More than the result – Are FA Cup upsets still ‘magical’?

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The FA Cup Third Round is where some of English football’s biggest clubs face off against teams of modest means. This weekend, for example, FA Cup champions Crystal Palace travel to Macclesfield of the National League North – a team ranked five divisions and 117 places below them in the English league system. Meanwhile, fan-owned club Exeter City visit the plush surroundings of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, while Shrewsbury Town, struggling to stay in the Football League, head to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers – a journey of around 30 miles, but worlds apart in terms of finances and resources. It’s a weekend like no other in terms of giants and underdogs. Often, the gap in wealth and ability is obvious – but every now and then, a smaller club finds a way around the odds. That’s something Plymouth Argyle’s Kevin Nancyville knows. A football legend in Devon, England, he spent several spells as caretaker boss at Argyle during his career. Last year, he took over temporarily alongside captain Joe Edwards after Wayne Rooney’s sacking, and the duo led the team to an FA Cup win over Premier League side Brentford. He spoke to the BBC’s Ed Harry about his memories of that day – and what happened when they faced Liverpool in the next round. We’re also joined by John Murray, BBC commentator and football correspondent, who shares his favorite memories from decades of covering the cup, and explains why it remains so relevant amid the fortunes of the modern English game. Every Monday to Friday, More Than the Score tells stories beyond the score from around the world of sports. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, from the Australian Open to the Diamond League, from netball to Formula 1. We’ve interviewed exceptional athletes such as Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing queen Cecilia Braijhus and cycling king Harry Lafresne, as well as the experts who work behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches who keep athletes at peak fitness. In addition, we have the experience of the BBC’s senior journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sports at all levels. And if you have your own opinion on the stories we cover, we’d love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0470 032 800 0044. You can find more information, as well as our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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