Confirmation of the live televised matches for the Third Round of the FA Cup came early this year, and while there was no great shock in the Manchester derby a match which has, arguably, taken on a heightened level of importance given the events in the Champions League last night, even if it still isn't the main even of either teams season it was a little surprising to see that the decisions were taken by both ITV and ESPN before next weeks Second Round replays had even been played.

The Peterborough United of 2009-10 were one of our three most heavily covered clubs. A tempestuous period saw Darren Ferguson's exciting young team, enriched by a luxurious three pronged attack consisting of George Boyd, Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron McLean, learn some harsh lessons when it came to defence – by the time Mark Cooper, Jim Gannon and Gary Johnson had each taken a turn at London Road

So, three weeks into the new Football League season and in many ways it's much the same as the last. The divisions might be different, but Southampton and Brighton are still dazzling on the south coast; Peterborough are still serving up improbable goalfests at London Road; Crawley are still cruising at the top of the league; and, less happily, Plymouth's horrific decline continues seemingly

BRIMSCOMBE & THRUPP 1-2 HOOK NORTONSaturday 20th August 2011Hellenic League Division 1 WestThe Meadow, Brimscombe
A day out in Gloucestershire for the Rambler today. I had arranged to visit Colin Buchanan, my Cheltenham supporting friend today as like always when we meet, with Cheltenham having an away game.

BRIMSCOMBE & THRUPP 1-2 HOOK NORTONSaturday 20th August 2011Hellenic League Division 1 WestThe Meadow, Brimscombe
A day out in Gloucestershire for the Rambler today. I had arranged to visit Colin Buchanan, my Cheltenham supporting friend today as like always when we meet, with Cheltenham having an away game.

Carling Cup football returns to Broadhall Way tomorrow night for the first time in just under a year. Last season saw Stevenage make their first appearance in the League Cup against Portsmouth, live on Sky Sports. Boro lost the game by two goals to 1, but gave the newly relegated Premier League outfit a run for their money.

Carling Cup football returns to Broadhall Way tomorrow night for the first time in just under a year. Last season saw Stevenage make their first appearance in the League Cup against Portsmouth, live on Sky Sports. Boro lost the game by two goals to 1, but gave the newly relegated Premier League outfit a run for their money.

Off to Old Trafford - but will Huddersfield gain promotion?

Now it's not that I have anything against Peterborough – in fact I always enjoy going to their cosy little London Road ground and standing on one of the few remaining terraces in English football – but, along with many of the neutrals, I will be firmly backing Huddersfield Town in the League One play-off final this Sunday.

If you wanted to see a hint of the essence of the unconfined joy of football coupled with a hint at the traditions of the game in England, it was on display behind the goal at Peterborough United's London Road this evening. When, at the third attempt, Craig Mackail-Smith bundled the ball over the goal-line to complete the home side's over-turning of what had been, at one point during the first leg, a 3-1 deficit, the terrace behind the goal exploded under lights turned amber by decades of tobacco smoke, a joyous explosion of care-free abandon.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Notts County 0 - Football League, One
Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. The ancient settlement of Brighthelmston dates from before the Domesday Book (1086), but it emerged as an important health resort during the 18th century and became a popular destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in 1841.

Macclesfield Town 0 Wycombe Wanderers 1 - Football League Two
Macclesfield is a market town in Cheshire. It is thought that Macclesfield got its name from "Michael's field" - referring to St Michael, as in St. Michael's church. A person from Macclesfield is sometimes referred to as a "Maxonian".

Birmingham in the Cup, goals at London Road and a tight Premier League 3 Patrick Vieira scored more than one goal in a game for only the third time in his career on Sunday against Notts County 26 In 26 FA Cup ties against lower league opposition Arsene Wenger has never lost. But [...]