THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

Exactly what I was saying. Coventry won the FA Cup in the 1980's and yet their fans still loved a Wembley trip in the Checkatrde Trophy. So why do much smaller clubs than Coventry, and their fans, mostly mock the cup? OK, it's not the FA Cup, but it's the lower league's version of non-leagues FA Trophy and FA Vase, and all of them take those cups serious and dream of a final at Wembley. And it's gone on a lot longer than the introduction of U-23 teams so that's not the main reason. Don't get it. For me it's a more important cup for lower league clubs than the League Cup as we can - and have - win it.

If you don't care, don't comment on it. That's why I never comment on Scandinavian netball.

I don't have a real beef about it (nor much enthusiasm either TBH). And yes, there's been a degree of dismissiveness about itfor a long time. But I think that has got a lot worse recently and that many people have taken a dimmer view of it since the U-23 thing. That is, they see it as the rich clubs further lording it over the hoi-poloi by bending it out of shape to suit their own ends... and that rankles.

[quote="Aliramone" They see it as the rich clubs further lording it over the hoi-poloi by bending it out of shape to suit their own ends... and that rankles.

Drawn at home against the group d runner up, so most likely either Yeovil, Plymouth or Chelsea Academy, with a remote chance of Exeter.

Another season of mid table mediocrity, this competition might just be our chance of glory, ten years on from our last appearance at Wembley