Good omens from a previous cup run

A merry new year to one and all. So here I am making a start on one of my many resolutions.

What with all the jumper-wearing and indeed beard-growing of late, I had a slight Jim Brown moment, inspired by my fellow bloggers' tales of 1910 and 1963 and all that.

Having safely negotiated the opening two rounds of the 1962-63 F.A. Cup, the big freeze of that particular winter gave Cov and Lincoln a record when they finally played their 3rd round match at the 16th time of asking.

Then followed a 2-1 victory at Fratton Park in a 2nd replay against Pompey, the much-missed velvet bag providing a reward of...Sunderland at home (who had, as last weekend, disposed of non-league opposition in the previous stage).

Well, that's an only slightly tenuous 4 anyway, I think.

I look forward to ITV4 channeling a memorable night at the Ricoh into my living room, fortunately it shouldn't be box office enough for the odious Clive Tyldesley to be rolled out to see if two very average sides can produce some cup memories akin to that glorious night in Barcelona. Besides which, he's probably still locked in a padded room due to the fact that one omen from 47 years ago that shan't be repeated is a tie in the later stages against the boys from Old Trafford.