Real Football at the Ray Mac

Salisbury City FC. Ok, hands up if you'd ever heard of them two or three years ago. Not many of you, other than those that live in the city. In fact, only about three or four hundred of the locals seemed to have heard about the club. At least, that was how many bothered to go to watch them.

It's all very different now. Under the careful and astute management of Nick Holmes and Tommy Widdrington the club finds itself, after two successive promotions, in the unchartered territory of the Blue Square Premier (the Conference to you and me.)

They're not just surviving in the big league, they are sitting comfortably in mid table, and looking up with some ambition at the play-off places following a run of seven unbeaten games.

The club is on the rise in spectacular style. Home crowds average over 1500 now, and following the promotions and great FA Trophy runs and an FA Cup adventure last year only ended by Nottingham Forest in a replay, the club is establishing itself on the footballing map.

The first team are achieving great things as a mixture of part-time and full-time players. The young reserve side under the stewardship of John Robson and Salisbury legend Simon Browne, have a 100% record so far this season, and are ensuring that the future looks bright.

The youth set up at the club is developing nicely under Neil Benson, and more and more players will be produced from within as time goes on.

With all the excitement of the development of the club it is a great place to be at this time. The club is friendly and approachable and the fans are so happy to be where they are that they are just enjoying the ride.

With the increase in crowds has come things like more policing and segregation. That is the one shame about moving away from the lower reaches of the game. The friendly banter between sets of real fans, seems to be lacking as you get higher in the football pyramid.

So what is so great about watching a game at The Ray Mac? Well, firstly the standard of football is good. Secondly you can stand up to watch. Thirdly it is only £10 to get in. Fourthly the players give absolutely everything to the cause. There are no prima donnas at this level. Fifthly, and lastly, it is a joy to see a club come from nowhere and threaten to challenge the big boys.

Premier League football is exciting, but it is not something many of us can relate to. It costs a fortune to watch, and you have to sit down during the game. Watching Salisbury play at the Ray Mac takes me back to my time as a youngster watching Watford at Vicarage Road. It takes me back to a time when I fell in love with the game. It is real football.

Graham Fisher News, views and observations about the beautiful game.http://viewsofafan.blogspot.com

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FA CUP - The Most Prestigious & Oldest Domestic Knock Out Tournament In World! by adam jaylin

The Football Association (FA) Challenge Cup or the FA Cup, as it is known popularly, is the most prestigious and oldest domestic knock out tournament in world football. The format of the tournament has changed a bit since its was first contested during the year 1872. Every year, several teams from many leagues across England and Wales fight for FA Cup. The only requirement for participation in the tournament is the clubs need to be registered with the Association, playing in a well known league and having access to the stadium for home games. Teams are randomly paired for every round, and drawn games are replayed. Results of replay matches are ensured with penalty shootouts and extra-time. August is the month when the preliminary rounds for the teams in lower leagues. Teams in English football's higher flights automatically qualify for the next stages of the tournament, & mainly in the 3rd round are most often drawn against the lower-league-clubs. These encounters result in making the Cup odds a good collection for punters. Official competition's rounds culminate in 2 semi-finals played at neutral-grounds to be followed by the popular FA Cup Final at Wembley during the end of May. Besides the coveted trophy & prize money of £1,000,000, the victors get automatic entry to the following UEFA cup. Few who've been watching the stars of today competing in the Cup are familiar with its humble beginnings. During the 1872, merely 2000 spectators had watched the defeat of Royal Engineers. The Wanderers had defeated them by 1-0 at the Oval. In the new century, the Cup became the much talked about one among the people. Tens of thousands of football fans flocked to watch their football heroes do battle at Crystal Palace, Old Trafford and Stanford Bridge. By the 1950s, crowds of over 100,000 routinely attended the FA Cup Final at the Wembley Empire Stadium. As English football's top flight is becoming more competitive year after year, teams such as Everton and Manchester City offer great odds for the punters.

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Sports Cufflinks - Sporting Your Favorite Team Logo by Jeff Piper

A true sign that cufflinks are indeed a must for every man are their popularity amongst various men's circles. Now days men's cufflinks are not just used for special occasions, like weddings, funerals, or business. Proven to be a real bearer of one's fashion statement, cufflinks can also express a man's hobby, his interests, or even a special affiliation...like, say, a sports club, college, or team.

There is no better way of supporting your favorite team than wearing the appropriate Sports Cufflinks. Unique sports-themed links bring out the most exciting fan in you. The passion for your favorite team cannot be expressed any better way than sporting a set of these specially decorated cuff fasteners designed for your favorite sports team.

A diehard football fanatic has a choice spanning all the NFL teams. Whether you are one of the Dallas Cowboys' craziest fans or a devout Houston Texan supporter, there is a wide choice of specially designed NFL Football Cufflinks available for all teams. Even if your team is out of the playoffs, you can still show your support with a classy pair of football themed cufflinks.

Help the man in your life celebrate this year's Super Bowl with his favorite team logo emblazoned on his work cuffs. Is he a notorious Cheesehead? Then be sure to gift him with the Green Bay Packers Cufflinks. Perhaps he is Tom Brady's biggest fan. Then he will definitely need to be sporting a set of New England Patriots Cufflinks. As he and his co-workers battle it out at work over who will walk the walk on Super Bowl Sunday, one look at his wrists and nobody will be able to question where his loyalty lies.

A similar choice awaits the steady baseball fan. MLB Baseball Cufflinks offer the widest variety of team-based logo designs you can find on the planet. Whether you support the San Francisco Giants by watching every game on the big screen TV at home with friends, or you root for the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium, you'll find unique cufflinks to double your joy of watching the game.

The hockey enthusiast need not be disappointed. Specially designed for every team - NHL Hockey Cufflinks make all the right statements depicting your support for your favorite team on ice. Wearing a set of NCAA College Cufflinks will keep you in good standings with your alma mater during the next big game.

Express passion for your favorite basketball team or golf player with the choicest set of exquisite NBA Basketball or PGA Golf Cufflinks around. There are special cuff link options for virtually every sport out there. Other elegant sports jewelry options include Soccer Ball, Boxing Gloves, Enamel Football, Hockey, Tennis Ball, and Sterling Silver Dumbbells.

So, the next time your favorite team is in town, whether that be football, baseball, or college, don't forget to support it by adorning the ideal sports paraphernalia! Nobody will doubt your dedicated team support with a pair of NFL Football Cufflinks MLB Baseball Cufflinks or College Sports Cufflinks out there for everyone to see!

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Cufflinks...a perfect compliment to the well-dressed man. Cufflink Aficionado carries a broad range of cufflinks designed to meet each connoisseur's individual style and interest. Cufflinks offer that perfect embellishment and make wonderful gifts for any occasion. Cufflink Aficionado

Football Kits, Nike football shirts and nike pro vents by webmaster scd

www.sportscentredirect.com has a wide range of football team kits, nike football shirts, nike football jerseys, stanno football kits, legea football kits, macron football kits, basketball clothing, nike basketball shirts, baden basketballs, football clothing and nike pro vents. It also has a wide range of sporting goods for a wide range of sporting activities

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