Dion Dublin has added his weight of support to The FA People’s Cup.
The former England international turned TV presenter took to the airwaves in an ambassadorial role to boost sign-ups of teams and individuals for the 5-a-side competition before the mid-January cut-off.
The Homes Under the Hammer star said: “What is really great about the People’s Cup is that regardless of their ability, it gives everyone who enters a taste of what I had as a player – the romance of cup football. It leaves lasting memories.”
Among his abiding Cup memories are two quarter-finals with Cambridge United and scoring the decisive penalty for Aston Villa in a semi-final shootout with Bolton Wanderers in 2000.
“That was probably my most treasured moment because I had just come back from a serious neck injury, it was very emotional. That took us to the last ever FA Cup Final to be played at the old Wembley Stadium [with Chelsea winning 1-0]," he said.
Dion Dublin is brought down during the 2000 FA Cup Final
“Now everyone has a chance to conjure their own cup memories because the People’s Cup runs across four age ranges from under-14s. There is also a pan-disability tournament as well as walking football for the over-50s.”
Teams and individuals now have just over two weeks to enter. The first round will be staged at over 200 small-sided football venues around the country on 22-24 January.
“It’s great that individuals as well as teams get to sign up, because the People’s Cup is about getting everyone who loves football involved – and there will be special squad-building events taking place so that teams of individual can get to know one and another,” said Dublin.
Sport Relief is back from 18-20 March 2016 and the 10 People’s Cup Finals will take place as part of the Sport Relief weekend.
Find out more information about Sport Relief by clicking here
For full details on The FA People’s Cup and to enter, click here
