Gary Lineker on the Road to FA Cup Glory, BBC1 - TV review: A surprisingly spine-tingling documentary about the competition's relevance
Lineker infiltrated team talks like an uncool dad crashing a music festival
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Do people still care about the FA Cup? Gary Lineker does, loads. So did everyone he spoke to in Gary Lineker on the Road to FA Cup Glory, "where milkmen dream about playing against millionaires".
You quickly understood that we wouldn't hear much said against the tournament as the Match of the Day head boy interviewed his pals. We got a roll call of cup-day heroes: Owen, Gerrard, Giggs, Mourinho. There was a fraternal, dressing-room atmosphere throughout as they discussed their love of the old favourite.
Away from the top flight, Lineker met the young pretenders. With his designer togs, Barbados tan and weird goatee, you feared at times it could get embarrassing as he infiltrated team talks like an uncool dad crashing a music festival. But then again, he is cooler than your average dad in footballer terms. And when he popped round to the Cambridge United lads' house in the run-up to their big game, you felt glad there was a fatherly influence.
"I tried my hardest and I just wasn't good enough I don't think," said Ryan Donaldson, a Newcastle reject explaining why he hadn't made football's top rung. You hoped off camera that Lineker would give him a hug. He probably did, when, as only happens in the cup, Cambridge held Manchester United to a draw.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments