I once told a couple of well-spoken older men in a Cambridge pub that I wasn’t really interested in the Six Nations Rugby Union match they were watching as I “prefer Rugby League”. It’s fair to say I wasn’t welcomed as a cultural kindred spirit. “That’s a Northerners sport,” was their broad-minded view on the subject. It only baffled them further when I pointed out I was born in Hammersmith, which last time I checked was further south than Cambridge.
Exactly where the north starts is a long-argued point, but I’m confident that almost everyone (aside from those who resolutely claim the great divide is Watford) would agree it’s not Cambridge. However due to an administrative quirk, Cambridge City find themselves in the same regional half of the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round as South Shields, Stockport and Halifax. They have the short local trip to Darlington. The old chaps in that Cambridge pub were the sort to turn their noses up at football and this I imagine would only strengthen their conviction that here is a sport vastly inferior to cricket.
The draw throws up a few former established Football League names and many who come to mind when recalling cup giant-killing nostalgia. The earliest memory for me being brought back when Wrexham’s name came out of the bowl. In January 1992 the then division 4 side toppled Division 1 Arsenal 2-1.
Ninety minutes (plus maybe penalties, we’re not doing extra time or replays this season) stand between Skelmersdale and Marske, the only remaining teams to have begun at the Extra Preliminary Round and former winners Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Wigan. Had I chosen either of those I’m wondering if I’d have run out of things to write? However following Darlington’s win over Tadcaster on Tuesday night I’m onto my fifth team in six matches.
Glory Hunting 