Sydney FC Community Officer and Rockdale City Suns midfielder Paul Reid has his sights set on a dream FFA Cup tie against Sydney FC when the competition’s round of 32 kicks off on July 29, 2014.
Sydney FC Community Officer and Rockdale City Suns midfielder Paul Reid has his sights set on a dream FFA Cup tie against Sydney FC when the competition-s round of 32 kicks off on July 29, 2014.
With preliminary matches (already being held) incorporating over 600 clubs across Australia and the 10 Hyundai A-League clubs joining the competition in the round of 32, Reid is predicting an exciting tournament.
“Obviously you want to win it, you want to be the inaugural winners in 2014,” said Reid.
“So hopefully Rockdale qualify first then get a dream draw and head all the way to the final. That would be pretty nice.”
Reid, a former Sydney FC player, is hopeful his current club Rockdale might draw the team he played one season for during 2012/13 Hyundai A-League.
“That would be it [Rockdale City Suns vs Sydney FC] and I-m sure there would be quite a few of the youngsters at Rockdale that would enjoy that tie.
“If that happens in the round of 32 or in the final you never know,” he continued.
“It-s a really good draw and something that-s needed for Australian football.”
Taking solace in his appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion in England-s FA Cup, Reid believes there is plenty of potential for giant killings to occur.
“I-ve played against some good opposition over in England in the FA Cup such as Tottenham but we-ve also played for Brighton against some lower league opposition and we-ve lost,” Reid said.
“So what I-ve said to youngsters is that anyone can beat anyone on their day. If an A-League team has to travel to a local amateur football club on a Tuesday night it would be quite a big leveller.
“The A-League team would obviously be expected to win but there are definitely going to be upsets in the FFA Cup and that-s part of the competition and part of what the supporters like to see.”
Former Sydney FC midfielder Brett Emerton echoed Reid-s thoughts and believes there will be a certain romance around the cup matches in much the same manner as there is with England-s cup competitions.
“There-s going to be a lot of giant killings I think,” Emerton said.
“It happens everywhere in the world and I-m really looking forward to it all kicking off soon.”
“I think it-s exciting times for football in this country. It-s great to finally have our own cup competition,” he continued.
“Knowing football fans in this country they-ve grown up watching the FA Cup in England on TV and we all know the romance behind that and I think it will be much the same in our country.”
The FFA Cup round of 32 kicks off on July 29, 2014 with the first A-league club involvement on August 5. The Final will be played on the 16th of December and Emerton believes the competition will quickly forge its own memories.
“I don-t think it will be long before this FFA cup competition is thought of in high regards by all the players and the fans.”
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