FA Cup trophy comes to Biggleswade

Amid tight security, the trophy – actually the fourth in the history of the oldest football competition in the world – will be at Second Meadow.

Anyone who has harboured dreams of having their photograph taken raising aloft the oldest and, arguably, most famous trophy in football can do so from 6.30pm to 10pm tonight.

Director of football Guillem Balague (pictured) told the Chronicle that he had put back a planned trip to Munich for the Audi Cup especially to attend the event.

“I’m so proud and so pleased, that I’m almost lost for words,” he said.

“This is absolutely wonderful news for all of us at the club. It’s the oldest cup in the footballing world and for us to be one of the first teams lucky enough to be granted a visit by the cup at the very start of this season’s competition is a real honour.”

“The magic of the FA Cup, and its histories and traditions are things that even in Spain where I come from, everyone knows about and it is a really magical tournament unlike any other domestic 
cup tournament in the 
world.”

“This is just the motivation we need in our battle to put the club on the map and a nice little reward for all those people who have put in, and are continuing to put in, so much effort.”

“For us, although we’re obviously not going to win it, the FA Cup is a real priority and a run in the competition would be a major boost for the club, both financially and from the point of view of building confidence and also raising interest in the community.”

The news comes as the club is on the verge of revealing two major sponsorship deals with major international companies.

One is due to be announced next week, the other just before United’s FA Cup clash against Desborough Town on August 15.