About the Game, and Me

How many teams does it take to get from the Extra Preliminary Round to the FA Cup Final?

I played this game in the 2019/2020 season and the answer then was, lots. It seems my support is of little help to teams as they hope to progress in this competition. So the bad news is, I’m playing the game again, and this time, writing about it.

The idea is to pick a team in the earliest round of the FA Cup. They become your team until they lose, at which point your support switches to the winner. I chose Cammell Laird for the Half Man Half Biscuit album title, and straight away they lost and I was bounced on to St Helens Town. In May 2021 when the final comes round we’ll be able to see, and read thanks to this blog, how many losers I’ve backed.

My 2020/2021 cup run:

After St Helens beat Cammell Laird in the extra preliminary round, they then lost to Mossley AFC in the Preliminary Round. Mossley then beat Ramsbottom United in the First Qualifying Round.

My actual team is Brentford where enjoying cup runs is not something I’m used to, so perhaps it’s no surprise I don’t bring much good luck to any of the teams I follow.

My previous writing has included one booked called ‘Running Blind: An Alternative View of the London Marathon’ – exploring the route of one of the world’s most famous races and writing about my own experience of being a visually impaired runner and running London as my debut marathon. I also spent five years as a music journalist (RoomThirteen.com) reviewing festivals including Reading, Leeds, Isle of Wight and the now deceased Guilfest. I edit the Stragglers Running Club’s online magazine and once wrote a fan blog for the London Broncos Rugby League team.