YORKSHIRE IS MY NEW HOME

What a great day on Saturday; watching the 'fourth' (second qualifying) round of the FA Cup fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK.

Rob and I travelled to Guiseley from Southport, after a night out celebrating the birth of his son (my nephew) Isaac.

Arriving in Guiseley, to watch them face Bamber Bridge, I met with Chris and Patrick O'Brien and Patrick's friend, Simon Baggley. They were all helping with collections before, during and after the game.

The welcome from Guiseley AFC matched that of the previous clubs I'd been to (Runcorn Linnets, Bamber Bridge and Maine Road).

As we split into three groups the donations from the 300+ spectators was very generous and by kick off we'd collected around £30 in each bucket.

The match was played in brilliant warm sunshine and the crowd was entertained with some tactical play by both teams, eager to secure passage to the next round of the FA Cup.

With chances at a premium it was Guiseley who took one of two that came their way in the first half and were 1-0 up at the break.

The second half was again tactical with tiredness a factor as both teams created chances. Guiseley's greater pressure finally brought another goal, but Bamber Bridge can count themselves unlucky not to have scored at least a consolation.

All in all a good game and the runcorn2wembley campaign for Cancer Research UK will now follow Guiseley AFC.

After the game further donations were made and the grand total was £171.05, taking the overall total to over £800. Fingers crossed we can reach £1,000 by the next round.

The draw has been made and we'll make another trip to Yorkshire as Guiseley face fellow Unibond Premier League side Kendal Town.

With both team in the top 5 of the division is promises to be a fascinating clash.

The match is scheduled for Saturday 10th October so hope to see you there. More on the campaign later this week.

Don't forget it's not too late to donate, just click here.

ROUND 4 IN YORKSHIRE

Another weekend and another 2009 FA Cup tie to go and see, this time venturing further then the previous three rounds put together.

Guiseley AFC is the destination for me, the fundraising team for Cancer Research UK and everyone associated with Bamber Bridge Football Club.

The Yorkshire club are a league above Bamber Bridge and my current team face a difficult task in making it to the next round.

This round is the Second Qualifying Round, with another two rounds after this before the League 1 and 2 clubs enter.

I'm looking forward to the game and what promises to be yet another glorious day for playing football. The weather has been very kind so far.

I'm sure some of you watched the coverage in Granada Reports last night (ITV's regional news programme for the north west). I've had some messages from people I don't know, as well as other messages of support.

The piece was edited by Andrew Lindsay and I must thank him for putting together a great report. Hopefully they'll be another in later rounds!

Back to this weekend and I'll be joined by my brother Rob and Sarah's (my girlfriend) dad and brother Pads. The team should number five as Pads' friend Simon is also looking to come along.

The crowd is expected to be near 400 so I'm hoping we can get a decent collection for the fund.

Thank you to the assistance from everyone at Guiseley AFC; I look forward to meeting you all tomorrow.

If anyone would like to join us at Guiseley, here's the address and directions - Guiseley AFC directions.

See you tomorrow.

COVERAGE & UPDATE

A weekend of league football has now finished and we can now look forward to another round of the 2009/10 FA Cup.

The runcorn2wembley bandwagon faces a trip to Yorkshire on the back of further coverage in the north west media.

Focus this time was on my brother in his local weekly paper, the Southport Visitor. Click here to see the coverage.

Coverage is also expected in the Southport Champion on Wednesday, so look out for it!

In a surprise move my local MP for Weaver Vale, Mike Hall sent me a letter of support for the campaign, something I hope helps to raise the profile of runcorn2wembley and Cancer Research UK.

Thank you to Mike for his support, I hope you can make it to one of the games.
The total money raised has now reached nearly £650 with new offline donations, which I'll adding to the total this week.

A big thank you to everyone at my brother Rob's work (Southport Insurance Brokers) for donations and supporting him with this campaign.

I've just received confirmation that the next game at Guiseley AFC will kick off on Saturday 26th September at 3pm at Nethermoor Park. Click here for directions.

With opponents Bamber Bridge FC having scored 10 goals in the two previous rounds I'm sure it'll be a great game and advert for lower league football.

Guiseley, like Bamber Bridge, Runcorn Linnets and Maine Road have been brilliant in accepting the campaign to their ground and I look forward to meeting everyone.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

COVERAGE & DONATIONS CONTINUE

As memories of the third round of the mammoth FA Cup fundraising campaign, Runcorn2wembley, slowly move away, coverage and donations continue to increase.

Thank you to everyone who has donated money for Cancer Research UK, the total has now reached over £600, with more coming in, click here to donate.

Coverage has now appeared on TV as Channel M covered the fundraising as part of footage of the FA Cup and Maine Road FC.

For those of you who haven't seen it, here's the link - Channel M coverage

There's also online coverage in the Runcorn Weekly News, click here , and Chester Chronicle, click here.

With further coverage projected in the Southport Visitor on Friday 18th Sept and next week in the Wharfedale Observer, the word is spreading fast.

Finally, looking ahead to the Second Qualifying Round (the campaign's fourth round) the trail leads to Yorkshire and Guiseley AFC.

I've spoken to Guiseley's chairman and gained permission to collect at the ground. Looking forward to meeting everyone up there, both friends from Bamber Bridge and everyone associated with Guiseley AFC.

More thoughts and updates this weekend.

BAMBER 'BRIDGE' TO ANOTHER ROUND

Another round in the 2009/10 FA Cup fundraising campaign and another fantastic game of football.

Maine Road hosted Bamber Bridge in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

The game was the third in the Runcorn2Wembley campaign raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Yet again the home side (Maine Road) welcomed me, my brother Robert and friend Andy James with open arms, allowing us full access to everywhere and everyone.

It was also good to see and be remembered by fans and officials of Bamber Bridge, after watching their previous round win against the original team I followed, Runcorn Linnets.

Back to the game and after an even first half Bamber Bridge took control in the second, securing a 4-1 win, against a spirited Maine Road. Had Maine Road scored from the first half's best chance, the result could have been different.

The draw took place today and Bamber Bridge (and the fundraising campaign) will now travel across the Pennines to Guiseley FC.

I'm looking forward to the game and it'll soon be upon us; the rounds are just two weeks apart at the moment.

I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated at Maine Road, with a total of £102 collected from fans, players and backroom staff. The total raised is now getting towards £600.

A big thank you to everyone associated with Runcorn Linnets for their continued support despite the Linnets' exit form the competition.

Coverage of the last few weeks will be posted in another blog, but include Liverpool Echo, Chester Chronicle and Channel M (Manchester).

Thank you to everyone who has publicised this campaign, everyone who has donated and everyone who will donate in future.

Finally thanks to my brother Rob, and friends Lawrence and Andy for their help so far.

See you at Guiseley on 26th September.

NEXT STOP - MAINE ROAD

So the next round of the FA Cup 2009/10 is upon us and the Runcorn2Wembley fundraising campaign takes to the road again, raising money for Cancer Research UK.

This time we're off to Manchester and the home of Maine Road FC to watch them take on last round's victors, Bamber Bridge.

Maine Road are in the same division as the team I started with, Runcorn Linnets, so they'll be in with a tough task today.

I'll be joined by my brother, Robert and neighbour Andy for today's game and hope the sunny weather attracts many fans to what promises to be a great game of football.

The fund total is now nearing £500 and I'm hoping people continue to donate generously to help reach the target.

Look forward to seeing everyone today.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

As promised last week I've now scanned the Runcorn programme from 1961 featuring my dad, which has tied quite nicely in to the Runcorn2Wembley fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK.

My dad played for a number of north west sides including Marine, Burscough and Runcorn.
I'm sure he'd love the irony of me starting my campaign with Runcorn this year, something I know is fitting.

A huge thank you to Runcorn Linnets chairman, Derek Greenwood for sourcing the programme and opening up a window in my dad's football career years before I and my brother Robert were born.

I'd welcome any comments from people who either played with my dad or watched him play.

He was still playing regularly until his early 40s, and showed Rob and I the proper way to play the game.

I hope to see many old and new faces at Maine Road FC on Saturday for the FA Cup First Qualifying Round against Bamber Bridge.

Mathc preview to follow later this week.

MORE COVERAGE

So as the donations for the FA Cup fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK tops £400 the media coverage continues to come flow.

National coverage has so far been limited to the Daily Sport, but I hope this will change as the campaign gains momentum.

The latest piece came in the Runcorn Herald & Post, which I thank Bucko for bringing with him to the game on Saturday.

Don't forget to tune in to the afternoon sports show on Halton Community Radio on Sunday 13th September when I'll be giving the latest on the campaign and where the journey will take me next.

The next game is at Maine Road as they take on Runcorn Linnets' conquerors Bamber Bridge.

I'm still waiting to hear back from Maine Road to confirm my attendance but hope to do so soon.