Northants FA Strikes Back. Back.

Many thanks to Callum at the Northants FA for a very quick response to my rather sarcy email about the utterly bleak pointless blot on the footballing landscape otherwise known as the Northants County Cup.

"Hi Pat,

Thank you for your email.

The reason for scheduling this game on Tuesday 7th February was after discusiion with both the National League, Kettering and Coegnhoe. This date was agreed by ALL parties as being the best date for the game.

A lot goes on behind the scenes to get these games on and to plan the final which I am sure should Kettering reach their Fans will be behind them and support the competition.

It is the FA who decide all County Cups take precedence over league games so you will need to write  to the man FA to question that ruling.

Best wishes and I hope to see you at the Semi final.

Kind regards...."

Interesting.  If correct, it would appear that the Poppies DID have a say in the date chosen despite the tone of their original tweet from the club suggesting the game had been entirely forced upon them.  Interesting also that Callum is to all intents and purposes, inviting us to challenge the Football Association itself to rescind the pre-eminence of the County Cups over League fixtures.  We may just check this out.

Less convincing is the assertion that the County Cup takes a lot of organising.  Really?  Isn't it more the case that someone very junior at Northants FA simply draws the names of the local non-league teams out of a hat, and then phones either Peterborough United or Northampton Town to get one of them to play the winner?  I'd say that's about 15 minutes work.  Including a tea-break.  And, if the County Cup is so important, with the threat of expulsion from the FA Cup, Trophy and Vase used to keep clubs in line, WHY aren't the Posh and Cobblers also compelled to compete?  Surely having the flagship clubs from Northants FA play in their own bloody competition would boost the worth of the endeavour.  But no, they get to sit out this sh*t-fest.  Of course they do.  Can't have REAL clubs sully their hands on this waste of time, can they?  Not when you can bully lesser clubs to your will.  If the County Cup is such a vital cog in the workings of NFA and the clubs it represents, how about next season offering everyone the OPTION of playing in it?  See how many takers you would get....

Another bumper turn out for the Northants Cup