Features

London, November 11th, 2007

Poor old Yeovil! For years they stunned the football pundits by their several shock FA Cup victories over clubs from the Football League. The most famous being the 2-1 defeat of Sunderland in 1949.

Plainmoor

But today, as a League club, they suffered the humiliation of being defeated 4-1 by Blue Square side Torquay United, who lost their League status after 80 years last season.

So the famous "giantkillers" were "giantkilled" themselves. But I do find the term "giantkillers" in relation to Yeovil a tad incongruous. Yeovil is a market town in south-east Somerset with a population of not much more than 40000.

Playing for Margate that evening, (one of over 70 matches he played that season) was Bob Harrop. Sadly, Bob died on November 8th. Bob played over 560 times for Margate, scoring 26 times in a career that spanned the 60’s. Amongst the highlights of his career was captaining the Margate side in the famous 3-0 FA Cup defeat of Bouremouth at Dean Court in 1961.

Another was leading Margate to victory over neighbours Ramsgate in the Southern League Cup Final replay on May 16th, 1968. Bob was a “Busby Babe”. He played 11 times for Manchester United in the period following the Munich disaster. In 1959 he joined Tranmere before moving south to Margate in 1961.

The 2007/8 FA Cup competition at this stage, is all about those non-league “minnows” (I loathe that patronising term) who take on and compete against sides from the Football league. Hats off to Staines Town for a fine performance at the “Hatters” of Stockport County. If they get the right result at Wheatsheaf Park in a few days time, they’ll face Peterborough United in Round 2.

Rushden & Diamonds pulled off the only “shock” of Round 1 with a comfortable victory over Macclesfield. They’ll face either Leyton Orient or Bristol Rovers. Elsewhere Burton, will fancy their chances of progressing. Nigel Clough’s side face Barnet at the Pirelli Stadium. And spare a thought for little Horham. They’ll face Swansea City at their quaint Queen Street ground. With Cambridge United and Weymouth, both of the Blue Square Premier, playing each other other, there will be at least one non-league club in the Round 3.

Upset of Round 2? Look out for Havant & Waterlooville at Notts County.

Jeremy Jacobs