We talked to Simon Hill, Paramount ANZ Football Commentator, about the Emirates FA Cup and the year ahead.
Who do you support in the Emirates FA Cup?
Being from Manchester, I support Manchester City in all competitions – this is just one of them – so that is, and has always been, my team. My memory is a bit foggy, but I think I watched my first-ever FA Cup Final in 1975 – West Ham versus Fulham on TV, not at the ground. The build-up to FA Cup Final day was always very special – BBC and ITV devoted whole days of programming to it.
What do you enjoy about watching FA Cup?
It was the first, and is certainly the most famous tournament, that brought together all teams from the different levels of the game. While the Premier League teams are aiming to win the Cup, glory for the lower clubs means a shot at the big guns. This year’s tournament actually started on 5 August 2022 with the Extra Preliminary Round. There were 640 amateur and semi-pro clubs that played off to try to get all the way to the First Round Proper, where the lower full-time professional clubs come in. The big clubs or top two divisions, enter at the Third Round stage. This is the goal for all the smaller clubs, to get a draw against one of the true heavyweights. In this year’s Third Round, the biggest disparity in league position was Chesterfield against West Bromwich Albion – Chesterfield are third in the National League (fifth tier), while West Bromwich are ninth in the championship (second tier) – a gap of 66 places.
My favourite memory was going to watch my team in the FA Cup Final in 1981. I was only 13 at the time and my dad got us tickets for the game against Tottenham Hotspur. I had only seen Wembley on TV, so it was a big thrill to travel down to London from Manchester for such a big game. Unfortunately, the game was drawn (we were seven minutes away from winning the Cup, when Tommy Hutchison scored an own goal, after opening the scoring at the other end!), and in those days, they played a replay, instead of deciding the trophy on penalties. That was scheduled for Wembley on the following Thursday – unfair really, given Spurs were a London club, and we were from 250 miles away! Friday was a school day, so my dad wouldn’t let me go down to London again for the replay – we lost anyway. I had to wait another 30 years until 2011 to see City finally win the Cup at Wembley (against Stoke City), by which time I was 44 – and my dad was with me again. I also commentated the 1996 FA Cup Final for the BBC World Service (Liverpool versus Manchester United) – a boyhood dream for a football fan and aspiring commentator.
What can viewers expect in Emirates FA Cup in 2023? Do you think there will be surprises and upsets?
There’s certainly potential for some shocks – especially as nowadays, Premier League clubs tend to prioritise staying in the league, rather than winning the Cup, at least in the early stages. This was clear in the Third Round, when League Two Stevenage knocked out Aston Villa, beating them 2-1 on their own ground.
Has the A-League had any impact on the FA Cup?
The A-League is the breeding ground for talent – of course it’s not the English Premier League in terms of standard, but that’s not to say we can’t provide players who make a splash in competitions like this. The classic example is Mile Jedinak, who in 2016, led Crystal Palace out at Wembley as captain to play Manchester United in the final. Mile started his pro-career with the Central Coast Mariners, before going on to have a long and successful career overseas, culminating in that final. Palace fans still revere him.
Can you name some Aussie talent that have crossed over to the Emirates FA Cup that we can cheer on?
Alex Robertson (son of ex-Socceroo, Mark) is close to making the breakthrough at Manchester City, who are involved in the glamour tie of the Fourth Round against Premier League leaders, Arsenal. Dean Bouzanis (ex Western Sydney Wanderers) plays in goal for Reading – they have a huge tie away to Manchester United. Kenny Dougall (ex Brisbane Roar junior) plays for Blackpool, who will travel to Premier League side Southampton. Massimo Luongo is with Ipswich – they will host Burnley, while if Tom Rogic (ex Central Coast Mariners) can get through a Third Round Replay against Chesterfield with West Bromwich Albion, they will be on the road to Bristol City or Swansea City. So there are plenty of Aussies we can see competing in the FA Cup matches.
The Emirates FA Cup Trophy is embarking on its first-ever Asia-Pacific Trophy Tour from 21 to 29 January 2023, so you can see this iconic sporting silverware for yourself.
Read more about the Emirates FA Cup trophy visit to Australia and how you can hold history.
And you can watch all the A-Leagues and Emirates FA Cup action, Live On 10 Bold, 10 Play And Paramount+.
