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Blyth Spartans get the FA Cup party started

Jan 4 2009 by Robert Weatherall, Sunday Sun

Spartans will be no stroll

FORMER Blackburn legend Matt Woods has warned Rovers: “Beware Blyth Spartans in Monday’s FA Cup tie.”

Woods, who was a no-nonsense defender for Everton, Luton Town, Stockport County and Rovers, reckons nobody knows better than him the size of the task facing his old team.

For at the end of his Football League career, Woods was player manager of Stockport County when they were drawn against Blyth in the 1971 FA Cup. Stockport won the old fourth division that season . . . but Spartans were not the expected rollover.

Matt said: “When we drew Blyth in the Cup we were full of confidence at Stockport and I predicted an easy win, and said if we did not beat the North East side I would walk home from their ground to Stockport.”

He added: “After a long successful run in the league, I couldn’t see us being held by a non-league side, but we were beaten 1-0, and I still have the corns from that long walk home to prove it!”

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