ROUND TWO - BAMBER BRIDGE V RUNCORN LINNETS

So the unofficial second round of the FA Cup 2009/10 took place over the weekend of 28-30th August with 334 teams battling for a place in the First Qualifying Round.

My fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK took me north to the Irongate stadium, home of Bamber Bridge FC.

Having met so many people at the previous game at Runcorn Linnets, it was pleasing to see many of the same faces again; and also hear the non-stop chanting and amusing songs.

I was joined for this game by my brother, Robert, and friend Lawrence, both of whom helped massively with the matchday collection. Lawrence has set up a facebook group to keep everyone up-to-date on that site, thank you for doing that.

Thank you also to everyone at Bamber Bridge FC for their hospitality and donations, it was very much appreciated.

The weather was better than forecast, though still disappointing for August. The sun did shine on the game with the only rain being the shots on Runcorn Linnets' goal.

Two hat-tricks from Ryan Zico-Black and Phil Eastwood led Bamber Bridge to a flattering but deserved 6-0 victory over the Linnets.

I was disappointed not to see Runcorn Linnets go through, due to the kind and generous nature of the club and all its supporters. A big thank you to everyone, I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season in the Vodkat League and hope to see you at future games this season.

I special mention to chairman Derek Greenwood, who managed to find a programme from 1961, which included a mention of my dad, who played for Runcorn while on loan from Marine. It's amazing how 48 years later I've linked up with an old club of my dad's; Derek, I can't thank you enough for finding the programme.

So on to the next round and after a 2-1 win over Vodkat League rivals Ramsbottom United, it'll be Maine Road who entertain Bamber Bridge in the First Qualifying Round on the weekend of 11-13th September. I'll confirm the date and ko time once confirmed.

I'm looking forward to meeting new people at Maine Road and also hope to see friends from Bamber Bridge there too.

Yesterday raised a total of £121.42 taking the total to almost £400 of the target of £5,000.

As usual you can donate at www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles or join the facebook group at

www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=264962860242&ref=nf

Look forward to seeing you all at Maine Road.

FA CUP 'SECOND' ROUND PREVIEW

So the unofficial 'second' round of the 2009/10 FA Cup is upon us, just two weeks after the 'first' round.

Of course the round is actually called the Preliminary Round, but to those clubs, including the team I'm following Runcorn Linnets, this is the second round of the competition.

Already 203 teams have tasted defeat in the FA Cup, with a further 167 destined to fall at the Preliminary Round over the weekend.

Of course the Linnets will be hoping they can make it through to the next round and a trip to either Maine Road or Ramsbottom United, but standing in their way is tough opposition in the form of Bamber Bridge.

I'll be arriving at Irongate on Saturday at about 1.30pm with my brother Robert and friend Lawrence, to size up the atmosphere and hopefully collect as much money as possible on the way.

A big thank you to those who have already donated and a thank to those who are destined to donate as the campaign trundles on.

As always the money raised is going to a brilliant cause in Cancer Research UK, a charity close to my and many people's hearts.

Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow and hopefully the weather can football can be as good as the last round.

ALL GO FOR BAMBER BRIDGE

Many thanks to Danny at Bamber Bridge FC for approving my attendance and collections for Cancer Research UK this Saturday at the FA Cup Preliminary Round between Bamber Bridge and Runcorn Linnets.

Kick-off is at 3pm and it would be great to many of the people I met at Runcorn and also meet new friends at Bamber Bridge.

For directions click here.

With interest about this campaign continuing to gather pace I'm hoping the publicity will help life the money raised for Cancer Research UK.

Thank you to all those who've donated so far and to anyone intending to donate further in to the campaign.

I'm hoping to have two people helping me collect on Saturday, including my brother Robert, who helped come up with this idea of raising money.

If you can't make it on Saturday and would still like to donate please go to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles

Finally the next round will take the Runcorn2Wembley fundraising bandwagon to either Maine Road FC or Ramsbottom United FC, who play on Saturday.

If anyone from either of those clubs reads this could you contact me so I can arrange mt attendance at the game.

A SATURDAY OFF

As more coverage and another invitation to a radio show come in, I'm looking forward to recovering after a hectic week. I'll just stick to going mountain biking in north Wales with my neighbours Jonny and Neil.

The Chester Chronicle have featured the campaign after Saturday's game at Runcorn Linnets and Halton Community Radio's Michael Scowcroft has invited me to be a guest on the Sunday Sports Show on 30th August.

Unfortunately I've had to decline the offer as I'm already committed to a rowing regatta in Ross-on-Wye to support my partner Sarah. I hope the chance to be a guest on a future show will happen.

A big thank you to everyone who has followed the blog and more importantly those who've donated to the campaign.

Thank you also to my friends and family who have supported me so far and also offered help for future games to collect from the ever growing crowds expected at games.

Cancer Research UK are kindly sending me more t-shirts, buckets and information materials to help with the collections.

I've also had help from my colleagues at work. So a big thank you to everyone at Connect PR and Connect Group.

As I always say donations are welcome at www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles

Good luck to Runcorn Linnets this weekend in their game at Nelson and also Everton as they face a tricky trip to nearby Turf Moor.

MEDIA COVERAGE

The excellent start to the FA Cup fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK is now starting to attract good levels of media coverage throughout the north west.

The current levels culminated in a ten minute interview on the 'Football Show' on BBC Radio Merseyside last night. Thank you to Alan Jackson for the opportunity to publicise this campaign.

Coverage has also appeared in the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool Daily Post and Daily Sport (with only one pair of boobs on!).
Online coverage is on the websites of Liverpool Echo, Liverpool Daily Post and Runcorn Linnets FC (see below for links)

While coverage publicising the event is great, it's nothing without helping to increase the amount of money donated for Cancer Research UK.

Luckily the online total has already trebled since yesterday and I'm hoping it'll increase further as more people take interest my journey. Here it is for anyone wanting to contribute further to the total www.justgiving.com/richard-knowles

I also hope the coverage highlights the excellent football that is played at the lower levels of the game and entices people to go and watch their local club - you might be surprised by how entertaining the experience is!

I'm in contact with Bamber Bridge FC for help when the campaign reaches their Irongate Ground on Saturday 29th August.

I'll publish more details of the match between Bamber Bridge and Runcorn Linnets when I have them.

Online coverage is listed below:

www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2009/08/17/long-road-to-wembley-for-cheshire-football-fanatic-92534-24455645/

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/08/17/football-fanatic-launches-fund-raising-mission-to-wembley-by-watching-runcorn-linnets-win-100252-24455041/

www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk/news.asp?item=18082009162000

WHAT A GREAT KICK OFF TO THE CAMPAIGN

Well my 'rocky road' to Wembley kicked off in style last weekend as I started the mammoth charity campaign to follow the FA Cup from the very first round right through to the final.

It started at Wincham Park, Northwich to watch my local side Runcorn Linnets face AFC Emley in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

I was joined by Lawrence Whiston and 196 supporters to watch a superb advert for the game of grass-roots football.

The Linnets triumphed 4-1 with both sides contributing greatly to a thoroughly absorbing FA Cup tie, with a number of excellent goals. For a match report click here.

I raised nearly £90 on the day for Cancer Research UK with further contributions promised as the campaign continues.

The journey now takes me north to Bamber Bridge near Preston for the Preliminary Round.

I can’t thank the people associated with Runcorn Linnets enough for their help with the start of this fundraising effort, in particular chairman Derek Greenwood, Steve Pritchard and Mark Buckley.

They, Linnets supporters and people associated with AFC Emley donated generously and helped make it a dream kick off.

I look forward to seeing them again at Bamber Bridge and making new friends along the way.

To donate simply go along to watch Runcorn Linnets play at Bamber Bridge on Saturday 29^th August or go online to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles

I'll also be tweeting my updates through twitter at http://twitter.com/richthemaster

ONE MORE DAY TO GO

The summer weather may have been and gone in one weekend in June, but football is now back up and running.

All leagues but the Premiership started last weekend and now this weekend a double-header of Premiership and FA Cup action is getting football fans across the country excited.

While Premiership and Championship teams won't be thinking about the FA Cup until January next year, hundreds of smaller clubs are just 24 hours away from their first taste of FA Cup football this season.

I'll be at Wincham Park, Northwich for the Extra Preliminary round cheering on Runcorn Linnets as they face AFC Emley for the right to play Bamber Bridge away on the next round.

I'm hoping to build up a following along the way and anyone interested in joining me for one or more games can either twitter me (richthemaster) or comment on my blog.

To donate either see me at the game(s) or go online to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles

Up the Linnets!

FA Cup week

So it's finally arrived and this week sees the first round of the FA Cup 2009/10.


I'm looking forward to an exciting game as Runcorn Linnets play AFC Emley in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup at Wincham Park, Northwich.

I'm ready and waiting for the kick-off at 3pm and hoping for a home victory to give the Linnets a boost for the new season.

While Wembley may seem a log way off, over nine months in fact, it's a good chance for the players of both Runcorn and Emley to make a showcase for themselves and their club in the world's best cup competition.

I'll be arriving early for the game and hoping everyone can dig deep into their pockets and help me reach my total for Cancer Research UK.

To donate either meet me at Wincham Park, Northwich on Saturday or go to www.justgiving.com/richard-knowles.com