The Road to Wembley - Cadbury Athletic FC

All of you plastic Chelski, ManU, Arsenal and Liverpool fans probably think that the FA Cup begins at the semi-final stage in May, well you and your tv remote controls would be wrong, because the world's most famous cup competition, 2nd only to the MLS' Lamar Cup, actually begins this weekend with the Extra Preliminary Round.

372 teams from all over the country take part in the first round on Saturday and as is customary, we have selected one to put the quite considerable full weight of N&R FL behind it.

Come Saturday night over-weight postman, candlestick makers and underwriters will be heroes in towns and villages across England as they their teams progress to the Preliminary Round proper in a couple of weeks time. 13 victories later and they will walk out at the final at Wembley on May 17th, 2008. Easy.

This is the full draw.

There are some great names amongst them including West Allotment Celtic, Esh Winning, Bottesford Town, Daisy Hill, Maine Road, Blackpool Mechanics, Coventry Sphinx, Walsham Le Willows and Bemerton Heath Harlequins but we have plumped for someone close to everyones heart.

Cadbury Athletic FC play in the Midland Football Combination Premier Division and are affiliated with the Cadbury's factory based in Bournville. Better than that Hershey's toilet anyday of the week!

The club use Cadbury's logo as its badge and even play in the Cadbury's corporate colours of purple and white. Cool eh? The players do not however wear little white masks.

They have their own website - click here, and check out star player Leon Mooney's photograph!

It is Cadbury Athletic's first ever appearance in the FA Cup and they will be our first boys on the road to Wembley and play Alvechurch at home on Saturday at 3pm.