John_Pakey
Contributor

Offline, last online: Jul 22 2008, 23:12 PM

My mum is not the greatest follower of football.

She has to suffer my dad's groans and gripes about England, but that's about as much as she really knows or understands.

So, it was a shock when phoning home to Essex on Saturday that my mum started complaining how the BBC were not showing the Havant clash against Liverpool.

For myself and everyone at Echo Towers' sports desk the BBC's selection of FA Cup matches has been nothing short of pathetic this season. We've been complaining since the third round at the lack of coverage the non-league sides have got. It's frustrated all of us who deal with sport, but it's finally got down to the common demoninator - no disrespect - my mum.

"We all love an underdog," said mother Pakey on the other end of the phone. And she's right. It's in the national instinct to want to get behind the little guy and you couldn't get anyone smaller than Havant and their clash against Liverpool.

Yet, like the previous round, they seemed to have been completely ignored by the BBC. What's a public service for?

Instead we have been treated to games that are simply there to draw the big numbers in, with teams like Manchester United. I'm not adverse to watching United play, but I can see them on TV any weekend pretty much thanks to Sky TV. Havant - and in the previous round Chasetown - are never going to get the chance again to be the feature game.

It's a big disgrace. Come on BBC, we don't care about Premier League sides. I know the numbers might say so, but the national interest in the little guy will be far greater than the supporter numbers of one of the so called big four.

As for the Premiership itself, it can go hang for all I care.

I got tired of it a long time ago, and actually find watching Fourth Division football more enjoyable. It may not be great quality, but it doesn't pretend to be. It's the same in non-league and I would sooner go watch Trinity or Boston play over Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea. It's simply more fun.

The Premier League is not the great quality it says it is - really, please, don't believe the hype. I've become a bit of a convert to Spanish football as a result and after a recent break to the Basque region I've found myself following the fortunes, or lack of, of Athletic Bilbao.

They drew 1-1 today with Barcelona at San Mames, equalising with 10 minutes to go after going behind just before half-time. A good result considering, and one that will hopefully keep them out of the bottom three.

It was a belting clash. It was end-to-end with a pace to rival, if not better, the so called 'excitment' of the Premier League.

There is much better football out there. I'm glad Sky realises this, I just wish the BBC would.


 

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