SEASON FINALE

So the 2009/10 FA Cup has finished for another season, but the charity campaign that followed it from the start wasn’t there at the finish.

Despite clocking up thousands of miles following the competition, Runcorn2wembley was unable to complete its mission at Wembley.

The campaign, organised by brothers Richard and Robert Knowles has raised almost £4,500 for Cancer Research, but is short of the £5,000 target.

The duo started the campaign in August at Runcorn Linnets, all in the name of their father who played for a number of amateur clubs but died from cancer when they were young children.

Despite pleas to local councils, the football clubs, police and The FA, Runcorn2wembley was unable to carry out the main fundraising activity of collecting from fans outside the ground before the game.

The campaign was unable to collect or attend the semi final or final and therefore has fallen short of the £5,000 target.

Richard, from Frodsham, said: “We’re delighted to have raised so much money for a cause close to our hearts, but disappointed with the reaction of various organisations to Runcor2wembley attending the semi finals and final at Wembley.

“Being denied permission to collect at Wembley has meant we’ve not reached our target, although credit must be given to the fans and clubs that have been very welcoming to Runcorn2wembley.”

Robert, from Southport, is hoping online donations will continue to boost the total. He said: “The FA Cup may be over for this season, but fans can still donate online.

“I’m not sure we’ll be doing this again for the foreseeable future as Richard and I will both be parents by the time next season’s competition beings.”

To donate simply go to www.justgiving.co.uk/richard-knowles

FOUR ROUNDS TO GO

So with only four rounds (including the final) of the FA Cup to go, Runcorn2wembley is still short of the target of £5,000 for Cancer Research. To date we've raised just over £3,200.

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.

ROYAL VISIT HALTS FUNDRAISING

So the eleventh game in the epic journey by Runcorn2wembley took my brother Robert, myself and two other volunteers(Chris Corse and Chris Horner) to Reading, for the FA Cup fourth round game against Burnley.

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.

So the draw for the next round takes us back to Reading and we can only hope we can get nearer our target with a collection at the game against West Bromwich Albion.

More news on that here when it happens.

FOURTH ROUND EVE

In just over twelve hours the 2009/10 FA Cup fourth round will kick off and Runcorn2wembley will be watching one of the two early games.

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!

ROYAL VISIT IS UP NEXT

The FA Cup 4th round is just days away and the fundraising total for Runcorn2wembley is rising fast.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.