TINPOT TASTITC

his weekend sees the begining of the FA cup (well in the media eyes anyway...) as the Football League clubs join the plucky Non Leagues sides. For me, the FA cup always has and will be the greatest club competition in the world. It gives the non league sides a miniscule chance of pitting their wits against some of the best footballers on the planet...

For the Fans, it gives them hope of that one tie which would make up for all the 4-1 defeats on a freezing tuesday night 200 miles from home, the last minute defeats to arch rivals and pub teams. And one amazing piss-up.

But one thing is for certain, there will be plenty of FA tinfoil floating around grounds this weekend. To me, this symbol opitimises everything about the competition. Usually shodily made the night before, crudly wrapped and often flung to the floor post-match.
The homemade aspect represents the non league essence, as well as the hope and expectancy of the minnows, whilst it being thrown to the floor in disappointment as they go 3-0 down represents the dejection and hurt every fan feels when they go crashing out the cup.
But you can bet that come August/September/October they'll be a fresh roll of tinfoil being cut and wrapped around the cardboard in expectation....