Cup competitions

[Clydefan]

Can anyone out there educate me as to what cup competitions Billericay take part in each year, and the relative importance of each.

 

Up here we only have 3 - Tennents Scottish cup is the biggie, CIS League Cup being number 2, and finally the Challenge Cup. The last one may not last much longer as they cant get a sponsor - primarily because its a cup for small teams only - ie no SPL sides. We actually got to the final this year, but erm, the final score is all rather irrelevant!!!

 

Down south I'm assuming you must be involved in some sort of early qualifying round for the FA Cup (is this regionalised?) as well as the League Cup - I'm assuming you must also have a couple of smaller tournaments however - perhaps for non league sides only - or even just the Rymans league teams?

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

C

[Simon BTFC]

Right then...

 

We enter the FA Cup and FA Trophy - these are the two national cups open to us. We got into the qualifying competition for both, coming in after the preliminary rounds.

 

We enter the Isthmian league cup (Westview Cup) and the Essex Senior Cup. This season we rested players in both competitions and bombed out early... Both county and league cups only get interesting at about the quarter final stage, before then they're not perceived as being so important. The ESC final this season is between 2 sides from the divison below us, whilst none of the top 8 reached the quarter final stage of the league cup.

 

There are also a number of smaller trophies which we sometimes enter to give games to reserves and triallsts - the Essex Thameside Trophy would be an example of this, as would the Eastern Floodlit Cup which we won last season.

[Clydefan]

Just been checking the FA website to read up on the first two competitions. Their website alongwith the Rymans website and the essexfa site are slowly helping me get to grips with everything.

 

I understand fully what you are saying though about the smaller cups not get interesting till the quarters. With our Challenge cup we basically take the viewpoint that unless you win it, or at least get to the final and have a top day out, you're as well going out in the first round so that your players can concentrate on league business and not have to worry about a midweek trip to the bloody highlands in a match where we proabbly end up losing money anyway.

[Keith.P]

Bad day on Sat for you Colin!

[Clydefan]

Very bad day! Our days as a decent division 1 side are well and truly numbered due to low crowds. 3 of our 4 best players all left the club as the transfer window drew to a close - including both our starting central midfielders. And two weeks ago, our one remaining top player was operated on and will be out the rest of the year. 3 straight league defeats and counting.

 

It's a good thing the Ricay results can cheer me up!!!

[Keith.P]

Yep, that was a big game i guess as Livingstone are roughly the same points as Clyde. As for us, we hope we can get a result on Saturday, but we (i) certainly do not underestimate anyone in our league.

[Clydefan]

The good thing is you're winning your home games. Worthing have conceded a barrel load this year, but look as if they know how to find the net too. Should be a good game. Considering the next games are away at Wimbledon and Margate (I've been updating my works diary!), this weeks home game is probably a must win match.

[GazzaBTFC]

Cor CF, you're more clued up than some supporters...

 

If you give your "home" club this much devotion, then you are more than welcome "down our way".

[Simon BTFC]

Originally Posted By: Clydefan

The good thing is you're winning your home games. Worthing have conceded a barrel load this year, but look as if they know how to find the net too. Should be a good game. Considering the next games are away at Wimbledon and Margate (I've been updating my works diary!), this weeks home game is probably a must win match.

Although Margate and AFCW will be tough games, we've beaten both teams already this season so I think we are more than capable of getting something from those two games.

[Clydefan]

I actually wasn't suggesting that you weren't capable of taking something from the games, just that it would be more diffcult than recent games. Also, doing well against these teams at home where you have a fantastic record and playing them on the road are two completely different scenarios.

 

Personally I'd be delighted with losing one as long as the other was won. A draw and a defeat would be better than two draws. Two defeats would be unthinkanble. A draw and a defeat woudln't be much better.