC

and the match report from the Preliminary Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town FC

and the match report from the First Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town The Journey Continues In To Uncharted Territory

and the match reports from the Second Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town – The Giant Killing Continues As The First Round Proper Gets Tantalisingly Close

and the match reports from the Third Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town Pass The Baton To Godalming Town After A Replay

and the match report from the Fourth Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Give Me Five! The Gs Lose Heavily At Home To The Magpies

and a summary of the matches from the First and Second Rounds can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Time To Catch Up! The baton is passed from Maidenhead United to Aldershot Town and to Sheffield Wednesday.

and a summary of the match from the Third Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Owls Have A Hoot!

and a summary of the matches from the Fourth and Fifth Rounds can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Catch up time! The baton is passed from Sheffield Wednesday to Blackpool to Everton

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Thursday 29 March 2012

24/03/2012 Coventry City 2-0 Portsmouth: Pictures Of The Ricoh Arena

Here are some pictures I took at The Ricoh Arena for Pompey's crucial 'six pointer' against fellow relegation candidates Coventry City.

Welcome to the Ricoh Arena

A view of the stadium from car park C. As you can see the car park is separated from the stadium by a dual carriageway.

The footbridge from car park C to the stadium over the dual carriageway.

Home fans this way, away fans that way

Coventry City FC badge

The stadium has a casino attached.

You can see the statue of Jimmy Hill in this picture.

Entrance to the CCFC Superstore and Ticket Office.

CCFC garden gnomes!

Jimmy Hill statue

There's some more information about Jimmy Hill on a nearby window display


Coventry Evening Telegraph Stand

Looking down the back of the Tesco Stand.

Bicycle racks. There were a number of these around the site, although I didn't see that many bicycles! In the distance you can just see the memorial garden, it's a nice quiet part of the site, there were a couple of people sitting in the sun enjoying a few special moments.

Looking back along the Tesco Stand. Note the different memorial walls along this stand, each one is named after a famous former Coventry City player.

The Sky Blues Wall of Fame logo.

Play Up Bricks I - I was reading the various bricks and came across this one which I liked!

Play Up Bricks II - and then I found some more!

Corner of the South Stand

Ricoh sign over the front of the South Stand.

View of the Lloyds Pharmacy Stand, the players and staff had just arrived on the team bus.

The main entrance.

Inside The Ricoh Arena Before The Match

Picture I

Picture II

Picture III

Picture IV, note the big screen

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Tuesday 27 March 2012

Portsmouth Football Programme and Memorabilia Fair Sunday 25th April 11AM to 2PM In The Victory Suite

On Sunday April 25th I visited the latest Portsmouth Football Programme and Memorabilia Fair to be held at Fratton Park.

Flyer at Fratton Park advertising the latest Portsmouth Football Programme and Memorabilia Fair

If you haven't been to one of these twice yearly events but you have a love for football generally and the history of game then I would urge you to go to one. Even if you're not a serious collector it's worth a visit.

As I wandered around the various stalls, it was great to listen to and observe collectors 'at work': regular stallholders; familiar faces including ex-footballers and a World Cup referee; people deep in conversation about what had recently been sold at auction; the serious collectors with their detailed lists and spectacles perched on the end of their noses carefully thumbing through box after box; hearing time and again the question "Have you got....?" and more often than not the responding answers "Yes, it's in that box over there..." or "I haven't but try that chap over there...". There was a real sense of community.

The stalls make impressive viewing with all the memorabilia laid out on display, most of it easily accessible to handle, a good mix of colour and black and white images of days gone by.

The very expensive items such as rare matchday programmes from the 1940s and 1950s with their simple, standard covers are often on special display 'behind the counter', sealed in protective sleeves and available to view on request.

As an aside, football programmes can be interesting from a social history perspective - just take a look inside any example from the 1960s & 1970s and read the adverts for local businesses, cinemas, dance halls, the latest cars, alcohol and cigarettes! So different to today!

Some of the programme stands photographed towards the end of this Fair

Matchday programmes, teamsheets, books, pamphlets, cigarette cards, coins, stickers, stamps, pictures, magazines - the list is seemingly endless. You name it there'll almost certainly be an example of it at the Fair. If it's not there someone in attendance will know where to find it or will know someone who knows where to find it!

My main interest is matchday programmes although in recent years I've also started collecting books as well.

A recent purchase: the matchday programme from Lincoln City versus Portsmouth from the early 1980s

The Fairs are not only for adults of course. It's important to encourage the next generation of collectors and it's great to see father and son, mother and daughter, wandering around together, and hearing interesting snippets being passed down from one generation to another. Quite often children attending the Fair receive a free hefty bundle of programmes wrapped in seethrough plastic on arrival at the door - a mystery 'starter pack'!

This may all sound a bit geeky to some, the football equivalent of trainspotting! But to me it's more akin to enthusiasm, pride and passion, for the history of your football club and for football history generally.

Of course for fans of Portsmouth FC, a club with a rich history, there are always plenty of 'collectables' available to view and buy. But it's not all about Pompey and fans of every football club will enjoy the experience and find something to interest them. This is an event that transcends the traditional football rivalries, where any football fans, irrespective of the club they support, can stand side by side thumbing through boxes of programmes united in their passion for the game's history.

As great as it is to indulge and reflect upon the history and heritage of a football club like Portsmouth it does make you realise just how great a loss it would be for future generations if it no longer existed.

Fans of today are experiencing the history of tomorrow that will come together at Fairs like this one and I for one look forward to a lot more of both.

Collecting programmes - how do you start?
Starting a collection of football programmes is not as expensive as you might think. It's possible to buy many programmes priced between 40 pence to a pound, depending on its age, rarity and condition. An autograph or a special occasion may increase the price.

Listed below are some things I believe you should consider when attending a Fair. It's by no means an exhaustive list and I'm sure others will come up with things I've overlooked, but it's a starting point based on my own experiences.

(1) I would recommend having in mind exactly what it is you're after before you attend a fair. Attending 'blind' also has its merits, especially for a first visit but knowing what you want will focus your mind.

(2) Create a list and take it with you to the Fair - it will act as an aide memoire and will give you immense pleasure each time you strike through an item!

(3) If you haven't got one get a reference book where you can look up the exact date a game was played or even who played, that will help your search on the day.

(4) Build your list around themes although don't be surprised if you can't find everything in your theme on the day. Remember you're not the only collector out there and some themes will contain highly sought after or rare items! Select themes that are meaningful and personal to you.

(5) Some of my recent Pompey matchday programme themes have included: the biggest and lowest home attendances for each season; Portsmouth versus Southampton matches; big attendances for games Pompey played at Fratton Park in Division Four; Pompey games played on my birthday; and games Pompey have played on Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday.

Some recent purchases: Portsmouth versus Southampton matchday programmes

(6) I've also had very specific programmes on my list for example: the last competitive game Sir Stanley Matthews played in at Fratton Park for Stoke City; Gillingham versus Portsmouth from the 1985 Milk Cup; and the famous Pompey fan 'takeover' of Anfield against Liverpool in the League Cup.

(7) Take a carrier bag or similar to hold all your purchases!

(8) Do a circuit of the Fair before you delve in, have a good look around, listen and observe. Talk to people!

(9) Have in mind how much you're willing to spend and take along plenty of loose change. Try not to get carried away or caught up in a WIFWML* moment. Get a sense of the value of what you're buying.

(10) View collecting as a hobby, not as a way to make a living, unless you are really serious!

(11) Don't forget that when you get your programmes home you will need somewhere safe, dry and secure to store them.

I look forward to seeing you at the next Fair at Fratton Park! Good luck!

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* WIFWML = "I Wanted It For the Whole of My Life!" when you really didn't.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

When Giving Everything Just Wasn't Quite Enough


An exhausted Joel Ward leaves the pitch at the end of the 0-0 draw between Pompey and Bristol City on Saturday March 17th.

This picture says a lot about Pompey's second half performance - Joel's clearly left everything out there on the pitch, he has given his all: the whole team did.

Nobody could fault the second half commitment of the players on Saturday and that bodes well if they can lift themselves again. Get something from the game against Birmingham City and who knows what might happen; momentum can build quickly once it gets going.

Let's make sure us fans do our bit and 'leave everything out on the field' too...PUP!

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Sunday 18 March 2012

From Falmouth To Wembley: Catch up time! The baton is passed from Sheffield Wednesday to Blackpool to Everton

It's time to catch up with my look at the 2011-12 FA Cup competition with the latest match summary from the Fourth and Fifth rounds.

Those of you who have been following this from the start will know that back in the Summer I started to follow this season's FA Cup with Falmouth Town.

The baton was passed from Falmouth Town AFC to Bodmin Town to Godalming Town to Maidenhead United to Aldershot Town and going in to the Fourth Round was held by Sheffield Wednesday.

The simple notion here is that eventually one club will get to Wembley and you'll be able to look right back to the start of the Competition to see where it all started.

You can see links to the match reports from the previous rounds at the end of this article.

FA Cup Fourth Round
Saturday 28th January 2012
Blackpool 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday


FA Cup 4th Round highlights Blackpool 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Source: Uploaded on YouTube by TheFACup on 29th January 2012

Goalscorers: Clinton Morrison for Sheffield Wednesday in the 52nd minute gave the Owls the lead and Kevin Phillips for Blackpool with a 93rd minute penalty to seal a replay.
Match played at: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 14,042
Blackpool team: Matthew Gilks, Robert Harris, Chris Basham, Neal Eardley, Danny Wilson, Craig Cathcart, Keith Southern (replaced by Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the 53rd minute), Matthew Phillips, Ángel (replaced by Thomas Ince in the 79th minute), Billy Clarke (replaced by Nouha Dicko in the 62nd minute), Kevin Phillips

Sheffield Wednesday team: Stephen Bywater, Rob Jones, Danny Batth, Lewis Buxton, Mark Beevers, Liam Palmer (replaced by Jermaine Johnson in the 46th minute), Chris Sedgwick, Chris Lines, David Prutton, Clinton Morrison (replaced by Chris O'Grady in the 74th minute), Ryan Lowe (replaced by Jon Otsemobor in the 59th minute)

Next up in the FA Cup: Sheffield Wednesday versus Blackpool in the Fourth Round replay

Interesting fact: Nouha Dicko was signed from Oldham Athletic and made his Blackpool debut in this match.

Reference
Blackpool's Kevin Phillips on the spot to deny Sheffield Wednesday

FA Cup Fourth Round Replay
Tuesday 7th February 2012
Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Blackpool


FA Cup 4th Round replay highlights Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Blackpool

Source: Uploaded on YouTube by TheFACup on 8th February 2012

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway said after the game: "I thought we looked like a foreign team, we were that good. We didn't give them much of an opportunity at all but that can happen when your first two shots go in. That left the crowd a bit shell-shocked and I don't think they ever recovered".

Sheffield Wednesday Gary Megson said after the game: "They are a class act, they made our passing look laboured. They took their goals brilliantly, and that changes games".

Goalscorers: Matt Phillips (7 minutes)Lomana Lua Lua (14 minutes) and Ludovic Sylvestre (54 minutes)

Match played at: Hillsborough
Attendance: 10,274
Sheffield Wednesday team: Stephen Bywater, Jon Otsemobor, Danny Batth, Rob Jones, Julian Bennett, Reda Johnson (replaced by Josè Semedo in the 45th minute), Chris Sedgwick, Chris Lines, Liam Palmer, Clinton Morrison, Ryan Lowe

Blackpool team: Matthew Gilks, Danny Wilson, Alex Baptiste, Robert Harris (replaced by Nouha Dicko in the 85th minute), Neal Eardley, Ángel, Ludovic Sylvestre, Thomas Ince, Matthew Phillips (replaced by Gerardo Bruna in the 76th minute), Tresor Lomana Lua Lua, Kevin Phillips (replaced by John Fleck in the 64th minute).

Next up in the FA Cup for Blackpool: Everton (away)

Interesting fact: In August Blackpool lost on penalties in the Carling Cup First Round at Hillsborough.

Reference
Matt Phillips strikes early as Blackpool ease past Sheffield Wednesday

FA Cup Fifth Round
Saturday 18th February 2012
Everton 2-0 Blackpool


FA Cup 5th Round highlights Everton vs Blackpool

Source: Uploaded on YouTube by TheFACup on 19th February 2012

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway said after the game: "We are a million miles away from them. I thought my team would be better than that. Some of their players I've not really heard of. But their wide leftie [Gueye] was fantastic and Drenthe was fantastic. It wasn't embarrassing but it could have been a rout. Wouldn't it be nice if Dave [Moyes] won something?"

Everton manager David Moyes said after the game: "From the first day of my first year here, we wanted to win a trophy. We had six or seven chances to put the game to bed. We're desperate to win the final"

Goalscorers: Royston Drenthe in the 1st minute and Denis Stracqualursi in the 7th minute.
Match played at: Goddison Park
Attendance: 38,347
Everton team: Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Sylvain Distin, Leighton Baines, Johnny Heitinga, Darron Gibson (replaced by Ross Barkley in the 83rd minute), Philip Neville, Marouane Fellaini, Royston Drenthe, Denis Stracqualursi (replaced by Apostolos Vellios in the 88th minute), Magaye Gueye (replaced by Seamus Coleman in the 57th minute)

Blackpool team: Matthew Gilks, Craig Cathcart, Danny Wilson, Alex Baptiste, Robert Harris, Thomas Ince (replaced by Nouha Dicko in the 71st minute), Ángel (replaced by Tresor Lomana Lua Lua in the 72nd minute), Chris Basham, Ludovic Sylvestre, Gary Taylor-Fletcher (replaced by Roman Bednar in the 23rd minute), Kevin Phillips

Next up in the FA Cup for Everton: Sunderland (home)
Interesting fact: When Blackpool last competed in an FA Cup quarter-final, Harold Macmillan was prime minister, the Beatles were yet to be formed and footballers were paid a maximum of £20 a week.

Reference
Everton's replacement wingers send their team flying past Blackpool

Previous Rounds
You can read the match report from the Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Falmouth Town AFC

and the match report from the Preliminary Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town FC

and the match report from the First Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town The Journey Continues In To Uncharted Territory

and the match reports from the Second Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town – The Giant Killing Continues As The First Round Proper Gets Tantalisingly Close

and the match reports from the Third Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Bodmin Town Pass The Baton To Godalming Town After A Replay

and the match report from the Fourth Qualifying Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Give Me Five! The Gs Lose Heavily At Home To The Magpies

and a summary of the matches from the First and Second Rounds can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Time To Catch Up! The baton is passed from Maidenhead United to Aldershot Town and to Sheffield Wednesday.

and a summary of the match from the Third Round can be found by clicking here ==> From Falmouth To Wembley: Owls Have A Hoot!

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Saturday 10 March 2012

06/03/2012 Reading 1-0 Portsmouth: Pre-Match and Match Action Pictures

Pictures Of The Madejski Stadium before kick-off.
Here are some pictures of the stadium taken before kick-off.

View of the West Stand

View of the North Stand

View of the East Stand

Match Action Pictures
Not a particularly good set of pictures I'm afraid but they give an indication as to the view of the match. Lots of blurry images!

Picture I - in the first half Pompey attacked the South Stand where the travelling Pompey fans were located.

Picture II - more first half action.

Picture III - Halford throws the ball infield to Hayden Mullins.

Picture IV - Pompey fan applauds.

Picture V - second half action.

Picture VI - second half action.

Picture VII - second half action.

Portsmouth versus Reading: Stephen Henderson, Aaron Mokoena, Ricardo Rocha, Jason Pearce, Greg Halford, Joel Ward, Hayden Mullins, George Thorne, David Norris (replaced by Dave Kitson in the 79th minute), Scott Allan (replaced by Marko Futacs in the 84th minute) and Luke Varney. Substitutes not used: Jamie Ashdown, Adam Webster and Kelvin Etuhu.
Attendance: 18.399
Pompey MOTM: difficult to award but Scott Allan had a couple of long distance shots that went over the bar in the second half and he would probably nick it.
Source: www.portsmouthfc.co.uk

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03/03/2012 Portsmouth 1-3 Middlesbrough: Match Action Pictures

Scott Allan fires in a free-kick during the first half

Marko Futacs holds up the ball during the first half.

Ricardo Rocha and Lukas Jutkiewicz are both down injured and receiving treatment.

Rocha walks off the pitch but looks wobbly on his feet, he even looks dazed in this picture! Jutkiewicz sports a blood covered bandage which lasted only a few minutes before it fell off his head and was discarded. The referee Mr Kettle unceremoniously picked it up and carried it off to the sidelines.

Greg Halford floats in a free kick in the first half.

HT: Portsmouth 0-0 Middlesbrough

Henderson steadies himself to gather the ball in front of the Milton End during the second half.

Pompey defend a second half set piece.

Greg Halford receives a yellow card for complaining about the penalty decision, Rocha adjudged to have fouled in the box at a corner. The referee was clearly looking for the tussling in the box as just prior to the decision he had warned the players about it.

Barry Robson scores Middlesbrough's penalty in front of their fans in the Milton End. Henderson went the right way but it was hit with power and went underneath his dive.

Scott Allan fires in a free-kick during the second half

Greg Halford has a shot on goal from a free kick in the second half. He later scored a penalty.

Action in the Middlesbrough penalty area during the second half.

Scott Alan takes a second half free kick.

The travelling Boro fans celebrate their team going three one up. With Pompey pressing for an equaliser Boro broke away quickly through on-load Adam Hammill, Henderson blocked his effort by Marvin Emnes slammed the loose ball home.

FT: Portsmouth 1-3 Middlesbrough

Portsmouth team versus Middlesbrough: Stephen Henderson, Tal Ben Haim, Ricardo Rocha, Jason Pearce, Greg Halford, Joel Ward, Hayden Mullins, George Thorne (replaced by Luke Varney in the 63rd minute), David Norris, Scott Allan, Marko Futacs (replaced by Dave Kitson in the 63rd minute). Substitutes not used: Jamie Ashdown, Aaron Mokoena, Adam Webster.
Attendance: 16,770
Pompey MOTM: I would have given it to Stephen Henderson
Source: www.portsmouthfc.co.uk

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