The Giant Killing Adventure - 2019/20 FA Cup : The FA Cup 3rd Round Proper – Preston North End V Norwich, and Brighouse Town Women V Barnsley Women’s FC

Saturday 4^th January 2020, 15:01, Preston North End FC (PNE) V Norwich City FC - I’d like to welcome PNE to our blog

Preston is a City in Lancashire in the North West of England. Just as Chorley, in the last round, was the place that I grew up in – Preston is the City that I was born in (well it was a town back then). The Town/City has a rich history and was always ‘famous’ for having the largest bus station in Europe (not anymore); for having Britain’s first ever KFC; and for having Britain’s first ever stretch of Motorway.

Preston has a significant amount of history in both men’s and women’s football – the English Football Museum was originally based in Preston before it moved to Manchester. As already stated, the The Dick Ladies Football Team were pioneers of the women’s game and they played their home games on PNE’s Deepdale ground.

In this part of the blog we are here to talk about the men of Preston. PNE were established in 1880 and were founding members of the English Football League in 1888. Preston were the first team to go unbeaten (the invincibles) and the first to win the League and Cup double (1889). They won the FA Cup again in 1938 and have been finalists on five occasions (the last time being 1964).

Preston’s most famous player was England International Super Star Sir Tom Finney (making 569 appearances for PNE). Tom was one of the best of his generation and has often been compared to other big names of the time such as Stanley Matthews and Bobby Charlton. Charlton as a young school boy admired Finney and former Finney teammate Bill Shankly described Sir Tom as the ‘greatest to ever play the game’ – high praise from a Manager who won 3 League titles, 2 FA Cups and the UEFA Cup during a 15-year reign at Liverpool.

Sir Tom Finney will always be remembered in Preston as he has various places named after him, including schools, a gym and the stadium of local football team Bamber Bridge.

PNE in 2019 play in the Championship (Tier 2 of the League system) and are in 9th Place at this midway point of the season.

I’d like to welcome Norwich City FC to our blog

Norwich City are also a team with a rich history as they were formed in 1902 and have been in the English Football League since 1920. It took them until 1972 to reach the top tier of the English Football League and have since been described by some as a ‘yo-yo club’ - they have played 26 seasons in the top tier and 19 in the second tier – however, the GKA sees this as a example of great strength, resilience and tenacity to keep fighting back when other teams have crumbled following relegation.

I remember the great side that Norwich had in the early 90s. The team that led the inaugural Premier League Season for much of the campaign before ending up being placed 3^rd and having a decent UEFA cup run the following year.

I’ll also never forget the infamous motivational ‘Let’s be avin you’ speech by Delia Smith in 2005.

In the 2019 Premiership campaign, Norwich are bottom of the league at this midway point of the season.

This game will be a close one to call. Norwich are struggling in the Top Tier, whilst Preston are competing for a playoff spot in the 2^nd Tier – only the Cup will decide.

Tickets for this game were easy to obtain as I went on the PNE Website, registered, and bought two instantly for £15 each – easy.

The GKA will be travelling 38.5 miles from our last men’s game at Oldham Athletic…

To Deepdale Stadium in Preston…

In the GKA official route, Northampton Town beat Notts County in the last round, and they have a home tie against Burton Albion (winners from the GKA’s last featured game – what are the odds on that happening).

Sunday 5^th January, 13:00, Brighouse Town AFC Women V Barnsley Women’s FC

I’d like to welcome Barnsley Women’s FC to our blog

Barnsley Women’s Football Club was formed in 1982 and they were originally known as Barnsley Ladies FC. They became Barnsley Women’s FC in 2019 and they compete in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 North - the same league as Brighouse Town Women. Barnsley are top with 28 points. Brighouse are also doing well as they are in 3^rd place with 21 points (with a game in hand). Brighouse are at home, so this should be another close game – however in the women’s route so far, the away team keeps winning.

Barnsley Women’s FA are committed to junior development through to the first team, as well as providing appropriate exit routes for players if necessary – all girls are given an opportunity regardless of their ability or background and this has made Barnsley one of the biggest clubs in the league, providing opportunities for over 90 junior players.

Barnsley is in South Yorkshire, half way between Leeds and Sheffield. It is a former industrial town, previously centred on coal mining, glass making and textiles (like most northern towns these industries are no longer prevalent).

The GKA has only had one trip to Barnsley in which it (I) attended a night club called Hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure and sensual self-indulgence). This was the late 1990s and I confirm that the club looked like this picture below.