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      Newcastle fans forced to line up in ‘absolutely insane’ queues at 8am for bus to midday FA Cup clash with Sunderland

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      NEWCASTLE fans have been forced to queue up for buses at St James’ Park a whopping FOUR HOURS before their North East Derby with Sunderland.The bitter rivals will meet this afternoon for the first time in EIGHT YEARS in a tasty FA Cup third-round tie at the Stadium of Light.

      Sunderland and Newcastle collide this afternoon for the first time in EIGHT yearsCredit: REUTERS
      Their eagerly-anticipated showdown is one of five early kick-offs today, with their clash getting underway at 12:45pm.
      But the travelling Toon Army have already been up since the early hours of the morning.
      As they’ve done for several derbies down the years, police have made away fans turn up to St James’ to take buses to the Stadium of Light.
      The supporters will then slowly be ferried over to the ground in time for kick-off.
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      The measure was introduced to prevent trouble between rival fans.
      Footage of Newcastle supporters queuing up at St James’ Park early this morning went viral on several social media platforms.
      One Magpies fan shared a video of a line stretching all the way from the Jackie Milburn reception to beyond the statue of club icon Alan Shearer outside the ground.
      Their accompanying caption read: “08:21 in Newcastle, this is actually insane.”
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      There is already a heavy police presence outside the Stadium of LightCredit: PA
      Several footie fans were left shocked by the scenes, with one commenting: “Living in a police state now.
      “Is this how “customers” are treated now? Disgrace.”
      Another said: “The police get away with absolute whatever they want when it comes to football.
      “Show me any other industry in the country where paying customers are treated like criminals.”
      And another sad: “Incredible.”
      One remarked: “Absolutely INSANE, that.”
      Another chimed in: “This is totally unpractical and a waste of everyone’s time!
      “Fans should be able to travel as they like.”
      One Newcastle fan said: “People don’t realize how mental this derby is.
      “Got to get a bus provided by the club 4 hours before KO for a 14-mile trip or you’re not going
      “Changed local rules on alcohol/public transport. Biggest derby in the country.”
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      The last North East Derby ended in a 1-1 draw, with goals from Aleksandr Mitrovic and Jermaine Defoe ensuring the spoils were shared.
      Sunderland were the last winners of the derby in October 2015, beating their bitter rivals 3-0.
      Sunderland were the last winners of the Northeast Derby in October 2015Credit: DAVE PINEGAR More

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      I have an office job but after work I compete in the FA Cup… it’s a far cry from Premier League glitz & glam

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      THE FA Cup holds a special place in the heart of all non-league footballers.It’s the first game you look out for when the fixture list is released ahead of the new season, with the potential to make history and play against your heroes.
      Don’t be fooled, the magic of the FA Cup is alive and kicking – literallyCredit: Kevin Dunnett
      Life in the office and on the football pitch is vastly differentCredit: Kevin Dunnett
      Barking orders on the pitch is a norm on a Saturday afternoon
      I’ve had the honour of captaining my team in the FA Cup
      Premier League and Championship clubs begin their tournament at the Third Round stage in January.
      That is when the competition becomes relevant for the majority of football fans.
      But the FA Cup actually begins months earlier – eight rounds earlier, to be precise – at the beginning of August.
      More than 700 clubs compete to win the iconic trophy, but realistically only a handful have a genuine chance of a day out at Wembley.
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      So it’s not bumper crowds and the glamour of the national stadium that makes the FA Cup special.
      Rather the dream starts on Saturday afternoon on a shockingly bad pitch and a handful of spectators – no fancy coach, no sprinkler system and no egos – just hope of what could be.
      Away from the glitz of the Premier League, there are thousands of non-league players with office jobs like me who train just a couple of evenings a week.
      I work by day as a journalist – writing stories about the UK’s latest news, attending murder scenes and covering trials in our crown courts.
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      By night and weekend, though, my attention turns to playing for Alton FC in the ninth tier of the English football pyramid.
      There are no hydrotherapy pools, saunas and steam rooms to help you recover on a Tuesday night.
      Instead, it’s a less friendly walk back through the door of my home – often in the early hours – and minimal sleep before the morning commute begins.
      I’ll get in around midnight after most midweek games, before the stark realisation of having to set a pre-6am alarm hits me.
      It’s this harsh reality that irks non-league footballers whenever a Premier League manager complains about fixture congestion.
      And then there’s the FA Cup, with the extra preliminary round beginning in early August. If successful, the preliminary round follows.
      And yes, you have to win two preliminary games just to get into the First Qualifying Round.
      You’re playing at that early stage of the tournament knowing there is next to zero chance you will come up against a professional side, let alone win it.
      Yet it remains the highlight of the year, for you could be part of that one club which goes on an historic run and enjoys a day out playing in front of thousands – just as you dreamt of doing as a child.
      But you have to earn the right to get there, which normally involves playing in front of 200 people – most of whom are club officials, parents or people who would rather be elsewhere.
      Look at this season for example, with Cray Valley (PM) FC earning a 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic in front of thousands of fans before losing out in a replay shown live on BT Sport.
      AFC Stoneham, who play at the same level as me, earned a lucrative away tie with at former Championship side Yeovil Town in the Third Qualifying Round.
      Stretching back beyond this season, eighth tier Chasetown hosted Cardiff City in 2008 and Farnborough went up against the giants of Arsenal in 2003.
      I play in the Combined Counties Premier Division South – the ninth tier of the English Football League pyramid.
      You arrive at 1.15pm for a 3pm kick-off, listen to music on an average speaker and catch-up with the plumbers, builders, teachers and salesmen that make up your team – many of whom have come straight from work.
      You’re cramped in a tight changing room, fighting over the last few sweets and drinks, debating who can get some treatment from the one physio before the other and jostling for space as you put your socks on.
      The manager comes in at 1.45pm to give you the pre-match brief, before heading out for a warm-up and come to the deflating realisation you have to spend 90 minutes on a bobbly pitch where the ball is as likely to come off your shin as it is your foot.
      But the location of any FA Cup fixture has no bearing on the excitement of the occasion – and a victory is celebrated like no other.
      My favourite footballing memory is blasting out 5, 6, 7, 8 by Steps after winning an FA Cup extra preliminary round replay in front of 600 people on a Tuesday night.
      With a win on a Saturday, the buzz continues into Sunday, then as you begin to come down on a Monday, it all reignites as you tune in to see who you’ve been drawn against in the next round.
      Players and fans at the likes of Chesterfield, at the top of the National League, will dream of a tie away at to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
      Meanwhile, there’s us us dreaming of a tie away at Chesterfield.
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      Don’t let Premier League managers, players or pundits have you believe the magic of the FA Cup has dwindled.
      The spark is alive and kicking, literally, for the hundreds of us who have not quite made it.
      Life at the desk and life on the pitch are vastly differentCredit: Kevin Dunnett
      Non-league players often go to their games straight from workCredit: Kevin Dunnett
      We beat National League Aldershot Town earlier this season More

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      I’m an Arsenal legend who scored winner in FA Cup final with a broken nose… now I run a plumbing company

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      ANDY LINIGHAN is the retired FA Cup final goalscorer who is now unblocking toilets for a living.Linighan scored a historic winner for Arsenal in their 1992-93 Cup final replay with Sheffield Wednesday.
      Andy Linighan won the 1992-93 FA Cup final with ArsenalCredit: REX
      Linighan scored a 119th-minute winner against Sheffield Wednesday with a broken noseCredit: REX
      Linighan now spends his days unclogging pipes and toiletsCredit: REX
      His 119th-minute header saw the Gunners run out 2-1 winners and become the first English club to win the Cup Double.
      Linighan’s commitment to getting his head on the ball was made even more remarkable by the fact he was nursing a broken nose from a controversial Mark Bright elbow.
      And after his playing days came to an end in 2002, he committed himself to ensuring people’s pipes and toilets were unblocked.
      Shortly after hanging up his boots, Linighan set up Linighan Plumbing Service – which is based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
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      It’s not surprising that Linighan decided to become a plumber after retiring as he learned the trade as a teenage apprentice.
      A Twitter account allegedly belonging to the 61-year-old describes himself as: “[A] retired football player who has now got a profound love for plumbing.
      “Currently run Linighan Plumbing Services. Average footballer, Excellent Plumber.”
      Rumours circulated that Linighan used the “Average footballer, Excellent Plumber” motto on the side of his van.
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      Andy Linighan celebrates scoring the winning goal with Tony AdamsCredit: REX
      But he dispelled them by saying: “I bumped into Ray Parlour at the last game at Highbury.
      “I think I made a joke or something about this van and sign and the next thing talkSPORT are calling to ask if it’s true.
      “Ray Parlour. Cheeky chappie. I don’t even have a van.”
      Linighan has fond memories of his FA Cup final heroics for George Graham’s side.
      Recalling the moment – in which he had to once again battle in the air with Bright – Linighan told The Daily Mail: “John Jensen took a shot and it went for a corner, a minute left.
      “John says to me, ‘Big man, it was going for the top corner’. This is John Jensen who scored one goal for Arsenal.
      “Paul Merson takes the corner, plenty of pace on it. We did this corner at Norwich before I joined where I’d stand on the edge of the D with Ian Butterworth.
      “He’d spin round and I’d attack the middle. I headed it flush and that was that.”
      Linighan and his Arsenal team-mates, unsurprisingly, celebrated their Cup triumph by partying into the early hours of the morning.
      He revealed: “That night we went to Sopwell for a big party. I left with some friends at 2am and we got pulled over.
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      “The bobby put his head in the car, saw me sleeping in the back and said, “He scored the winning goal tonight.
      “‘On you go son.’ That was a good night.”
      Andy Linighan and his Arsenal team-mates partied until the small hours of the morningCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD More

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      Premier League club’s entire squad have not won a single FA Cup game between them leaving their manager stunned

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      UNAI EMERY held a roll call of his Aston Villa players and told  them:  ‘Show me your medals!’And he was stunned to discover NONE of his current squad have won an FA Cup tie for the Villans.
      Midfield superstar John McGinn has gone out in the FA Cup at the first hurdle every time since joining Aston Villa from Hibs in 2018Credit: Rex

      Scotland star John McGinn sheepishly confessed he had been knocked out at the third-round stage every season since arriving  in August 2018.
      In fact you have to go back seven seasons to January 2016 to find Villa’s last win in the competition when they beat fourth-tier Wycombe 2-0 — in  a replay!
      Last season when even cup specialist boss Emery could not prevent them crashing out 2-1 to League Two Stevenage, who floored them with two goals in the final two minutes!
      Emery admits that is unacceptable for a club who have won the trophy seven times — but not since 1957.
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      He said: “I was watching something about how many times Villa won the FA Cup and it hasn’t happened for a long time.
      “The last time we played in the final was against Arsenal in 2015, nearly ten years ago.
      “We have to be more demanding because winning this trophy brings a lot of prestige for the players, the club, every supporter and coach.
      “I wanted to paint a mental picture for the players about winning the FA Cup  and that if we were successful  we would also then qualify for the Europa League.”
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      Boss Unai Emery says Villa’s recent record in the FA Cup is unacceptableCredit: Rex
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      So four-time Europa League winner Emery — who also won seven domestic trophies with Paris Saint-Germain — got his squad together and went round each one, in what amounted to a game of: ‘What have you won?’
      He said: “I wanted to know how many had been successful in cup competitions before — maybe not the FA Cup — and maybe in other countries.
      “For example, I was successful in winning cups in France with PSG and Moussa Diaby was also successful and won a trophy in France, too.
      “I told them about my experience in Spain where I reached some semi-finals but only one final with Sevilla against Barcelona — and we lost.
      “It is very important to try to share those experiences with the players and make them aware of the prestige that winning the FA Cup brings.”
      It is fair to say Villa will need to raise their cup game considerably to win the famous competition this term.
      Emery joked: “I asked John McGinn about his record because he was here for most of the failures!
      “He said he’s  never won an FA Cup tie here before but he wants to break that record! And it has helped us understand our motivation before we left for Middlesbrough.
      “We have to respect them because they are a good team who are going to play in the semi-final of the  Carabao Cup against Chelsea.
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      “But we’re  in one of the top spots in the Premier League and for them it will be a special match.”
      One stat Emery will be interested in is that the last time Villa played Boro in the FA Cup was the last  season they won  it — 67 years ago.
      Matty Cash and Douglas Luiz, seen sandwiching Sheffield United’s Andre Brooks, are looking to notch a first FA Cup victory as Villa playersCredit: Getty More

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      I was one of THREE Man City players to bag hat-tricks in 10-1 win – no team has hit double figures in league game since

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      MANCHESTER CITY were the last side to score ten goals in a league game — in 1987, against Sunday’s FA Cup visitors Huddersfield.Ex-City striker Paul Stewart, who won three England caps, looks back and speaks of his pride at being part of a team to hit double figures, netting one of three hat-tricks on the day…
      Tony Adcock, Paul Stewart and David White after their hat-tricks for Manchester City in the 10-1 win over HuddersfieldCredit: Bob Thomas Sports Photography – Getty
      IT’S very rare in any team sport that everyone in your side fires  in the same game.
      In 20 years as a professional footballer, I was lucky enough to have enjoyed that high in this match.
      Huddersfield — and their recently appointed manager Malcolm Macdonald — were just unlucky to meet our Manchester City side on a day when we were ruthless from the first minute.
      It shows just how well the team played that, in a match in which THREE of us scored hat-tricks, none of us ended up as a man of the match — that was Paul Simpson!
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      This was also 37 years ago, when you only ever played with one match ball during the 90 minutes.
      The idea of match balls scattered on the sidelines like today was unheard of.
      I remember if a ball went over the stands they would wait to get the ball back to resume the game!
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      So this double-figure score and three hat-tricks meant the club had to almost reluctantly part with three balls to myself, David White and Tony Adcock at the end.
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      I’m still very proud that I played — and hit a treble — in the last English league match to see one team rack up TEN goals.
      When a team starts rattling in the goals, I’m often watching or listening and hoping they don’t hit the magical double figures.
      It is still a wonderful talking point for all the players from this game that we were the last ones to do it.
      Despite City being third in the Premier League, I believe they are still the favourites for  the title, although it should be some second half of the season in a race that  also includes another of my old clubs, Liverpool.
      It’s easy to forget City have been without Kevin De Bruyne since the first game of the season in August.
       And goal machine Erling Haaland has missed their last seven matches overall.
      Having De Bruyne in the second half of the season will almost feel like they have signed a £100million player in the January window!
      When a team starts rattling in the goals, I’m often watching or listening and hoping they don’t hit the magical double figuresPaul Stewart
      The thought of those two returning with KDB providing killer passes for Haaland is a frightening thought for the rest of the top flight.
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      But it would be unfair of me not to single out Phil Foden who — in that pair’s absence — has gone up another notch in terms of his all-round game. I didn’t think he could possibly improve on  the last few seasons but he has been absolutely immense and deserves the plaudits.
      I will forever be happy to see my old club City rattling in the goals in big wins —  but I’d prefer to see them stop at seven or eight to leave our golden stat intact! More

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      Mikel Arteta knows what FA Cup pressure feels like as Arsenal face Liverpool with the spotlight on him once again

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      MIKEL ARTETA is used to feeling the heat before an FA Cup game.It is four months shy of a decade since the Spaniard captained Arsenal to victory at Wembley – coming from 2-0 down to beat Hull City 3-2.
      Mikel Arteta captained Arsenal to the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger in 2014Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Arteta lifted the trophy as manager in 2020 to ease pressure during his reignCredit: Getty
      It was a victory that ended the club’s nine-year wait for a major trophy, easing the pressure and strain on legendary boss Arsene Wenger.
      Arteta smiled when recollecting: “The feeling in that dressing room, we wanted to do it for Arsene. I remember talking about it with a lot of the players.
      “They were a few difficult years and we wanted to deliver for him. It was a way of giving something back.”
      Six years later, Arteta emulated the great Frenchman by leading Arsenal to more FA Cup glory, this time as manager – at a time when his own position was being questioned.
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      Coming from behind again, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second half winner saw off Chelsea 2-1, albeit at an empty Wembley in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.
      Arteta recalled: “I was very nervous. You are so willing to make that next step and bring silverware to the club. We didn’t want to let anyone down. It was really reinforcing.”
      And so, here we are again. Another FA Cup clash and another testing period in Arteta’s North London reign, with questions being asked once more.
      Two successive Premier League defeats have seen Arsenal drop from a Christmas Day top spot to fourth – with current leaders Liverpool in town on Sunday looking to inflict more pain in the cup.
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      The chance to take a dent out of a title rival is on offer, as well as the incentive of not playing again in the league until January 20th – a potentially vital break for Arsenal before getting back down to business and regaining their place atop the Prem summit.
      But Arteta is refusing to be drawn into the narrative of sending Liverpool a message, insisting his only focus is on rebuilding momentum and raising spirits after losing to West Ham and Fulham.
      Arteta said: “I don’t know where that confidence is – we cannot measure it. It is not a fact. It is more perception.
      “All I have done is told the players how good they are, accept we haven’t hit the levels that we wanted and we move on. We need to believe again and be consistent.
      “There were periods in the game against Fulham where we didn’t hit the levels that we wanted to earn the right to win a football match.
      “We want to continue on that road that has taken us so far, much further than a lot of people expected or imagined and we need to continue to do that.”
      Arteta will be keen to avoid a replay later this month – scuppering his plans to take his players and their families to Dubai for some winter training in the sun.
      In that respect, he is expected to put out a near full-strength team with Oleksandr Zinchenko in contention to return after missing the New Year’s Day loss at Fulham.
      Arteta added: “We have to give opportunities to certain players, that’s for sure.
      “We have to decide whether Sunday is the right moment and environment to do that. That’s a question we will have to resolve in the next two days.”
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      Arsenal earned a draw on Merseyside in the Prem on December 23rd, and on whether the Emirates can ever be as hostile as Anfield, Arteta said: “It will be our own one. We are really happy with the atmosphere that we have created.
      “Can we tweak it and make it even more hostile? I think we can. That’s the next step. Sunday is going to be another big one.” More

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      Fans baffled as referee dishes out very rare punishment to Wolves star after horror tackle in FA Cup game with Brentford

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      BEMUSED fans fear it’s the shape of things to come – after a Wolves star was given a red CIRCLE for a shock ninth-minute dismissal.And even referee Tony Harrington’s decision to send off Joao Gomes for a challenge on Brentford skipper Christian Norgaard in Friday’s 1-1 FA Cup stalemate was roundly condemned.
      Joao Gomes got a straight red card early on in the tight drawCredit: Getty

      The debate over Gomes’ punishment was given a whole new sphere by what the ref produced from his pocket.
      Many fans were expecting a yellow card after the Brazilian caught midfield counterpart Norgard from behind.
      But Harrington judged it worthy of a straight dismissal as it was a reckless lunge from behind – with VAR backing his verdict.
      Out came a rarely-seen small circular red card, rather than the standard rectangular one – sparking derision and incredulity in equal measure from viewers.
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      One joked: “More upset about the red circle than the decision.”
      Another posted: “A red circle instead of a red card. The beautiful game is dying.”
      And a third fan cleverly blended the two big issues as he wrote: “Should have been a yellow circle, not a red circle.”
      The sending-off itself was blasted as “incredibly soft” and “another ridiculous decision”.
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      Unsurprisingly, Brentford went on to dominate possession, with Neal Maupay pouncing on a loose ball for a 41st minute opener.
      But midway through the second period Tommy Doyle thumped his glorious first-ever goal for Wolves from 25 yards.
      So after starting off unexpectedly round it ended up all square – meaning a replay to come. More

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      I played against Man Utd in cup but it ended with shirt-swap snub – although I had a great chat with Wayne Rooney

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      HARRY BEAUTYMAN is hoping for some Cup luck with Sutton after a shirt snub the last time he tried to be a giant-killer.The midfielder, then at Northampton, faced Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in a League Cup clash in 2016.
      Harry Beautyman is hoping his Sutton side can continue their cup dreamCredit: Getty
      Not only did Beautyman end up on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline, he then failed in his bid to get a souvenir jersey from Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford AND Michael Carrick.
      Beautyman recalled: “Mourinho was manager that day. No matter who he plays against he plays a strong team. Some managers rest the big guns but Rooney played, Rashford came on, Carrick, Ashley Young and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
      “I remember going up to Rooney and asking him for his shirt and he said ‘I’m so sorry, I’ve given it to one of your other lads’.
      “Then I’ve gone up to Rashford and he said exactly the same and so did Carrick.
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      “As soon as those three were done I thought I’m not asking for any more!
      “But at the end there was a brilliant picture of me and Rooney chatting on the pitch and that will stay with me for ever. He was such a sound guy.”
      Today’s game at Championship outfit Plymouth is only Sutton’s sixth appearance in the third round in 126 years.
      But the League Two side, based on the borders of South London and Surrey, will always be remembered for one of THE great FA Cup giant-killings.
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      Beautyman was unable to get hold of Wayne Rooney’s shirt when he faced Manchester United as a Northampton player in 2016Credit: PA
      Back in 1989 the then-Conference outfit hosted a Coventry side that had won the Cup two years before and were fifth in the top flight.
      The Sky Blues fielded nine of the team that had beaten Spurs 3-2 at Wembley.  
      But Sutton triumphed 2-1 at Gander Green Lane in front of the Match of the Day cameras — making a star of their ­manager Barrie Williams, a pipe-smoking former English teacher who quoted Shakespeare to his players.
      Then in 2017 they humbled Leeds on their way to the fifth round, before losing 2-0 to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.
      Now Sutton must face a free-scoring Plymouth outfit who have bagged 19 goals in their last seven home games.
      But lifelong West Ham fan Beautyman, 31, is dreaming of meeting the Hammers in the next round.
      The East Ham-born star added: “For me, if we draw West Ham away it would be massive.
      “All my dad wants is to watch me play at West Ham against them, so if we got that draw it would be amazing.”
      For Sutton, this FA Cup run is a welcome break from the battle to climb away from the League Two relegation zone.
      They axed manager Matt Gray three weeks ago after an 8-0 battering at Stockport and Jason Goodliffe has continued in interim charge.
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      It was a bitter pill to swallow for the squad given Gray became manager in 2019 and led Sutton to the Football League for the first time in their history in 2021.
      Beautyman added: “We didn’t know he was going to be sacked until he told us the news himself. We were deflated but we have to pick ourselves up and go again.”
      Beautyman and his Sutton teammates take on Plymouth in the FA Cup third roundCredit: Rex More