It’ll be winter, New Year in fact, we’ll be freeeezing. You folk have chosen to send us off to the north with a virst glass dicket do dottingham.

Notts County have had an eventful season. First they got bought by some billionaires from somewhere. Then Sven rocked up as ‘Director of football’. Then they signed Kasper Schmeichel from Man City. Then they signed England international Sulzeer Campbell. Then Sol didn’t fancy it and nicked off. Then their billionaires (Qadbak) were possibly not fit and proper persons and hid. Then manager McParland was sacked for only being 4th and Sven’s mate Backe turned up to manage the side. Then Qadbak did a runner and Mr Trembling bought the club for £1. That is the last 4 months in a nutshell.

Forest Green? All I know is they’ve been flirting with relegation from the Blue Square Premier for the last few years. Other than that, no idea so I am off to do some research …

Well, it seems they are continuing their flirtation with relegation. Actually, I knew that, I was just emphasising the underdog status they have here. No one will be expecting them to win. In some way though, with Qadbak gone and expectations lowered, some of the pressure is off Notts so it will be harder than perhaps it might have been when the draw was made. But, because Forest Green have won as many FA Cup games as they have league games this season, they should not be underestimated in this competition. That said, they have beaten only one team above them in the league.

They will also have to do without Bristol Rovers loanee Sean Rigg who went back to his parent club and then off on loan higher up the food chain after scoring 7 goals for Green. He was their only real goal threat and without him they are going to struggle.

Last season was the first time they had got to the third round of the FA Cup but they only narrowly lost to Derby. Players that the higher league fan might recognise are Craig Rocastle (Sheff Weds, Oldham), David Brown (Hereford, Hull) and they have just been joined by experienced journeyman Isaiah Rankin, he is probably unavailable though.

The game itself is on Sunday 3rd January at 3pm and is not all ticket, those tickets are £15 and can be purchased on the gate. therealfacup is sending its best men. More info later …

And that badge is just like Barcelona’s, innit?

1. Wealdstone .v. Rotherham (Sunday 8th Nov)
2. Millwall .v. AFC Wimbledon (Monday 9th Nov)
3. Cambridge Utd .v. Ilkeston (Saturday 7th Nov)

A HOOJ thanks to everyone who voted this week – and indeed in previous weeks – it was a hotly contested vote at the losers end but after a only a few days the winner was fairly clear.

Possibly the penultimate FA Cup action this year for us, if results go very badly for the little clubs. So, this is the biggest weekend of football of the whole season for therealfacup. But what a weekend, thanks to the wonders of television, the internet and public transport, there is a possibility of watching 7 games in 4 days.

That said, still a little surprised that so few voted for Millwall, perhaps their faintly paranoid shout of ‘no one likes us, we don’t care’ is wrong.

We put our poll up before the replays and before the TV games were announced so our main game and winner is actually on the Sunday, which means we could go to the silver and bronze medal winners as well!

Congrats to Wealdstone, we’ll hopefully be there on Saunday, tickets willing, and the same to Cambridge and Millwall.

Cheers folks, 110 votes is the most we have had in one of our polls. Clearly, the vast majority were either Crawley or AFC Wimbledon fans which is, I guess, not entirely surprising as they have bigger followings than the vast majority of the other teams in the poll. 

So, anyway, thanks again to all who voted and if your team lost and you’re going to the game, maybe you can write a report for us.

Otherwise, we shall be kicking the party off at around midday at a bar to be decided …

We gave you the chance to send us further afield and you adventurous folk well and truly took it, huh! Literally to the edge of London we must venture, towards a massive great bridge! Or tunnel, depending which way you’re travelling.

The visitors, Chelmsford, are a league, if not currently a class, above. Minor interest point sees former Ipswich and Hibs player Antonio Murray lining up for the Blue Square South side after failing to get (or perhaps turning down) a new contract with top flight new boys Histon.

Chelmsford’s emphatic result in the previous round was sandwiched between two league defeats that have cost the ambitious clarets quite dearly and they now find themselves languishing in mid table, well off the pace they kept up for so long last season.

The home team on the other hand can do no wrong. The last time Dartford failed to win a league game it was still August. They’ve won their last five and have 28 points out of a possible 30 overall, which means they top the league by some distance. In the close season, Dartford signed a a player we saw several times at Dulwich last year, Jamie Coyle, and former Gooner, Jamie Day, who left Highbury to join Bournemeouth and now finds himself sliding down the leagues.

This may not be quite the biggest name clash in this round of the FA Cup but it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated and it’ going to be one where a bit of an upset is possible. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if the bookies have this one quite evenly poised.

35/40mins from London Bridge and the below link looks handily placed between station and ground …

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/67/6757/Malt_Shovel/Dartford

It looked like Walton & Hersham .v. Enfield Town all the way but then Sutton .v. Uxbridge came up on the rails but Wingate & Finchley .v. Aylesbury stole in at the end. Great stuff. Let’s hope the game matches the vote for tension.

So, the game, yes, the game, Orde Wingate would I am sure be pleased to see us there. Wiki that, he was THE Wingate.

We have at least two, probably four, cupsters signed up for this game already so what’s the plan? The ground is miles from the tube so crawl on the way?

First up here and that would appear to be about it. Any locals know the score? Then the club bar after some walking, or a bus.

We’ve been pretty south-centric so far so here’s a quick shout out for Northern allies who are actually being productive and raising some dosh for charity while they watch the FA Cup http://runcorn2wembley.blogspot.com/

The FA Cup football special, is about to depart. Of course, it isn’t because the usual litany of TfL horror awaits. The nearest rail hub to Wembley FC is, obviously, shut at the weekend so the nearest tube is Sudbury Town on the Piccadilly line.

From the station head down Station Approach to Bridgewater Road and then left and over the roundabout towards the Harrow Road/Watford Road junction. Take the Watford option and the club is just beyond Eton Avenue on the right hand side, so keep your eyes peeled. If you fancy a beer before hand we hope to be in the Swan, which is a few yards up Harrow Road. Should be there by about 1 before heading to the club bar at about 2.