Gillingham assistant manager John Schofield writes exclusively for the KM Group
I
grew up re-enacting moments from the FA Cup in my garden as a kid
and it’s still a special tournament, despite what some might
say.
It will always be a special
occasion for me and I can assure you, those teams who have been
playing for the last three months to try and get to this first
round stage, will certainly have got the buzz of the FA
Cup.
When I started out, I played
with Gainsborough Trinity and Matlock Town in those earlier rounds
and it was brilliant. Everyone walks out on to the pitch, whether
first round proper or first preliminary round and everyone is
thinking that it’s the ‘Road to Wembley.’
We all grew up scoring the
winner in the FA Cup final at Wembley didn’t we in the back garden?
We all watched it and it was the only football you could guarantee
was live on television.
The final used to finish at
4.45pm then and you would be straight out in the garden after the
trophy was presented, re-enacting all the highlights in the back
garden with the football. Surely, I am no different to anyone
else?
Anyone who pulls on the shirt to
play football wants to succeed in the FA Cup.
We have been drawn against
Scunthorpe and they are a team I know well, having spent three
months there under their former manager Nigel Adkins, when I left
Lincoln City.
I went in and did some work with
the development group and the reserves and enjoyed my time there
with Nigel, Andy Crosby and Ian Baraclough.
We’ve already won one match against a team from a higher
division, in Bristol City, and that was a great display. We have to
go into the game now on Saturday and be nice and positive and
hopefully we can put in a display and a performance that is worthy
of the level we can play at.
Read the full column in Friday's Medway
Messenger
01/11/12
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