FA Cup - Third Round Recap

Thumbnail Picture: Bradley Collyer/PA

The third round of the FA Cup, the oldest national soccer competition in the world, has come up, so far, with a number of quite predictable results, but also with a couple of so-called "giant killings," the most fascinating aspects of this historic tournament, which, as a reminder, is open to any eligible club from Level 10 to the Premier League (The record of competing teams was reached in season 2011-2021, with 763 clubs joining the tournament).

Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool, among the others, advanced to the next round without any significant worry.

The same thing cannot be said for Newcastle United, which was swept away by Cambridge United, which militates in League One, the second-highest division of the English Football League and the third tier overall in the entire English football league system.

Another team that is unexpectedly earning its place under the spotlight is Kidderminster.

The club competes in the National League North, the sixth tier of the English football league system, and yet, has made it to the fourth round of the tournament after edging Reading.

Photograph: Cameron Smith/Getty Images

To give a comparison with the tremendously advanced facilities available to the major Premier League teams, the Harriers' home, Aggborough Stadium, counts 6,444 seats, half of which are standing places.

Kidderminster will face West Ham on February 5. With nothing to lose, and everything to gain, the word "end" to their story might not have been written yet.