Celebrity FA Cup

Im_No_Superman

Once it was considered a contemptuous heresy but now, thanks to Arsène Wenger, fielding an entire team of youngsters is acclaimed as clever. The opportunity to inspect Arsenal's latest crop of whizzkids has become one of the League Cup's unique attractions and now the FA Cup could be about to take us to the other extreme ... by treating us to a whole team of old-timers.

Sheffield FC, founded in 1857 and recognised by Fifa as the oldest football club in the world, today admitted having talks about fielding an entire team of retired England internationals in the 2009-10 edition of the planet's oldest club competition. The idea was proposed by the people behind the England Legends series of matches, whose most recent outing - last month's 3-3 draw with the Republic of Ireland Legends at Craven Cottage - featured faded stars such as Bryan Robson, Des Walker, Paul Merson, Chris Woods and Lee Sharpe. "We were approached about it a few months ago and haven't heard anything further about it but we're not necessarily opposed to the concept," Sheffield FC chairman Richard Tims told guardian.co.uk. "We're a non-league club so we have to listen to suggestions."

Currently languishing in 17th place of the Unibond First Division South, Sheffield have amassed a backlog of eight league matches because of the glorious FA Cup run on which they went this season, when after winning four ties on the trot they narrowly failed to reach the first round proper, going down 3-1 at Blyth Spartans. "A lot of hurdles would have to be overcome before we'd commit to this though," said Tims, who admitted that his existing players would not be particularly pleased about being dropped for the biggest game of their season in order to accommodate the likes of Steve Hodge and a 50-year-old Kenny Sansom.

If the wheeze came to pass, Sheffield's progress throughout the competition would form the basis of a reality TV series, swelling the coffers of a club that has to survive on attendances of around 400. Traditionalists would no doubt fulminate against the triumph of celebrity-based gimmickery over tradition and dignity - but you'd watch their matches, wouldn't you?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2008/nov/13/sheffieldfc-england-old-boys-facup

Cant comprehende this at all. And its sad and maybe reflective of the times we live in today that a club would even consider it. The FA cup really got back track last year imo with some great games, shock results and an unexpected winner. Introducing some sort of celebratory team in it would be ridiculous and embaressing and I would certainly lose alot of respect for any ex player who would even consider it tbh.

glenjamin

Saw that yesterday. Next you'll have a team of Z-List celebrities entering it.

monkey9

When will reality tv ever p!ss off. I would deliberately not watch this team, even if they were live on tv.
But i really can't seet his happening though!

Mitch Connor

I'd love it, especially if they got knocked out in the first game, just to burst the cynical marketing bubble

Bubs101

I think you'd find that most fans of said club would be much happier watching the likes of Merson than their butcher

stovelid

Given the age of the players, is this a pun:

If the wheeze came to pass, Sheffield's progress throughout the competition would form the basis of a reality TV series..

Stupid idea. Even more sad to see someone like Robson involved.