NEXT weekend brings the first round proper of the FA Cup and surely that stage of the competition and the third round in January now represent the most important dates in the famous trophy's calendar.

They will certainly capture the imagination more than May's Millennium Stadium final when Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Newcastle will most probably again occupy at least one of the dressing rooms in Cardiff.

Personally, I am more excited by next weekend's Accrington Stanley v Huddersfield, Bradford Park Avenue v Bristol City and Southend v Canvey Island ties, as well as the Minstermen's mouthwatering Sunday derby clash with Barnsley, however lamentable that might be having been brought up with the Cup final antics of the Crazy Gang, Ricky Villa, Jimmy Melia and John Sillett.

For me, the magic of FA Cup final day died in 1993 when Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday met at the end of the first Premiership season. I cannot remember many since.

It is no coincidence that since then, as the bigger boys have got bigger and, if they can be bothered, can almost reach the final at will, that the cup's showcase day has lost its appeal and the bulldozing of Wembley, no matter what a fantastic stadium there is in Wales, has obviously not helped matters.

But the first and third rounds are still great footballing weekends, generating terrific stories that will be told before, during and after these ties.

Team Bath enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame last season and watch out this year for Ryman League premier division high-flyers Hornchurch, who, having recently been bankrolled in a similar style to Rushden & Diamonds were in the 1990s, could account for struggling Darlington at their Bridge Avenue ground and increase the rift between controversial owner George Reynolds and the supporters.

And try telling big City striker Jon Parkin, who will miss next Sunday's match against his home-town club, that the romance of the FA Cup is no longer alive on first round day.

City boss Chris Brass is another lover of the early rounds, saying: "I think the first and third rounds are more interesting than the final itself these days. The magic is still there because of the non-League and lower League elements, as well as the giant-killings.

"Once the big boys come in they have that many commitments they do not really take it as much on board and, later in the competition, it becomes much of a muchness with the usual Premiership clashes, and the only real interest is if there are any underdogs still in there.

"It's a shame because I grew up with the Leeds v Sunderland final rammed down my throat because I was born there and I remember Ricky Villa, the Liverpool cup finals and the Brighton and Coventrys.

"It would be marvellous if we could get back to that but it's taken a little bit of a back seat of late."

City fans will be hoping Brass can mastermind a victory against Barnsley and go on to match his best-ever record in the Cup as a player when he reached the fifth round with Burnley.

His giant-killing acts, as a Turf Moor midfielder, also include the slaying of then Premiership outfit Derby, and the Mintstermen would welcome, too, a repeat draw of their manager's biggest game in the tournament - a trip to Anfield which was settled by Stan Collymore's single goal.

This week's diary cannot be complete without a reference to the news that the Supporters' Trust raised £500,000 to save the club during the first 18 months of its existence.

Having worked in Bedfordshire when a similar group was formed with the aim of bringing Luton Town under community ownership, I can fully appreciate what a staggering achievement this is.

The Hatters fans were very dedicated to their cause but could only manage to raise less than a tenth of the figure contributed by City fans.

Updated: 10:21 Saturday, November 01, 2003