Today I'm going back to seven years to 2015 and the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round tie between Sporting Khalsa and FC United of Manchester (FCUM). Make no mistake, this was a big game involving two clubs that interested me greatly and the attendance of 2,252 that day was a good indication of the significance of the game for both sides. Sporting Khalsa of the Midland Football League Premier Division (the 9th level of English football) were massive underdogs to FCUM of the National League North (the 6th level) and the winners of the tie would receive £12,500 plus the opportunity to earn an even bigger sum in subsequent rounds.
FCUM are a club which was formed by disaffected fans of Manchester United who were sick and tired of their club being a plaything of businessmen who are more interested in cash flow than silverware. They were formed in 2005 and play their games at Broadhurst Park in the Moston area of Manchester. The club started life at the bottom of the English football pyramid in Division 2 of the North West Counties League and, after rapid progress via promotions, today find themselves in the Northern Premier League. FCUM are one of the largest fan-owned clubs in England (measured by the number of members). Since formation, the club has struggled at times with infighting by the members over points of principle. One example of this was the furore that was caused by a decision to increase the price of the programme for a pre-season Friendly against Benfica, with a number of members upset because they felt that this was an example of the outright commercialism that they had formed FCUM to escape! They certainly have a point but the infighting that resulted almost wrecked the club. Notables such as Sir Alex Ferguson have criticised the very existence of FCUM as being an example of "traitors to the cause" but I have no problem with fans who say "enough is enough" when it comes to the actions of the owners. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Eric Cantona is a supporter of the venture apparently.
Sporting Khalsa play their home games at Noose Lane in Willenhall, formerly the home of Willenhall Town and which they purchased in 2010. I visited the ground when it still belonged to Willenhall and I have to say that I approve of the improvements made since. Khalsa are a Sikh owned club and are one of many Khalsa clubs which operate in Britain across a multitude of sports. Today, Sporting Khalsa operate in the Northern Premier League Division 1 Midlands, just one level lower than FCUM. What is interesting to me is that there are no racial or religious restrictions on who can play for the club and, as far as I could see, the playing personnel of Khalsa had a similar make-up to other clubs in the West Midlands. If there was no Sikh bias on the pitch, the catering was something else and I have to say that I thoroughly approved of the samosas and other tasty spicy offerings available at the match. Just in case you were wondering, the club had also erected a beer tent to cater for those attending who wished to have a beer.
In the 27th minute of the featured game, Luke Ashworth grabbed the first for FCUM with a header from a corner. Then, not long before halftime, Greg Daniels gave FCUM a two-goal advantage with a cheeky lob over the keeper. Khalsa were giving FCUM a thorough examination of their credentials and it was no more than they deserved when they pulled a goal back in the 66th minute via Tes Robinson. As the match wore on, Khalsa pressed forward all the more and this inevitably left gaps at the back. It was from one such gap that United scored their third and final goal to win the tie thanks to substitute Craig Lindfield.
There had been some evidence of thuggish loutish behaviour in the ground during the game but, sadly, after the conclusion of the match there was a lot of trouble outside the ground. Apparently, local Wolves and Walsall yobs had come to the stadium for a fight with the United fans and several of them got what they wanted with scary scenes reminiscent of the 1970's. Luckily I got away without too many problems but it could have been very different.
Khalsa's achievement in reaching the 4th Qualifying round of the FA Cup hasn't been bettered but their "March to the Arch" ended here. FCUM had made it to the FA Cup 1st Round proper for only the second time in their short history where they would lose 4-1 to League 1 side Chesterfield at Broadhurst Park. The FA Cup Final that season was won by that other United of Manchester: Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time.
CRB Match No. 2058
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