FA CUP VERY MUCH ALIVE AND KICKING

I hope they don't mess around with the FA Cup structure too much.Championship Reading's plucky display in their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City was great.Ask Stoke or Bolton supporters what a trip to Wembley will mean to them-in the case of one club twice!I am all for the Premier League and the European Champions League for the really big clubs but we must have meaningful competitions for the other clubs.Take Birmingham City,it was fantastic for the club and their supporters and alot of the City itself when they beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup...I remember working on the Stoke 2 Chelsea 1 League Cup final in 1972 and attending the Stoke after match banquet at the Russell Hotel.It meant everything to them...and it would do again if they won the FA Cup for the first time.