Paul Reid hoping for Fairytale FFA Cup run

Rockdale City Suns’ influential midfielder Paul Reid cannot wait for the FFA Cup to commence.

Speaking as a special guest alongside former Socceroo and ex-Macarthur Association teammate Brett Emerton at the official FFA Cup launch which took place at the Illinden Sports Centre, Reid expressed his delight with the announcement of Australia’s answer to the FA Cup.

Reid knows all about the FA Cup as during his time as a professional footballer in the U.K. his fondest memory was playing with Brighton and Hove Albion at White Hart Lane against English Premier League giants Tottenham Spurs.

“It’s certainly a memory I will never forget, playing at White Hart Lane with all our fans was an amazing experience and one that I will cherish.

“We lost 2-1 but it was a great experience not just for us but for our fans too.

“The FFA Cup should have the same effect on the Rockdale fans.

“How good would it be to play a big team like Sydney FC here at our own ground?

“There is also the buzz of watching the draw on television to see which team you are going to get which is all part of the Cup experience.”

Reid stressed that the FFA Cup will also provide a fantastic opportunity for rising stars to strut their stuff on an elite stage.

“The FFA Cup will be a huge opportunity for the local teams to play against A-League clubs and their youngsters to show where they are at against top opposition.

“They no doubt will go into the competition with an attitude of on our day we can achieve the impossible.”

Speaking of promising youngsters, one such Suns star made his A-League debut last weekend as Themba Muata-Marlow was part of Frank Farina’s winning squad in the Sky Blues’ 2-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets.

Like Themba, the Suns will unearth a plethora of other promising youngsters coming through the club’s senior squad.

The Suns, last season’s IGA National Premier League NSW Mens 1 finalists, will no doubt have one eye fixed on the FFA Cup and with the assistance of well-known coaching figure Branko Culina at the helm, Reid and his teammates may well be popping that champagne as being labelled Australia’s inaugural FFA Cup Champions in 2014.

Let the fairytale stories of the FFA Cup begin!

-By Mark Stavroulakis