A light in all this darkness CUP LETS US DREAM ONCE AGAIN
THE pandemic has stripped most of life’s simple pleasures from people during t he past 10 miserable months.
But one thing even Covid-19 hasn’t been able to take from us is the ability to dream.
This is what entire communities at various locations around the country have been doing ever since the draw for the third round of the FA Cup was made at the end of November.
For the good people of Crosby, Shrewsbury, Crawley, Stockport, Chorley and Morecambe there has been some much-needed light amid all the darkness, something to look forward to when otherwise there seemed nothing.
The true essence of club football’s oldest competition has never felt as strong as it has done this weekend. And
right at the heart of all the romance is the coastal town of Crosby, seven miles north of Liverpool and home to Jamie Carragher, Carlo Ancelotti and, much more importantly, Marine FC.
As darkness descends on the place tonight, it will light up again from the glow of TV sets as the he population tunes in to watch the biggest mismatch in FA
Cup history.
Jose Mourinho, one of the greatest managers of all time, hoping to get the better of opposite number
Neil Young, whose main job is as a facilities manager with Merseyrail.
A part-time team including teachers, NHS workers and even a bin man earning a combined £1,700 a week, going up against a side of superstars who pocket an average of £80,000 each in the same space of time.
Spurs are used to the Champions League, while Marine operate in the Northern Premier League Division One (North West), 164 places lower down the ladder than today’s este esteemed visitors.
The Rossett Park ground can hold 3,185 but the average league attendance last season was just 446. Marine chairman Paul Leary has paid cleaners to c come in and spruce up the car carpet in the boardroom. Mo Mourinho’s World Cup stars and Champions League finalists will get changed in a function room with a bar that is hired out for weddings and birthday parties (£220 for the day, Jose, if you’re interested?). In the boardroom, the usual buffet has been cancelled, so Spurs chairman Daniel Levy (left) and his fellow millionaire directors will have “five-star’’ lunch boxes specially prepared by Marine staff.
“To be able to say to Tottenham, ‘Welcome to Marine’ will be very special,” said Leary.
“Not only for myself but for our committee and many volunteers who work tremendously hard. There will never be another moment like it.”
Let’s hope Mourinho shows the same respect and names a strong side, as only the FA Cup can throw up such a mind-boggling scenario, where two very different worlds collide like this.
And just imagine if Marine were to win? Just imagine!
We’re back to dreaming again, which is the whole point, because it’s one of the few privileges we still have left.