I Want Football: FA Cup - The First Ever Final of Association Football's First Ever Competition

The FA Cup is the world's oldest Association Football competition. First played for in 1872, it was the brainchild of one Charles Alcock. Initially only twelve teams had entered the competition and even this number was reduced to nine before the first round was due to be played. However a further six teams, including Queen's Park from Scotland, were persuaded to enter.

So on 11th November 1871 a total of 4 fixtures were played - Barnes defeated Civil Service 2-0; Hitchen and Crystal Palace (not the current club of the same name) both advanced to the next round despite a nil nil draw; Maidenhead beat Marlow 1-0 and Clapham Rovers won 3-0 against Upton Park. The scorer of Clapham's first goal, one Jarvis Kenrick, is credited with having scored the first ever FA Cup goal! Three games were not played - Queen's Park and Donington School could not agree where to play their game, so both advanced whilst Royal Engineers and Wanderers both received walk overs against Reigate Priory and Harrow Chequers respectively. Hampstead Heathens received a bye due to there being an odd number of entrants.

In the second round of matches, the remaining ten teams managed to play 4 of the scheduled 5 games. The only one that didn't take place being the tie between Queen's Park and Donington School, who still couldn't agree where to play after being drawn against each other again. Consequently, Queen's Park advanced to the third round. In the games that were played, Barnes and Hampstead Heathens drew 1-1 with Barnes progressing after a reply; Crystal Palace beat Maindenhead 3-0; Hitchin were royally stuffed 5-0 by the Royal Engineers and Wanderers enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Clapham Rovers.

The third round was played on 20th and 27th January 1872 when Royal Engineers defeated Hampstead Heathens 3-0 and Wanderers and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw - due to the fact that Queen's Park had already advanced to the semi finals with a bye, these two were not required to replay. So, on 17 February at Kennington Oval, Crystal Palace and Royal Engineers played out a goalless draw before Queen's Park and Wanderers did similar on 5th March at the same venue. On 9th March 1872, Royal Engineers won through to the final with a 3-0 replay win. Bu who would they face? Well, as it happens, it would be Wanderers, Queen's Park having withdrawn because of the prohibitive cost of their travelling back to London for a replay.

On Saturday 16th March 1872, Royal Engineers and Wanderers met at Kennington OVal to play the first ever FA Cup Final. Obviously enough, the game was played according to the rules of the day which did not allow for cross bars or goals nets. The pitch had no centre circle or halfway line and there were no free-kicks or penalties. Also, in an oversight which would take almost 100 years to rectify there were no substitutions allowed either. This helped Wanderers more than Royal Engineers as after just ten minutes they lost Lieutenant Creswell with a broken collar bone. The only goal of the game was scored on just 15 minutes by one Morton Peto Betts playing under the pyseudonym of A.H. Chequer. At the end of the game it was perhaps fitting that Wanderers' Captain, one C.W. Alcock should be the first man to lift the FA Cup.

This article is just one in a series about the FA Cup. Visit I Want Football - you won't be disappointed. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_J_Lewis

Premier League Match Time: Tottenham Vs Manchester United

It's Premier League match time at White Hart Lane, as Tottenham get set to host Manchester United in a second leg encounter, in match week 23, on January 16.

In the first leg, hosted by United at Old Trafford on October 30, 2010, the hosts won 2-0. The game ended on a controversial note when Nani added a second goal on 84 minutes to double the lead that Vidic's 31st minute header gave Sir Alex's squad. Nani's goal transpired from a comical error by the Tottenham 'keeper, who, in anticipation of a free-kick, played to the whistle and put down the ball. Nani, just behind Gomes, appeared to be waiting for referee Clattenburg' decision and deciding that none was forthcoming, turned and put the ball into Spurs' net. Controversy apart, the second goal had nothing to do with Tottenham's comprehensive defeat.

Rio Ferdinand returned to partner Vidic in the United defence; Vidic set pre-match speculation to rest by handling Bale with consummate ease, even as Carrick negated Van der Vaart's pace. For Spurs, Modric and Van der Vaart created space in midfield but were let down by Keane who appeared out of his league as Tottenham's striker.

Head to head, between the sides, Manchester United have enjoyed an overwhelming 15-1 advantage in 20 league games over the last decade. Spurs' sole win came in May 2001 at White Hart Lane when they won 3-1.

Tottenham have won 6 of their last 10 league games, while losing just the one and drawing the rest. United have won 7 of their last 10, while drawing 3, and remain the only unbeaten team this season.

Currently placed 4th in the points table, Spurs have won 6 out of 11 times, at home, this season, while drawing 4 and losing just the solitary game. United, at the top of the table, have won just 2 of 9 games on the road, while drawing the remaining 7.

Notwithstanding their loss away to Everton in match week 22, Tottenham's current form is excellent, but they will be up against a United squad that have all their key players match-fit and running. Spurs' ricketty defence will be sorely tested, and Redknapp's charges should consider themselves lucky to be able to snatch any points from the game.

Tottenham had the following men in their starting eleven against Everton in match week 22: Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Modric, Jenas, Bale, Van der Vaart and Crouch. Keane and Kranjcar featured as substitutes.

The players who constituted Manchester United's starting eleven against Stoke are Kuszczak, Da Silva, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Nani, Gibson, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov and Hernandez. Carrick and Owen were used as substitutes.

For the latest sports gossip, including the Premier League, click http://www.sportingattitude.com. Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suresh_Iyer

Figure Out How To Submit Your Child For This Week's Soccer All-Star

With each new soccer season, there will be a group of players who do exceptionally well. These players may rotate in who stands out for different games. Some parents will post their information and pictures in a section that recognizes hard working players. Knowing just how to submit your child for this weeks soccer All-Star section may help to improve their confidence and reward them for their efforts.

Soccer is often a game that seems to go by too quickly. Just as the season begins it seems that it quickly moves along into playoffs. At the start of a season, the players often work hard trying to manage their new team and coach. Both the team captain and the team players have to learn about each other and work with what skills the team has. It could take some patience to learn how to handle various skills and weaknesses to make a group stronger.

Each person will learn what the other players can do during a game. The coach will have tests set up to see what everyone can do. They will learn about the strengths and weaknesses in each person. Roles may be set up and assigned based on the skills observed by the coach.

After a few games, the head coach will be able to see what each player can do and how the team is meshing together. They will make notes about the wins and loses and figure out if any changes in the assigned roles need to change. Players who need further help, can ask the coach for extra help.

A coach will have plenty of ideas for their players when it comes to skill refinement. They can take any skill and break it down into manageable tasks. As a person improves their game by professional coaching, they will become a stronger person. A child who knows that they need help with a particular aspect in playing soccer, can simply ask for some further direction.

The practice that takes place with soccer teams may range from a few days a week to just once. The practice times and lengths will depend on the coach and the needs of the team. Some games may follow a practice, where other teams will have them on separate days.

Every week there will be new kids who play the game in an amazing way. Fast running up and down the field will help to keep a ball moving in the direction that it needs to go. A player who knows how to move through a crowd with control kicks and targeted passes, will help the team win the game. Playing hard and doing a great job may need to be rewarded.

Finding out how to submit your child for this weeks soccer All-Star may be a great way to improve a game. Players who get the recognition that they need, will feel confident about their moves and skills on the field. Parents who make the effort to keep their player in a positive light, will encourage them to play hard and well the next time.

Submit Your All Star here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_J_Plantz

World Cup 2010: The Final: Spain 1-0 Netherlands AET

In the end it was kinda fitting that Spain won 1-0 with a goal from Andres Iniesta. For me he was their best player in the tournament and so deserved his moment of glory. The Dutch will whinge long and hard about the manner of the goal - the move started with a possible foul on winger Elia, and even more plausibly, the award of a goal kick instead of a corner when Sneijder's free kick took a deflection off Cesc Fabregas. But at the end of the day, their strong arm tactics, especially in the first half should have lead to them playing with a maximum of nine players, maybe even eight or seven. And of course they had their own chances to have won the game, such as Robben's when Casillas made a save with the merest of touches with the toe end of his boot.

There are all manner of new records now after the Spanish win. I'd just mention two if I may - Spain are now the lowest scoring winners of the World Cup - just eight from their seven games; and they are also the first team to go on and win the tournament after losing their first game. We also have our first new winners of the World Cup since France in 1998. All in all, I think that the final was symptomatic of the way that football has gone in recent years (or maybe as it has always been?) in that the less gifted team was able to achieve a certain parity by the use of some strong arm tactics. We saw several dreadful tackles, notably Nigel De Jong's which doubled as an impromptu audition for the next Karate Kid movie and quite how Van Bommel managed to stay on the pitch is beyond me - as is so often the case, the only red card that was delivered was so after a soft second booking - no matter what can be said about "well he did raise his hands", contact was minimal between John Heitinga and the eventual Spanish hero Iniesta. But who cares? Football won out in the end...

Spain 1-0 Netherlands

Iniesta, 116

This article is just one in a series about World Cup 2010. I do hope that you are able to visit us at I Want Football, where I promise that you will not be disappointed. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_J_Lewis

Ipswich Town - 2010 Was A Time Of Turmoil

2010 was one of the least memorable period for the fans of the club. Roy Keane was appointed during the summer of 2009 and with the financial resources of owner Marcus Evans, expectations were huge among the supporters. Keane had been a high profile arrival at the club despite arriving with comparatively modest managerial experience. Nevertheless, his arrival created lots of interest and he was soon spending money on various multi-million pound footballers to improve the squad.

Following a terrible start to the season, the team began to win a few matches and by the beginning of 2010, supporters started to believe the squad were finally beginning to turn the corner. However, results took a turn for the worst again and expensive players weren't making the influence their price tags demanded.

Hungarian frontman Tamas Priskin had cost £1.7m yet was sent out on loan to Queens Park Rangers and another big money signing, Lee Martin scarcely played. Carlos Edwards demonstrated little of the talents Keane had seen while he played for him at Sunderland and the 2009 / 10 season faded away to nothing.

Summer time saw long established footballers Pablo Counago and Owen Garvan depart to join former manager George Burley at cash strapped Crystal Palace. Million pound failure Lee Martin ended up being sent out to League One Charlton although there were major hopes for young striker Connor Wickham.

The new season started off superbly with a 3-1 win away at Middlesborough. New Zealand defender Tommy Smith scored his very first goal for the Ipswich following experiencing a fantastic World Cup Tournament. Results carried on flowing and things were looking good until a midweek visit by leaders QPR saw Ipswich endure a 3-0 defeat. From there, things got worse with a string of very poor results including the worst run of defeats for many years.

Will 2011 be any better for Ipswich Town? Supporters would like to believe that it couldn't get any worse but with the team merely 3 points above the drop zone, they have a lot of tough games ahead to make sure Ipswich don't leave the Championship from the wrong end.

Rob Atherton http://www.robatherton.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Atherton

Football Results By Country

There are 53 countries in the Union of European Football Associations. The top tier of teams is comprised of recognizable powerhouses. England is ranked Number One, just ahead of Spain, despite the fact that the latter won last year's World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa. Germany ranks third, and Italy comes in fourth. The bottom rungs of the UEFA ladder are manned by countries that are either smaller or less economically stable than the classic powers of Europe: Malta, the Faroe Islands, Andorra, Luxembourg.

Fueled by Profits and Pride

The more prominent teams belong to nations whose culture and history is steeped in futbol. That, in and of itself, would never be enough to achieve the heights of any major sport - those countries have also forged lucrative partnerships with corporate sponsors, with the rights to television broadcasts becoming bigger than ever. The players are able to cash in on their celebrity in the form of endorsements.

Futbol has it All

Colorful players, Napoleonic coaches, bombastic managers and fans like no other sport has ever seen puts football in Europe (and everywhere else in the world) on par with American sports. European football passion, some will tell you, surpasses the fickle nature of sports fans in the U.S. When it comes to European football, there is no bandwagon off which to jump. For the fans, the coaches, the players and UEFA, it's a matter of being "all in".

National pride will continue to push UEFA teams to excel. Soon enough, the top ranks will be infiltrated by teams that have the resources and the desire to overtake the traditional powers - Russia, the Netherlands, Greece, and Scotland. However the rankings fall out, the game will continue as it has for over a century, as exciting today as ever.

Mark is an avid sports fan and online writer. He loves European football and recommends football games for live streaming online. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_S._Reid

What Is the Cost of Soccer Goals?

Whether you run a school athletic department, or maybe you want to run a soccer field in your yard, you're going to find that you may want to get professional soccer goals, or maybe even soccer balls. If you're looking to purchase some soccer goals, you're probably wondering what it's going to cost you.

To help you determine what you're going to pay, here are some factors that you're going to have to look into that are listed below. You're going to find that each goal is going to vary.

The size of the goal

The smaller the goal, the less you're going to pay. For example, if you want a smaller net, it's not going to be a legitimate official goal, but it will only cost you around $100 or so. While these are great for practicing and more, it isn't something you want to buy for an official field. You will find that your professional goals that you see on pro fields can cost you upwards of $3,000.

The brand of the goal

There are many brands that you can choose from, when you either shop online, or a local shop. Your big name brands such as Evolucion is going to cost you the most, but if you go with a smaller, no name brand, you may find that you're going to be able to save 50% off. You will find that sometimes you may save money, but you're going to get what you pay for in the long run.

The quality and what it's made of

The better the quality, the more you're going to have to pay. For a steel framed goal, you're going to have to pay a lot more than one that is made of your PVC pipe. While some people want to save money right off the bat, you will find that the steel based one is going to last a lot more longer than the one made of PVC.

While other things such as extra nets and more are going to cost you extra, these things are optional, but what you're going to find out is that these factors listed above are going to hopefully give you a good estimate. I would ballpark that you're going to pay anywhere from $100 to as much as $3,000+ for a goal. If you want to play for fun, go cheap, but if you're going to run a professional league, go with the higher end one.

Want to know the true cost of soccer goals? See what you should be paying, as well as what other people paid. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hannah_Munson