Stephen Pocock

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

@meelonmuskusa 56

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

The Football Association Challenge Cup. A long read.

The World's Oldest Association Football Competition. Let that sink in.Something to be proud of as a part of English football and cultural life.

Changes to it? Yes, with one caveat. That every club who takes part in it has an equal vote as to what those changes are. Too simple eh?

But no, several high profile managers ( who'll be fucking long gone and won't give a fuck when our beloved competition has finally been finished off) and several owners will be gleeful today, another victory for maybe 6 of 100+ pro clubs, another concession to the greed, while relegating a national instution to an annoyance.

I've played for Stafford Rangers in a Cup 1st round against Burnley, hoping desperately to get a replay at Turf Moor.

I've played in an FA Cup Final between England's 2 biggest clubs.

At Hillsborough, I ran out wearing the yellow of Southend United, with 6000 travelling Shrimpers and what seemed like a million yellow balloons. The game where I felt I belonged in that esteemed company.

Playing in the back garden, bewildered as Alan Sunderland scored the winner when Arsenal beat United in a game that epitomised the beguiling spectacle of this famous old trophy.

Yeovil, Altrincham, Hereford, Sutton, Blyth Spartans, Chasetown. Names that maybe only ever pop up once in a football lifetime for the nation but to the fans of those clubs, ask them about their Cup memories and see their faces.

We're being diddled, had over, fucked about, taken the piss out of. By who? Managers who " desperately need fewer games", by owners bemoaning having to gamble their precious boys against Rochdale instead of resting up for Real Madrid, something understandable if it weren't for the luxury of 30 pros costing a billion pounds plus an academy of cherry picked youth from around the world. How many fucking players do these clubs need to play one replay every 5 years?

If the Football Association had any arsehole it would have put any decision that fundementally changes a 153 year old tournament to a vote of all participating clubs. It won't though , because it's scared to say a word to the all conquering Premier League. If you didn't believe before today that the FA wasn't fit for purpose, now you know because the organisation that administers the most professional clubs in the land, the EFL have effectively called them liars. That alone should ensure investigation by an independent regulator, along with any number of other decisions, changes and ideas the all conquering Premier League want implemented.

Fuck you to every manager who's come to these shores wanting U-21 teams and B teams playing in the EFL. This isn't Spain where they can't populate more than 2 divisions with quality teams from across the nation, this is England where we have over 100 pro clubs over 5 divisions, where a town of 40,000 like Burnley can proudly compete in the top 2 divisions regularly for over 100 years.

Fuck you to the big name managers crying about too many games. Use your fucking 30 man squads better and play the 15 you hardly use but cost more money on wages in a year than clubs competing in the Champions League from other nations operate a whole club on! And that's without the star boys who you steal from clubs for a pittance from clubs in the pyramid and overseas that you love the idea of playing but won't because " they're not ready quite yet". Bullshit!

Unless you, reading this, do something, anything by way of protesting this obscene and constant tidal wave of changes to the English game that is ruining the fabric of a delicate pyramid ecosystem, the your children simply will never get to afford to watch what we have.

A sport for everyone, not for an elite few.

It's time to fight back. Enough changes, enough greed, English football worked well for 150 years, trust it, trust those in it and those who support it.

[Brent Toderian @BrentToderian]

The more people that choose to walk, bike and take public transit to get around cities, the better cities work for EVERYONE, including DRIVERS. Anyone still claiming this is a “war on the car” doesn’t understand how cities work. HT @fietsprofessor graphic.

[Life On The Deben @LifeOnTheDeben]

Just noticed a new sign that has popped up by the River Deben #Suffolk

[Danny Baker @prodnose]

Tremendous this. Legendary names, almost impossible playing conditions and a total refusal to make kits more easily distinguished for black and white TV.

[Geraint Thomas @GeraintThomas86]

Well camp’s nearly over so it’s time to get in the festive spirit over the next few days. First up I’ve got a signed jersey to gift to someone to say thanks for all the support in 2022 - just retweet this post to enter 🎅 👌 🎁

#12daysofGmas

[Danny Baker @prodnose]

Two weeks to the World Cup. The tainted, shameful, indefensible World Cup. This is why the usual hype is muted. No angle, no spin, no excuse can justify it.
It is an abomination. All decent people know this.
Yet here it comes. The "World Cup".

[Ipswich Town @IpswichTown]

⏱ COME ON YOU BLUESSSSSS.

#itfc

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

Feels wrong wanting West Ham to win anything but come on you irons #dirtyleeds

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

@Nicola_Heath Maybe in your lifetime but the 1978 & 1981 teams were far better (IMO)

[Cycle SOS @Cycle_SOS]

Who is sporting their 'bikey face' today?
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📷/ @bikeyface

[Carlton Kirby @carltonkirby]

Smile!!! #cgf

[Danny @doglab]

It takes 3.2 seconds to RT and help make him famous https://t.co/e3NKNkRKrI

[Angies Liverpool @angiesliverpool]

February 1981 a look at the top of the first division table on #MOTD

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

Jeff’s giving away a £2m jackpot if 2m people play for free https://t.co/Ma9F2ylgkL #JoinJeff #Super6

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

@Nicola_Heath Jackdaw

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

@GaryLineker @stephenfry @StuartBroad8 When will BCD be back?

[Stephen Pocock @MrFireplace]

https://t.co/9zcTpRnczQ

[QEST @QESTcraft]

An interesting article by @Forbes: ‘How to automate and grow creative small businesses while respecting the craft’ #craft

https://t.co/ENhsIXzyBq