A random lunchtime engagement with the FA Cup - 26/11/12
Today I took a stroll out of the office over lunch and had the interesting experience that prompted me to write this piece. On my way up Midsummer Boulevard, en-route to the shopping centre, I came across a shipping container with a ‘Wembley styled’ arched gantry over it containing a travelling FA Cup display.
Outside of the container were three table football games and some FA outfitted chaps to engage with the public. The shame was that on this cold and damp Monday lunchtime, circa 12:30pm, there was nobody to engage with.
I was intrigued so talked to the guys and then went into the exhibit to experience it for myself. The format was a 4-5 minute film followed by an interactive display and then your photo with the FA Cup (and the real one, not a replica). All of this would cost the visitor precisely nothing – yes that’s right – completely free of charge.
I genuinely couldn’t believe that I was the only person in there.
Although I couldn’t touch it, I had my picture taken with the cup and then the photographer took some pictures with my phone (one of which is attached).
Now I don’t support a football team and admitted as much to the show team; I am not sure if the guys were therefore more dismayed by that fact or the bushy Mo covering a chunk of my face. I guess I was just odd on both counts.
Bizarrely for a non-football fan, this is the second interesting football experience in a week! Last Wednesday I was working at the Aston Villa ground and, after I’d packed up the exhibition stand I was manning, got chatting to a fellow Mo Bro who was a club tour guide. He took me through the stadium and I got to stand at the side of the pitch. Now this wasn’t exactly an awe inspiring experience but it was not the kind of thing one does every day.
Returning to the FA Cup; it is one of the most famous pieces of silverware in the country and I got to see it as a result of a random trip into town. I think that is marvellous and I am grateful to the show team for making me feel welcome.
I am amazed that people weren’t queuing around the block for the opportunity to see the cup. To be fair, it wasn’t positioned well, it wasn’t promoted enough inside of the shopping centre and the exhibit hadn’t been opened for long when I arrived today. Hopefully though the show team got very busy later in the day.
From a selfish perspective, I wouldn’t have joined a long queue because I didn’t have the time; as it is I had a pretty cool experience for an innocuous Monday lunchtime.
http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/News/2012/Nov/trophy-tour-milton-keynes.aspx
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Outside of the container were three table football games and some FA outfitted chaps to engage with the public. The shame was that on this cold and damp Monday lunchtime, circa 12:30pm, there was nobody to engage with.
I was intrigued so talked to the guys and then went into the exhibit to experience it for myself. The format was a 4-5 minute film followed by an interactive display and then your photo with the FA Cup (and the real one, not a replica). All of this would cost the visitor precisely nothing – yes that’s right – completely free of charge.
I genuinely couldn’t believe that I was the only person in there.
Although I couldn’t touch it, I had my picture taken with the cup and then the photographer took some pictures with my phone (one of which is attached).
Now I don’t support a football team and admitted as much to the show team; I am not sure if the guys were therefore more dismayed by that fact or the bushy Mo covering a chunk of my face. I guess I was just odd on both counts.
Bizarrely for a non-football fan, this is the second interesting football experience in a week! Last Wednesday I was working at the Aston Villa ground and, after I’d packed up the exhibition stand I was manning, got chatting to a fellow Mo Bro who was a club tour guide. He took me through the stadium and I got to stand at the side of the pitch. Now this wasn’t exactly an awe inspiring experience but it was not the kind of thing one does every day.
Returning to the FA Cup; it is one of the most famous pieces of silverware in the country and I got to see it as a result of a random trip into town. I think that is marvellous and I am grateful to the show team for making me feel welcome.
I am amazed that people weren’t queuing around the block for the opportunity to see the cup. To be fair, it wasn’t positioned well, it wasn’t promoted enough inside of the shopping centre and the exhibit hadn’t been opened for long when I arrived today. Hopefully though the show team got very busy later in the day.
From a selfish perspective, I wouldn’t have joined a long queue because I didn’t have the time; as it is I had a pretty cool experience for an innocuous Monday lunchtime.
http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/News/2012/Nov/trophy-tour-milton-keynes.aspx
Reviews and Observations Home
Home
