FA Cup News

Brendan McGill, who scored for the reserves in a 1-0 win over Chester in midweek, is hoping he has done enough to secure a recall into the first team for todays first round FA Cup tie against Cheltenham. McGill has recently returned to fitness following a knee injury.

Also trying to gain fitness following a foot and back injury is Adam Murray who completed an hour in the reserves match. Ziror Arandale however is still a doubt for today.

21 year old shot stopper Kieren Westwood is hoping for victory today knowing the importance of the financial revenue gained from an FA Cup run.

Carlise have already beaten Cheltenham once this season (3-2). Westwood said in the News and Star: ‘If we could go on and get a big money tie, that would really benefit the club.And it will probably help raise our profile even more. We played well against Cheltenham in the league but I don’t know if that gives us an advantage. This is a completely different game.’

All players in the First Round of the FA Cup have an extra incentive to perform, because it is their best chance before ‘the big boys’ join in the 3rd round, to be included in the ‘Team of The FA Cup’.
This is the 125th year of the FA Cup but only the 3rd year of the ‘Player of the Round’ awards, sponsored by Umbro. They select a player of every round to make up the FA’s ‘Team of The FA Cup 2005-06’.

A panel sits to make the decisions, this year it comprises of: Brian Barwick, Chief Executive of The FA. Ricky George from The Daily Telegraph. David Watters, Editor of the Non League Paper. Mark Clemmit of BBC Radio 5Live presenter and Jeff Stirling of Sky Sports.

The player who wins the award each month will win £1,000 worth of UMBRO kit and equipment for a school, club or organisation of his choice and joins the ‘Team of the FA Cup’, who are presented with a silver salver from the FA and a guaranteed VIP place at the 2006 FA Cup Final with a pitch-side introduction at half-time.