Thursday, 25 March 2010
NO HELP FROM THE VILLA
Aston Villa are the team the campaign is following to Wembley after the 4-2 win at Reading in the quarter final.
I've had a couple of weeks break from the campaign as my partner Sarah and I have been having scans on our first baby. Sometimes your priorities can change a little, but I'm back on the case for Runcorn2wembley and battling for coverage and donations to reach the £5,000 target.
Despite communication with Aston Villa the club has declined requests for any help with informing Villa fans about the campaign.
The club supports The Acorns Children's Hospice and has refused to help Runcorn2wembley in any way.
The Acorns Children's Hospice is a fantastic organisation and I don't want Runcorn2wembley to distract from that at all. Therefore I understand why Aston Villa wouldn't want to give lots of backing to the campaign, but to offer nothing is very disappointing.
I've had more contact with The FA and hope to have a little more help from them for the semi-final.
On a final note I'll be missing the spring Frodsham Beer Festival to be at Wembley for the semi final so hope Runcorn2wembley will collect a big amount as we look go from the current total of £4,195.81 to the target of £5,000.
Saturday, 6 March 2010
So far we've raised £4,118.31 for Cancer Research, just over £800 short of the £5,000 target.
The campaign will again be watching a Reading home game, this time against Aston Villa, which could be the Berkshire club's toughest game so far.
This will be the fourth Reading game we've followed after the match against Burnley and two versus West Brom.
A fantastic performance at The Hawthorns in the fifth round replay has given Reading a superb chance to reach Wembley.
Unfortunately Runcorn2wembley won't be collecting any money before the game on Sunday as the club has refused permission to do so.
To make matters worse Runcorn2wembley is having to pay for tickets AND membership to be able to watch the game. The club has put something in the matchday programme, but this happened in the first match we watched Reading and resulted in no donations.
Indeed when we were allowed to collect at the Reading v West Brom game we raised almost £900.
It's disappointing and frustrating the club has taken this stance and we can only hope football fans can go online to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles and donate.
I will be joined by only one other member of Runcorn2wembley at Reading v Aston Villa, because there's no collection, tickets prices, travel costs and the 400 mile (8 hour) round trip.
But we'll be there and after this game only two trips to Wembley remain, providing there's no replay!
See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
SIXTH ROUND PROSPECTS
Reading has denied us permission to collect before the game against Aston Villa, as the club limits collections from a charity to one per season. The club has also refused to allow any tickets to be set aside for Runcorn2wembley, even if the volunteers pay for them.
This means we'll be lucky to get any tickets for the game, which would mean the campaign misses out on its first game in this season's FA Cup.
Having been to the previous 11 rounds of the competition, this would be very disappointing.
The only hope we have now collect another £800 to hit the £5,000 target for Cancer Research, is for fans to donate online - www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles
More updates later this week as they come in.
Friday, 26 February 2010
REPLAY PROVIDES EXTRA EXCITEMENT
The extra-time 3-2 victory for Reading was fully deserved as they showed much more incisive football in the penalty area than West Brom.
The negative side was not being able to collect for Runcorn2wembley which meant only £35 was raised for Cancer Research through the donation of tickets from West Brom to me and Chris Horner.
I can't understand why West Brom didn't allow a collection, but the campaign was grateful for the tickets.
West Brom scored very early (not as early as the first game's nine seconds) before Reading made it 1-1 after just nine minutes.
A howler by the Reading keeper gave West Brom a 2-1 lead early in the second half before a great goal in the third of four added minutes sent the tie into extra time.
So Runcorn2wembley now goes to Reading for the third time as the sixth round draw pits them against Aston Villa.
I'm talking to Reading about a collection and hope we can have one. With just over £800 left to reach the £5,000 target, a collection will probably take us over the target.
With the semi-finals at Wembley, permission to collect around the ground before the game is proving difficult, which is why I hope Reading allow the collection.
I'm also hoping Reading 107fm will feature the campaign again, as this resulted in many people donating.
Updates will appear on here. Don't forget the match is in just nine days on Sunday 7th March at 1.45pm.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
MIXED REPLAY NEWS
Runcorn2wembley is unable to collect for Cancer Research before the game but will be attending thanks to the donation of five tickets by West Brom.
It's a huge blow to our collection target of £5,000 just ten days after collecting a record total for the campaign before the game at Reading. Almost £900 was donated by fans of both clubs taking the current total to £4,153.31.
If West Brom win and play Aston Villa in the quarter finals, a collection won't be allowed due to the proximity of the clubs. So everyone associated with Runcorn2wembley is hoping for either Crystal Palace or Reading to win.
If you would like to donate please go to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles
See you there.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
REPLAY OR NOT TO REPLAY
On Wednesday 24th Feb we travel to The Hawthorns for the replay between Reading and West Bromwich Albion.
After the record breaking collection before the thrilling 2-2 draw at Reading last weekend, Runcorn2wembley is waiting for confirmation on whether we can collect on Wednesday.
I'm hopeful the discussions with West Brom will end in a positive outcome, but the main thing is we are able to collect at the quarter final game, as the winner will be at home.
Further donations have come on the website www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles and the target is getting closer and closer.
Thank you to everyone who has donated and I look forward to seeing the fans on Wednesday.
Runcorn2wembley will be in attendance at The Hawthorns although the numbers of people from the campaign is yet to be confirmed.
More updates on Monday.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
REPLAY UPDATE
This is obviously disappointing but we're not giving up just yet, particularly as the quarter finals will see the winners of the replay at home again. This could result in another refusal to collect.
I'm still in communication with West Brom and hope to be able to have a compromise sorted this week.
With only three rounds left, including the final, it's vital Runcorn2wembley is allowed to collect before the last few games to hit the target.
More updates throughout the week.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
A BRILLIANT DAY
Not only was it a classic FA Cup game, but Runcorn2wembley raised almost £900 from the fans of both clubs before the game, almost double the previous record amount.
The total of £875.58 has taken the amount raised for Cancer Research to an incredible £4,118.31, not far off the target of £5,000. Click here for the donation breakdown.
What's more, thanks to a late equaliser by West Brom, Runcorn2wembley now has another game to potentially collect at - the replay at West Brom.
I was joined at Reading by my brother Rob, neighbour Neil Goodwin and friends Chris Corse, Chris Horner and John Horn. We suffered a few late drop outs due to family illnesses Valentine's Day.
Arriving at midday we quickly set about talking to fans at the main entrance to the complex near the away end.
I did a live interview with Dan Chisholm from Reading107fm about Runcorn2wembley and this had success with a number of fans donating after hearing the interview.
A trickle of fans became a flood and people we're even donating after the start of the game, despite Reading scoring after just 7 seconds!
We managed to see the rest of the goals, except I did miss the second goal while getting a pie!
In a match full of incident the four goals and two red cards served up a football feast for both sets of fans and the neutrals alike.
A big thank you must go to the collectors, fans of both clubs who donated, Reading107fm, Reading FC and West Brom FC for the help and support yesterday. Without it the collections wouldn't have reached the amount it did.
It was a very long day, leaving at 8.30am and arriving home at 9pm, but well worth it.
So on to the replay on Wednesday 24th February at The Hawthorns with a 7.45pm kick off. See you all there!
Friday, 12 February 2010
FIFTH ROUND PREVIEW
The Royals play Championship rivals West Brom, in the fifth round of the FA Cup, the winner progressing to the quarter finals.
With just three matches to go after this round, Runcorn2wembley is hoping for a big collection to help reach the target of £5,000 for Cancer Research.
Big thanks and much appreciation to Reading FC for allowing us to collect before the game against West Brom, particularly to Sara.
We're still looking for more helpers tomorrow so if you would like to volunteer just ask one of the collectors you see and I can supply buckets and t-shirt.
With the current total at almost £3,250, everyone associated with Runcorn2wembley is hoping to get near £4,000 after tomorrow.
So to everyone who's going, please dig deep and help us raise vital funds for Cancer Research.
The FA has promised to put information about the campaign on their Facebook page, so keep a look out on there.
More coverage is coming in of Runcorn2wembley. I'll update that next week with links.
Safe trip for all the fans tomorrow, see you at the Madejski from midday!
Monday, 8 February 2010
A BIG WEEK
The good news is Reading has given Runcorn2wembley permission to carry out the usual pre-match collection before the game against West Brom on Saturday.
As the total collected so far is now almost £3,250, everyone connected with Runcorn2wembley is hoping we collect enough to take us near the £4,000 mark.
I've spoken to The FA and hope to have the campaign featured on the organisation's Facebook page, and maybe website.
For the next round I'm hoping we can link up with the FA Cup Trophy Tour with one of the teams Runcorn2wembley is following.
A cold week beckons and I can't wait for the spring and summer weather for the last couple of rounds of this year's competition.
More updates later this week.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
FOUR ROUNDS TO GO
In two of the last three rounds the campaign has been unable to collect at the grounds before a game.
At MK Dons we got over that predicament when the Asda store next door kindly allowed us to collect outside before the game.
Unfortunately, after being unable to collect at the Madejski Stadium, the major stores around the ground wouldn't allow a collection.
At least with MK Dons we were given up to eight tickets and we donated the value of the tickets to Runcorn2wembley.
But at Reading we were given two tickets, but had to buy two tickets and pay for car parking, meaning the donation to Runcorn2wembley by Reading was a minus figure. This was made even more frustrating as we had an 8-hour 420 mile round trip to watch the game.
Reading did put a small piece of editorial in the matchday programme. We did receive a donation from fans after the game, but this was from Burnley fans we chatted to outside the ground.
Fingers crossed we can have a collection of some kind at the next game, as we're off to Reading again, as they take on West Bromwich Albion.
The FA has offered to invite Runcorn2wembley to the trophy tour at some stage, although this is yet to be confirmed and the promise of a phone call last week failed to happen.
We're yet to hear back from Reading regarding the collection and any help at the next round.
Further updates later this week along with even more coverage.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
ROYAL VISIT HALTS FUNDRAISING
Unfortunately the usual pre-match collection wasn't allowed by Reading due to another collection for Guide Dogs for the Blind, another worthy cause which we didn't want to disrupt.
So after a 210-mile, four hour drive, Robert and I met with the two Chris' and set about meeting and talking to the fans.
We started at the away end as Burnley had kindly put information on their website and we had met many fans at the previous round in Milton Keynes.
Indeed this has already proved successful with an online donation made from some of the fans we met. Thank you very much Anthony and team!
Reading did provide two complimentary tickets and programmes (that contained an article about the campaign), although we did have to pay for another two, the expensive muddy field car park and watch a pretty drab first half.
The second half was much better and just when we though we would be collecting at Turf Moor a week on Tuesday, Reading got the winner. On overall play it was probably deserved.
More news on that here when it happens.
Friday, 22 January 2010
FOURTH ROUND EVE
We'll be watching Reading v Burnley and hope to raise the profile of the campaign raising money for Cancer Research.
Unfortunately no collection is taking place and Reading have allocated two tickets for the four Runcorn2wembley fundraisers attending, meaning the football club and the campaign will both benefit from our attendance.
It's an unfortunate set of circumstances and I hope Reading will be able to help out if they beat Burnley and get a home draw in the fifth round.
Burnley have again put news of the campaign on the club's website, click here to read it.
Reading has yet to put a news article on it's website and we'll find out tomorrow if there's an article in the matchday programme. Fingers crossed.
So it's a 6am start for Robert and I tomorrow as we set out for the early kick off. Luckily the two other Runcorn2wembley attendees are coming from London and Marlow, a little closer!
As promised below are links for coverage this month. Just click on the media name.
Milton Keynes Citizen
Liverpool Echo
Chester Chronicle
Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News 1
Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News 2
Reading Evening Post 1
Reading Evening Post 2
Southport Visitor
Ok it's off to bed. See you Royals and Clarets tomorrow!
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
ROYAL VISIT IS UP NEXT
Donations to the Just Giving website (www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles) have taken the total to just under £3,200, so I'm hopeful of reaching the £5,000 target by the final at Wembley in May.
No rest for the Runcorn2wembley team though as it looks like this weekend could leave us without a collection at the game.
Reading host our current team Burnley at the Madejski Stadium for a 12.45pm ko, but the club had already given permission for another charity to collect at this game - The Guide Dogs for the Blind, a very worthy cause.
Having been faced with a similar situation at the two previous games at Milton Keynes Dons, I resorted to contacting the local businesses (Asda proved a huge help in the last round with a record collection), including B&Q and BHS, but have been turned down.
This leaves only one way of collecting money for the campaign, by Reading 'donating' tickets for the 4-6 Runcorn2wembley fundraisers; the fundraisers will then donate the value of the tickets to the collection. I'm still waiting for feedback from Reading about this.
Members of the team will be at Reading to continue the road to Wembley, but with now little hope of raising any money for the campaign, Cancer Research UK.
Therefore I'm appealing to anyone reading this to pass it on to friends and tell as many people as possible about the online donations page to boost it further.
Simply go to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles
Meanwhile I'd like to thank the continued communication and help from everyone associated with Burnley FC, particularly Darren in the media department.
In other news The FA is looking to include Runcorn2wembley in the next Trophy Tour, though this is dependent on which team we'll be involved with next.
Coverage has featured in Chester, Runcorn, Milton Keynes, Reading and Liverpool media since Christmas. I'll link all that along with a preview on Friday.