Symbolic review so far...

Before I begin today’s blog I would like to say a huge thank you to Dave McMillan, the Marine FC Website and Program Editor.  He said he will put a link to our blog on Marine FC’s website, so that the Marine fans can follow our river and follow the winner all the way to Wembley.  I’d like to welcome any Marine FC fans who are new to our blog. 

I have emailed the clubs in the matches that I have covered and had replies from Marine FC and St Helens Town. St Helens Town did not put a link onto their website but they considered it - which is good.  Thanks again to both of these clubs for their swift replies.

Here is a recap and geography lesson:-

Our blog started on the 13^th August 2013 with a quick review of the 2012/13 FA Cup Final - in which Wigan Athletic beat the favourites Manchester City 1-0 (the game was played on the 11th May 2013).

Wigan (A) was the starting point of our blog as they are the current 2012/13 FA Cup holders.

I chose the closet geographical game to Wigan (A below) that I could find.  This took us to St Helens Town Vs Ashton Athletic (B below), 4.2 miles south of Wigan. It was the Extra Preliminary Round. 

St Helens Town were the home side and on the 17^th August 2013 they drew 2–2 with Ashton Athletic. The game was played at Brocstedes Park.

The replay was on Tuesday the 20^th August 2013 and was once again played at Brocstedes Park.  This time Ashton Athletic was classed as the home side and they won the game 1–0.

Ashton Athletic (A) drew an away tie against Curzon Ashton (B) in the Preliminary Round and this took us 31.8 miles west.

At the Tameside Stadium Curzon Ashton beat Ashton Athletic 4–0 on the 31^st August 2013.

This meant that Curzon Ashton (A) were in the 1^st Qualifying Round in which they drew an away tie against Marine FC (B) – 52 Miles west of Ashton-under-Lyne.

Throughout this journey we have reported on 270 minutes of football, £35 on the turnstiles, 230 fans, 9 goals, 3 pints of bitter (£7.40), 5 £1 cups of tea, 1 ham and pease pudding stottie, 2 £16.50 Lobsters, 4 2-4-1 cocktails, 1 City Break, 1 Sandy picnic battle, 1 Marine FC website promise and the journey has travelled 88 miles from the FA Cup’s current home in Wigan.

On Saturday 14^th September Marine FC will face Curzon Ashton at The Arriva Stadium.  Join me later in the week for more about the game; my journey, more extras from other Preliminary Round games and to see The Arriva Stadium from above.