NEW YEAR AND NEW ROUND

One more day to go of 2009 and just two more before the biggest round of the 2009-10 FA Cup campaign so far.

With over half the target of £5,000 raised so far with the Runcorn2wembley campaign, I'm hopeful 2010 will see the the target reached and indeed exceeded. All the money goes to Cancer Research.

Eight people, including myself, will be at the MK Dons v Burnley FA Cup third round game on Saturday 2nd January, hoping to beat the current record amount taken at a game.

The record currently stands at £460.76, raised by the fans at Nuneaton Town's first round game against Exeter City.

Over 16,000 people are expected at the game on Saturday and Runcorn2wembley is hoping for a good collection total.

Coverage has again been coming in for the campaign with the Liverpool Echo featuring an update in the paper and online. Click here to read it.

Burnley FC has also featured the campaign on the club's website. Click here for the article.

Runcorn2wembley has also featured in the letters column of the Lancashire Telegraph. Click here to read it.

The coverage from all forms of media has been excellent and I'm hoping for even more as 2010 edges closer.

I'll preview the game tomorrow or on the first day of 2010.

Happy New Year.

FESTIVE UPDATE

This has been the longest break between FA Cup rounds so far this season with five weeks from the second round to the glitz and glamour of the third round.

So far the trail Runcorn2wembley has taken me and the fundraising team to Guiseley in Yorkshire, Kendal in Cumbria and Nuneaton in Warwickshire. Now we're currently following MK Dons and watched them defeat previous team Exeter City, in the second round.

A stiffer test awaits the Dons in the third round as Premiership newcomers Burnley visit.

Runcorn2wembley is raising money for Cancer Research UK by collecting money from fans attending each of the games we go to.

For the first time we we're unable to collect at MK Dons v Exeter City but despite MK Dons again not allowing collections to take place around the outside of stadium, we've been given permission by Milton Keynes Council to collect on the outskirts of the stadium.

We're still waiting for permission to collect by the Asda store by the ground but I'm hopeful this will be given.

So far the campaign has generated over £2,500 for Cancer Research UK with a target of £5,000.

Burnley have been very helpful with the campaign and thanks must go to the media department and the chief executive for their help.

Currently about seven collectors will be in Milton Keynes on Saturday 2nd January 2010 for the game and I hope we can collect the biggest total to date.

Fingers crossed this snowy and icy weather will fade away in time for the game.

Have a great Christmas and I'll post again before the New Year.

GREAT GAME BUT NO FUNDRAISING

Yet another spectacular game of football was played in front of the Runcorn2wembley fundraising team as MK Dons narrowly defeated Exeter City 4-3 in the FA Cup second round.

The reward for an astonishing victory is a home tie against Premiership new-boys Burnley.

But it could easily have been Exeter City who hosted the Clarets as they came back from a 1-0 halt-time deficit to lead 3-1 with little more than 20 minutes remaining.

MK Dons' manager Paul Ince would point to an inspired double substitution as both players scored at vital times to secure victory.

The disappointing aspect of the game was the denial of MK Dons to allow the Runcorn2wembley team of volunteers to collect from the 4,800 fans at the game. The total money raised for Cancer Research UK still stands at just over £2,500, halfway to the target of £5,000.

Over ten people were prepared to give up their entire Saturday to come and collect, but with no collection just three of the team made the trip.
The trio, Runcorn2wembley founders Richard and Robert Knowles, and Chris Horner, were at least given free entry by MK Dons and a football signed by the MK Dons players. If anyone would like this ball please let me know and it will be yours for a donation to the fundraising campaign.

So onto the FA Cup third round and MK Dons at home to Burnley. I expect the StadiumMK will be full and will keep everything crossed that MK Dons will let the team collect.

I'll be contacting Burnley too and asking for their help in publicising this campaign.

I'd like to thank everyone associated with Exeter City for their valued support and hope they have a successful rest of the 2009/10 campaign.

Updates will appear here this week.

WE'RE ALL OFF TO MILTON KEYNES

As November reaches its end 'Runcorn2wembley' strikes up again with a trip to Milton Keynes, raising money for Cancer Research UK.

The campaign, which is following the FA Cup from the start to finish, is now halfway to reaching its fundraising target of £5,000 with bigger crowds and games yet to come.

This weekend will be the biggest crowd by far, as I expect over 8,000 to watch MK Dons take on Exeter City for a place in the third round.

A potential money-spinning game in the next round will spur on both teams and their supporters.

Nerves will play a part but I hope it's a good game and the best team progresses.

The teams had contrasting games over the weekend, with the Grecians securing a good 3-1 win away at Stockport County and the Dons falling to an injury time defeat at Southend United.

Publicity has been very good on the Exeter City website (click here for link) and I'm sure Milton Keynes Dons will afford equal generosity.

I'm still to hear if they will grant permission for a collection before the game on Saturday, but I'm confident this will come through on the next couple of days.

As with all games the home team has been brilliant in allowing me and the team to collect from fans before during and after the game. This has helped move the total money raised to what it is.

Fingers-crossed MK Dons continue this goodwill.

More news later this week and information on everyone who'll be attending and collecting for 'Runcorn2wembley.

GRECIANS DOWN TOWN

A combination of work, personal committments and being stuck on our beloved motorways has led to me not updating the blog as often over the last two weeks.

I hope this post will cover most of the activity that's happened. On to the latest game and the FA Cup first round clash between Nuneaton Town and League 1 side Exeter City.

Firstly a big thank you to my brother Rob, neighbour Johnny and new 'Runcorn2wembley' friend and collector, Chris Horner.

The game at Nuneaton on Saturday was a big effort as it was the biggest crowd of the campaign and everyone worked wonders to collect and speak to supporters about the collection.

I'd also like to thank everyone associated with both clubs for the support and coverage before the game, and the hospitality shown by everyone at Nuneaton Town.

Without any of this the collection and campaign wouldn't have continued on its successful journey.

The game itself was witnessed by many pessemistic Exeter City fans, nearly all convinced they would be beaten.

Their fears were eased after just three minutes and by half time a 4-0 lead was not unexpected given the pressure on Nuneaton's goal, but a little flattering.

The second half Nuneaton performed very well and with a bit more luck could have scored at least a couple of goals, which would have made for an interesting finale.

As it was Exeter held on and now face another away trip, this time to fellow League 1 side Milton Keynes Dons.

A crowd of almost 2,500 at Nuneaton gave the campaign a huge boost as we raised £460, taking the grand total to almost £2,500; halfway to the target total for Cancer Research UK.

The date and kick off time of the next game at Milton Keynes Dons is yet to be confirmed but I suspect it'll be on Saturday 28th November at 3pm.

I hope to have ten people helping with collections at the game to make the most of a crowd in excess of 8,000.

To donate go to www.justgiving.co.uk/Richard-Knowles

COVERAGE CONTINUES WITH NUNEATON

As the next round of the FA Cup fast approaches, coverage of the FA Cup fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK continues to attract media coverage.

'Runcorn2Wembley' has taken in different areas of northern England and the Midlands, but has always been followed by local and regional media outlets.

Some media have followed the campaign from the start and continue to do so, even as it travels to areas beyond it's circulation range.

The Chester Chronicle (my local weekly newspaper) regularly updates its readers of the progress and I'm pleased the total continues to rise at each report.

The football clubs have also covered the campaign which is very helpful when collecting at games as fans already know why we're there.

Nuneaton Town are the latest club to do so; the coverage can be seen by clicking here

The latest Chester Chronicle coverage can be seen here

A non-league website has also covered 'Runcorn2wembley' as the Unibond League (to which Guiseley and Kendal Town play in) featured the campaign. To view that click here

I've also found new coverage on the Guiseley Advertiser; it can be found here

The coverage is great to spread the word about the campaign, but it will only succeed if people donate via the online donation site.

To donate or see how much has been raised so far go to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles

A preview of the first round game between Nuneaton Town and Exeter City on Saturday will appear here on Friday.

KENDAL RUN OUT OF LUCK

Apologies for the lack of a preview to the FA Cup 4th qualifying round between Nuneaton Town and Kendal Town yesterday.

I didn't return from Lisbon until very late on Friday night and needed to catch up on some sleep before driving to Nuneaton for the game.

Rob and Lawrence joined me at the game and we we're expecting a big crowd, the first one of over 500 for the fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK.

With an average of 50p per fan raised at the previous games we hoped for a good collection from the crowd, which turned out to be over 1,100.

The weather and traffic was terrible but calmed down after we arrived and sunshine again bathed the pitch for the game.

Liz and the rest of the staff we met at Nuneaton Town were very helpful and explained the best places to collect from.

The total money raised was £168.19; thank you very much to everyone who donated.

The Kendal Town fans were again in good song and mood, with another lot of generous donations from them before kick off.

As the match started fans were still flooding in, with a place in the FA Cup first round an obvious attraction.

Kendal were the more dominate side in the first half and should have been in front, with a couple of good chances spurned.

In the second half Nuneaton applied much more pressure and just when Kendal looked like they could snatch a late win, the home side pounced to secure the win and a possible draw against the likes of Leeds United and Norwich City.

A draw and replay would have been the fairer result but maybe Kendal's luck in the previous round and penalty save against Guiseley, was all their allocation for this year.

Today the draw was made and we'll be back again at Nuneaton, as they face a very tough game from League 1 side Exeter City.

I expect the ground will be full for the game and look forward to seeing everyone from Nuneaton again in less than two weeks.

Finally thank you to everyone associated with Kendal Town for the hospitality, friendliness and above all, generous donations. Good luck for the rest of the season and possible promotion.