NO REST ON THE SABBATH

This weekend should be devoted to “Mothers” and I am sure some dutiful children have gone about their business and bought flowers from the local garage at the last minute. But for some children and indeed Dads, this Sunday carries a more important event; the FA Sunday Cup semi-finals. Founded in 1964, Sunday teams were eventually “allowed” to play competitive football on the Sabbath, thereby sparking a whole new range of worn out knee joints and hangovers, as new careers were revitalised in local Sunday Leagues.
To make the whole thing official, the FA formed the Sunday Cup and Campfield from Liverpool are playing Chapeltown Fforde Grene (some curious spelling there?) from Leeds at Marine FC's Arriva Stadium. In the other tie, OJM from Warley in the Black Country play New Salamis, a Cypriot based club, from Cheshunt at The Keys Park Stadium, Hednesford FC. 2pm ko. Exciting innit?

Remember that the FA Vase has reached its semi-final stage with Glossop NE from the Peak District making the final four, having put out Shaw Lane Aquaforce from the Barnsley Coalfield 3-1 after extra time.
They face AFC St Austell in the penultimate round and Highworth beat Tadcaster 1-0 in the other quarter-final to earn a tie with North Shields FC. (I played at North Shields in a County Youth Cup tie for Sussex FA against the Northumberland FA in 1969!)
These matches take place next weekend and after, over two legs.

The FA Trophy Final between North Ferriby Utd (surely an outsider) and ex FLeague team,Wrexham, (how many Football League teams past and present have an X in their name?) is on the last Sunday in March (29th) at Wembley.

Finally, the FA Ladies Cup reaches its last 16 with the pick of the ties being Doncaster Belles at Manchester City Ladies and Millwall Lionesses home to Arsenal.

By the way, we now have over 4000 hits! Not bad for over a year's blogging.