ITV to cover Club Website team’s FA Cup tie
From Wembley to Wembley?
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Club Website’s Wembley FC are to appear on ITV this weekend in the first round of matches in this season’s FA Cup. The Combined Counties Premier Division side, whose website is hosted by Club Website, take on Cambridgeshire side Royston in the FA Cup extra preliminary round at 3pm on Saturday 16 August. ITV, who have joint broadcasting rights with Setanta Sports for the competition until the 2011/12 season, are making the most of the new deal and will be covering the competition from this weekend right through to the FA Cup final in May 2009. That game, of course, will also be played at Wembley, so how apt it is that one of the first round of matches covered will be played in the same area as the competition’s showpiece finale. Selected games from the early qualification rounds will be covered on itvlocal.com, with highlights available on the website, and the Wembley tie is one of the selected games. FA chief to attend FA Chief Executive Brian Barwick will also be attending the fixture, so staff at the club are making preparations to ensure that everything is in order for the big day. Wembley Chairman Brian Gumm recently received a letter from the FA informing him that two guests from the FA would be in attendance, although it is still unclear who the second person will be. Speaking to Club Website, Gumm said: “We’re very privileged to have them come down to see us. Money-wise it’s great for the club. We’re just trying to get everything sorted now and trying to find a new sponsor for the game.” Daren Butler, who runs Wembley FC’s club website said: “It’s fantastic, especially with us being a club right across the road from Wembley. We’re extremely excited.” ITV appear to be making the most of their new coverage of the famous old tournament, which many football fans only notice in January when the big guns from the Premier League join the fray. The FA, and Barwick himself, are obviously keen to send out a different message. An FA spokesperson told Club Website: “Brian’s love of the FA Cup is well known. He always tries to attend a game in every round from the extra preliminary Round in August right through to Wembley. The FA is well aware of the importance of the FA Cup to clubs further down the football pyramid and that is one of the reasons why we have increased the prize fund for every round of the competition this season.” Despite being just around the corner from the famous stadium, Wembley FC’s road to Wembley is as long as it gets. They require a total of thirteen victories this season just to reach the final! However long they may last, everyone at Club Website would like to wish Wembley FC the very best of luck for their FA Cup journey. Good luck lads! Click here to visit Wembley FC's website. |
