A healthy dose of the famous old FA Cup magic has certainly been injected back into the competition this season.
There have been plenty of surprises so far with thrills and spills in abundance. None more so than at the club I support – Queens Park Rangers.
It has been a total shock to the system that we are enjoying our best FA Cup run since 1997. Wins over Leeds United and Portsmouth have given us a home fifth round tie against Premier League neighbours Watford on Friday evening.
QPR have had a total of 26 different managers since we last reached this stage of the competition. In fact, before this season Rangers had won just four FA Cup ties in 21 years. And there have been some epic disasters along the way.
My worst memory – indeed, the lowest moment in the entire history of Queens Park Rangers Football Club – came in November 2002. Having suffered relegation to the third tier of English football and financial administration, it was a truly depressing period for the R’s.
Things were compounded when we were drawn away to Vauxhall Motors from the Northern Premier League in the FA Cup first round. Due to safety reasons, Motors (as they are nicknamed) were unable to stage the fixture at their tiny Rivacre Park headquarters in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral.
So the match took place at Chester’s ground and finished in a 0-0 draw with Motors missing an open goal in the last three minutes.
Then it was back to Loftus Road for the replay. Andy Thomson put QPR ahead after 18 minutes. But amazingly, Phil Brazier waltzed through a static home defence to equalise for Motors three minutes later. Extra-time couldn’t separate the sides and therefore a penalty shoot-out ensued at the Loft End.
The decisive kick saw Rangers striker Karl Connolly pull his left-footed effort well wide of the post and Vauxhall Motors won 4-3. I still have distressing nightmares about that moment.
But the life of a football fan is all about highs and lows. And right now, I am literally shaking with excitement as I look forward to this week’s tie against Watford.
There is always a special atmosphere under the floodlights at our tight and compact Loftus Road home. So I can guarantee that the whole stadium will be absolutely rocking for the visit of the Hornets.
As a supporter of 46 years, it is my life’s ambition to see Queens Park Rangers win the FA Cup. Can we do it this season? The dream is still very much alive and that is the beauty of the greatest cup competition in the world. Anything can happen!
Tony Incenzo is a reporter for talkSPORT radio and Sky TV. You can follow Tony on Twitter at @TonyIncenzo
