FA Cup draw finally delivered for my beloved U’s and revives memories of when Newcastle (briefly) lived in our shadow
For lower-league supporters the FA Cup third-round draw is often more exciting than many of your actual games. I naturally yearn for the 80s simplicity of a velvet bag, Graham Kelly, Ted Croker and Bert Millichip broadcasting from a broom cupboard in total silence. But even on the One Show, with fans awkwardly moved on and off set in some sort of Weekend At Bernie’s zombie tribute it still offers hopes and dreams you just can’t get from Gillingham away.
This season it was a scaled-down affair in a Wembley corporate box with Seema Jaswal in charge of the FA Cup winners Faye White and the perennially overjoyed David Seaman. The Yorkshireman is encouraged to empty the velvet bag into the bowl and give it a “good old shake”. He is, after all, a safe pair of hands – hands which in a few moments could get you a dream tie against one the Premier League top six, or more likely away to a mid-range Championship team with no romance and no chance of winning.
