Last night my youngest son and I went to Myra Shay to watch Albion vs Sheffield FC in the FA Cup Extra Prelim replay. His mate was sub for Albion.
Albion Sports as some may know are an amateur football club formed in Bradford in the 70's by some Sikh lads from the city. That in itself must be an interesting tale and have lots of trials and tribulations. Fair play to them, would love to hear how it all came about and how difficult it must have been. We have a few Bradford lads who will know more @Flaneur @Raposa
Anyway, last night they played Sheffield FC the worlds oldest football club. First time Ive ever seen them.
Seemed to be quite a few there if all backgrounds which was great, strong smell of ganja wafting from the back of the tiny stand we were sat in. I was sat next to two old dears from County FA, no idea what they must have thought about the flagrant aroma, I thought it smelt really nice to be honest.
The game ebbed and flowed with excellent football from Albion but Sheffield seemed to take their chances more clinically and were rightfully 2-1 based on the quality of their finishes that I saw.
Wasn't a very dirty game but they tension was building, the Albion Goalie did a Lukic and managed to punch the ball backwards into his own net to make it 3-1. Albion rallied and fought back into the game driving into the Sheffield box with great work from the no 8 and 9. The Striker tricked his way past the Sheffield defense and drew one of them into a mistimed tackle and won a pen. He slotted it home with ease. 3-2 Game on! The anticipation was building now and the crowd getting into it, subs sledging the Sheffield players, fans and players into the ref and linesman for every decision. More weed being smoked pints being drank.
Albion got a center half sent off for handling the ball on a 2nd yellow. He plucked it out the air, ridiculous. Albion made some subs, fresh legs, sadly not the lad we came to watch. They huffed and puffed to breakdown Sheffield who were always dangerous on the break and in the last minute of the game they won a very dubious penalty in the Sheffield box. A massive melee of players ensued with the ref in the middle furiously blowing his whistle to maintain order, one lad from Sheffield got his marching orders and the crowd held its breath as the little no 9 for Albion stepped up to take the pen. Which if converted would have sent the game to pens. He chose the same place he put the first pen, sadly the goalie chose that way too. Pen saved. Sheffield players celebrated like they'd won the champions league.
Assistant on touchline puts 2 minutes on as extra time, all the crowd chunter and moan, the game is up. The whistle finally goes - Sheffield FC the Oldest club in the world are through to the next round. As we made our way out the ground into the BD3 night we could here a load of argy bargy on the field, players, coaches etc all at it.
Never ever tell me that the FA Cup has lost its magic.. That was absolutely brilliant and worth £6 of anyone's money. A great evening.
