Spirit of the FA Cup lives on

As an erstwhile supporter of Woking (I still live in Woking and watch out for the results, but don't go any more), I was delighted to see them rekindling memories of previous FA Cup glories with a 0-0 draw earned at runaway League One leaders Brighton on Saturday. It should be noted that many non-league clubs have already had to battle through four preliminary rounds before reach the first round proper, so this was Woking's fifth tie. The reply at Kingfield on Tuesday week should be a rousing affair.

And I salute the other non-league victories and draws from the first round:

• FC United of Manchester of the Evo-Stick Premier'slower reaches won 3-2 at League One Rochdale, and will play Brighton or Woking in the second round.
• Cambridge United earned a creditable 0-0 draw at home to League One Huddersfield Town.
• Blue Square Bet South (same as Woking) Dartford drew 1-1 with League Two Port Vale.
• Fleetwood Town (BSB Premier) drew 1-1 with Walsall.
• Dover of the BSB South won 2-0 in a local derby (where no love was lost) at Gillingham.
• Vauxhall of the BSB North drew 0-0 away at Hartlepool United.
• Tamworth of the BSB Premier kocked out Crewe of League Two 2-1.

These were magnificent achievements, and show that the spirit of the FA Cup - at least in the early rounds - is still alive.

Friends in places

My local club Woking Football Club rose to fame in 1991 when they "giant killed" West Brom in the FA Cup second round, 4-2. At the time West Brom were languishing down near the bottom of Division 2 (equivalent to today's Championship) and Woking were in the Ryman League Division 1 (equivalent to today's Ryman League Premier Division). It was a friend of mine - Tim Buzaglo (who used to play for Weysiders) - who scored a hat-trick on the day to give them victory.

Woking climbed through the leagues to the Conference (finishing runners-up in 1995 and 1996 in the days before two went up to the Football League) and lifted the FA Trophy on three occasions in the '90s (incidentally, without Buzaglo, who had moved on).

Sadly, last season Woking were relegated out of the Blue Square Premier to the Blue Square South, where they currently sit in second place behind Dover Athletic.

Now another friend of mine - Shahid Azeem - is Chairman of Woking Football Club, and I wish him every success in his new role. Given their current position, things seem to have started well with new manager Graham Baker in charge.

Yet another friend of mine, John Moore, is one of the press officers down at Kingfield, so I wish him well too!

I've not been to watch Woking for a season or two, but with a couple of pals down there, I must get along!

Introduction

I'm here to let off steam about football from time to time. Here's a bit of background about me.

Nationality: English
Supports: England
Supports: Leeds United
Lives: Woking
Follows: Woking F.C.
Born: Guildford
Assists with: Guildford City Weysiders F.C. (www.guildfordcityweysiders.org.uk)
Facebook: Garry Pierrepont
Twitter: Weysider
Book written: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Could-Only-Happen-This-Level/dp/1904181082/ref=sr_1_1/276-6819538-1308515?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252308490&sr=8-1