Ascot’s Despair
Last Friday night, I was present among over 1500 people at The Racecourse Ground in Ascot to witness my local football club, Ascot united make their debut in the FA Cup.
Sadly they lost 2-1 to Wembley FC, but it was a memorable night for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, the fact that so many local people turned out to support our community football club. Secondly, that the famous old trophy was on display for the spectators to view and mesmerise young children with its’ glamour, and thirdly, that so many people around the UK (and the world due to Facebook’s online screening of the match) now realise what a brilliant club has been developed in the shadow of the Grandstand at Ascot Racecourse.
Ascot United Chairman Mike Harrison is a true champion. He has galvanised a body of people and inspired others to commit whatever resources they have spare to help build a role model of a sporting club within a community. The battle to develop facilities and raise the near £1 Million to make it a reality knew no limits for Mike and his closest associates such as Doug Page and Alan Carr, to name merely a few good men. Friday night was a celebration of the journey so many had been part of for may manyt years.
A superb junior and youth programme over the past decade and more, has underpinned a senior team from a body of local youngsters. For them to play in the FA Cup is a dream come true.
The match itself was a thriller. Despite Wembley enjoying the the better of the first half encounter, it remained nil-nil at half time. Then the crowd was entertained by a penalty shoot-out v FA Cup legend Dave Beasant, still the only goalkeeper to life the FA Cup as Captain and save a penalty in the Final.
The second-half saw Wembley take the lead with twenty minutes to go, only for Ascot to equalise from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining. The locals were ‘on fire’ and for a moment, it seemed that a possible second goal could have seen Ascot progress to the next round. Alas, Wembley had other ideas and created despair in Ascot’s hearts with a winner in the dying moments of the game.
What a night, and what a wonderful story Ascot United is.
