THE VIEW FROM THE STANDS

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BEAT THE CHASERS

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your noughties issue [ FFT 314] – it brought back memories and plenty I’d forgotten about. But I’d like to share something else. Twice during the decade, my local side Chasetown reached the ‘ proper’ rounds of the FA Cup. In 2005, they made it to the first round while a ninth- tier team, holding Oldham to a 1- 1 draw in front of TV cameras before losing the replay 4- 0. In 2007- 08, then one division higher, Chasetown went two rounds better after beating Team Bath and Port Vale, becoming the lowest- ranked team to reach the third round. They lost 3- 1 to Cardiff, but history was made in more than one way: a young Aaron Ramsey scored his first senior goal, too… Russell Broomhall, via email

SULK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

No. 95 in your greatest managers list was Hassan Shehata, the superbly ’ tached three- time AFCON winner. In it, you highlighted Egypt’s semi- final against Senegal and the altercation between Shehata and Mido. I was at that game sat next to a group of loud Ukrainians ( weird, I know). As a proud Tottenham fan who’d recently moved to Egypt, I wore my ‘ Mido’ Spurs shirt. As he embarrassingly exited the pitch, I put on my hoodie, zipped it up and hoped no one noticed. Luckily, Amr Zaki quickly scored the winner and all was forgotten. I’ve never experienced an atmosphere quite like that before – what a game, what a tournament, what a manager.

Pete Barks, via email

NEW GLANFORD GREAT

I downloaded Football Manager 2020 when I heard the football season would be postponed. I hadn’t played the game in more than a decade, so it turned out my usual tactics just had me yo- yoing from the Championship to the Premier League. Unsurprisingly, Middlesbrough sacked me, but then I went to League Two side Scunthorpe. After researching better tips and tactics I took them into the Premier League, so figured I should repay the favour and help the club in real life by buying a kit in lockdown. It arrived just in time to toast becoming Premier League champions! In these difficult months, I wanted to do my bit for a lower- league side facing massive challenges like many others.

David Brown, via email