Capital One Cup Final from Earlier this Year that was Posted on my Hockey Blog.

The Capital One Cup final is set. Bradford City versus Swansea City. The event will take place in England's national football cathedral, Wembley Stadium, on February 24th. This marks the first time in 51 years a fourth-tier team has reached an English final.

Professional soccer in England has 4 tiers: (highest to lowest) English Premier League, The Championship League, NPower League 1, and NPower League 2. The difference between the first and fourth tier is astronomical. Bradford City has a total roster payroll of about 7500 British pounds, or roughly $12,000. Allen Tate of Swansea City is the lowest paid Premier League player; he earns 12,000 British pounds a month.

Bradford City's team was relegated from the Premier League in 2001 and has continued to slip downward through each league and finally hitting bottom. Bradford's manager said over the last decade there hasn't been much to cheer about. No other previous top tier team has slipped this far down in English football standings; they currently hold tenth place of the 24 team League 2.

Bradford's trip to the final included knocking off three Premier League Teams: Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa, and Arsenal. Given Bradford's current ranking, making it to an English final bout is an accomplishment of truly epic proportions. Arsenal is currently in sixth place, Aston Villa in 17th place, and Wigan in 19th place of the 20 team Premier League (the teams in 18th, 19, and 20th are relegated to the league below at the end of the season). For hockey fans, think of it as the Quebec Junior League playing for the Cup against an NHL squad. NBA and NFL fans, imagine a high school team facing the Ravens or the 49'ers. This is truly the underdog team of the year.

So on February 24th, find a pub and sit down and cheer for Bradford City. This team seems destined for glory. This is the kind of fall down and get back up tale that sells books and movies, and I'm ready to buy a ticket.



(I know this isn't a hockey related blog, but it's my blog so bugger off. I love the sport of soccer as much, if not more than hockey.)