The FA cup continues with the competition now reaching the 1st qualifying round stage.The match i picked today was my home town club Retford United of the unibond premier division taking on Lincoln United of the Unibond division one south.I have always had a soft spot for United, they were the first non-league side i every saw and there is normally a few ex-Imps there to bring back the memories.Today in the squad they had Jamie Forrester, Ian Wilkins Sam Mullarkey and one of my favourite (and Gavs all time favourite) players Terry Flemming. From 1995-2000 he was the enforcer in the Imps midfield,Scott kerr isn't fit enough to lace this mans boots.He has since moved to right back and no longer takes the long throws that set up many a city goal in the past but his calmness on the ball hasn't changed.How the Imps need a Terry Flemming style player now.
After an exciting morning of doing the washing up and cleaning out the Guniea pigs out i set off for the ground via a couple of pubs in town.After handing over my pre paid match ticket over at the turnstile and buying the programme i sat in the club house, had a couple of beers, and watched the GP qualifying on the big screen. Jensen Button does seem to be doing all he can to throw away this years championship only managing to qualify 6th. At least nobody else is putting together a run of wins but he really needs to pull his finger out soon.
Retfords clubhouse is one of the best in Nottinghamshire,second only to Hucknall Rolls Royce in my view. As you can see from the picture below many of the big teams have visited cannon park for friendlies and left mementos of their visit and they come no bigger than the club who left the pennant pictured below
One of the most valuable items in the Cannon park social club
Retford have always produced a good programme(even for friendlies) and this seasons was no different although i think that it does miss Neil Tooths column maybe the editor could look at reinstating it? if enough people ask for it i am sure it could return and sales would double. Maybe we could start a facebook campaign? BRING BACK THE TOOTH!!
Retford do seem to be getting more organised off the field these days. They have opened up a club shop selling the normal stuff so i wandered of to get one of their new pin badges. The range of stuff on sale is quite smart and hopefully this will take off as this is an area the club have missed out on in recent years.
Lincoln United haven't had a great start to the season, but for the past couple of years they have been better on the road than at home. Retford seem to be blowing hot and cold at the moment,as we had seen only a few days earlier in the North Notts derby
Retford took the lead after about ten mins or so and it looked to be going to form as they had much more of the ball. Lincoln United then started to find there feet as the match went on and got a deserved equaliser half way through the first half. The match report may be brief but there wasn't a hell of alot to report on in all honesty.
HT 1-1
City were getting stuffed 2-1 at Bournemouth, no great surprise there really i haven't blogged about Jacko going, i will leave that till the next manager is appointed. The second half was pretty much 50/50 either side could have won it, alas neither did. So its a replay in Lincoln on Tuesday night; a ground Retford united supporters know very well. I do however think Lincoln have missed there chance here, Retford were poor today and a half decent side would have finished them off plus i can't see Retford playing this bad again.It is the FA cup however....
Admission £8
Programme £2 8/10 needs the Tooth back for a perfect 10
Badge £3
Clubhouse 8/10
Ground 5/10
Match quality 4/10
Food i didnt have any at the ground but as you can see below my fellow Retford Imp thoroughly enjoyed a chicken and mushroom pie... and a chip butty etc etc
In other FA cup news the Rudy Funk express steamed into the 2nd qualifying round with a 2-1 win over Holbrook miners welfare
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