Cup competitions are special in football, and none more special than the Chatham Cup as it starts its 91st year with a David and Goliath contest at the Caledonian Ground today.
University plays Melchester Rovers and, as usual, there will be hopes that the spirit of captain Roy Race will be in evidence.
The famous (and fictional) Melchester Rovers became league champions in 1958, and won an FA Cup the following season, by which time Race was captain.
However, it was in the 1960s that Rovers became a footballing force. The decade brought three league titles, two FA Cups, two European Cups, one European Cup Winners' Cup and one Intercontinental Cup.
Success continued through the following decades, mixed with relegation battles, off-field tragedies, Sir Alf Ramsay as manager and even the signing of Jimmy Greaves, Emlyn Hughes and two members of the pop group Spandau Ballet.
No ordinary team, then, and from its original comic book start, Melchester clones sprang up all over the world.
Possibly the greatest of those team clones is still based in Dunedin, where at one stage there were more than 25 junior and senior teams making up the Melchester club with players ranging from 4 to 54.
University is sure to join in the spirit of the cup tie, with coach Luiz Uehara's penchant for attacking play, and possibly the best scarfie team assembled for many years.
Another interesting tie is at Tahuna Park, where 1999 Chatham Cup winner Dunedin Technical plays Northern, which has its own cup tradition, having reached eight finals and won the trophy twice.
Admittedly, those statistics are a bit historical, but with Northern having just earned its first league win, and Technical uncharacteristically losing three games from six this season, perhaps a cup upset could be possible.
Mosgiel plays Thistle at Memorial Park, and is sure to mount a strong home challenge, while other ties include Queens Park v Old Boys, and West End v Southend United.
Queenstown is at home to Northern Hearts, of Timaru, and the pick of the Christchurch ties looks like holder Cashmere Technical facing Ferrymead Bays.
In the Women's Knockout Cup, Dunedin Technical plays Roslyn-Wakari at Tahuna Park tomorrow at 1pm.
Chatham Cup
Caledonian Ground, today, 2pm
Melchester Rovers: Chris Kay, Craig Smart, Dan Smart, Daniel Burns, Dan Paardekooper, Jared White, Justin Boereboom, Lance Koni, Logan Cromb, Matt Kirby, Nathan Martin, Nathan Soper, Nic Boereboom, Nick Paterson, Richie Boyens, Riley Cunningham, Shane Stuart, Shannon Cox.
University: Jeferson Potrich, Tom Morley, Bryn Rowden, Peter Overmire, Logan Wrightwebb, Max Gunn, Henry Flood, Mike Nelson, Rupert Mark, Noah Goss-Woliner, Sam Winward, Josh Jones, Jeremy Fong, Sam Brailsford, Peter Rae, Ifeanyi Unamadu.
