Perhaps I peaked early with my post about the town of Tadcaster. After a 1-1 draw, several Twitter users describing it as hard fought in the rain, the Yorkshire side edged yesterday’s match at Seel Park to defeat Mossley 4-3 on penalties. As written before, this feels extra tough for any losing team given the current financial challenges faced by grassroots football.
So Tadcaster progress. One more win and they create a bit of history for themselves as they’ve never made it beyond the Third Qualifying Round. I notice near, and considerably more famous neighbours York City lurk in the bowl of dreams.
As well as references to the competitiveness of the match and the wet stuff coming out of the sky, the other thing I take from the Mossley Twitter account this morning is a sense of a club that takes great pride in it’s welcome. The FA Cup at this level seems to attract many ground-hopping tourists. I’m imagining this to be the case every season, but the absence of live football for most people to watch has surely tempted a few more to seek out the thrill while it’s still available. Grassroots football is a collectors dream as there’s endless possibilities to visit somewhere new, something I can relate to with music venues. With more ‘elite’, as the FA calls them, non-league clubs joining the competition each round, the further up the football pyramid we progress the fewer matches will be permitted to welcome spectators at all. In their statement last week the FA confirmed their position on who can attend where, will be reviewed before the next round.
Without their fans in the ground Dulwich Hamlet were another team to progress on penalties, or as the FA rather formally call it “kicks from the penalty mark”. Youtubers Hashtag United, who have generated additional national media interest for the FA Cup in a cluttered football schedule also exited on penalties, having succeeded this way in the previous round. Without the spotlight of “the world’s most famous cup competition” I wonder how their story develops now, if in fact it makes much difference?
Mossley’s run is over. At the risk of making this sound like a Saturday night game show, they take home a handy prize fund of £4,819 from their three matches. As well as club history, victory in the next round for Tadcaster earns them £5,625.
Monday Update (October 5th)
The Third Qualifying Round draw gave Tadcaster a tough challenge away at former Football League side Darlington. Hear manager Paul Quinn speak to BBC Radio York to reflect on the draw and the victory over Mossley.
Glory Hunting 