Rebels fired up for Cup

17/ 9/2008

FC UNITED can move to within two matches of a possible FA Cup showdown with a League club tonight - if they can see off Nantwich Town.

The Rebels face the fellow UniBond League premier division outfit in a first round qualifying tie replay at Gigg Lane after an exciting goalless draw in Cheshire on Saturday.

The prize for the winners is a home clash with FC Halifax Town, from a division lower.

Chris Baguley is set to start in place of his injured brother Jamie. Striker Nick Robinson has left the Rebels for Conference North club Vauxhall Motors.

Meanwhile, FC have set up a meeting with culture secretary Andy Burnham following his comments last week about football being at "a crossroads", in danger of losing its identity and being out of touch with its roots.

The comments struck a chord with the Rebels, part of whose reason for being is a feeling of alienation from the money obsession and excessive commercialism at Old Trafford.

Burnham, who is MP for Leigh, expressed his concerns to the FA, and an FC United spokesman said: "We support his call for a debate about the issue, led by the FA, and the views of supporters are absolutely central to it.

"We also welcome his reiteration of the view that supporter ownership is a viable, valid - and we'd say necessary - step to reconnecting clubs, their fans and their communities."