It's LDV time - can anyone care less?

By Albatross
October 17 2005

Like a zombie, the LDV Trophy just refuses to die. This year Hartlepool United are away at Scunny in a competition that I struggle to see the point of. Still, at least it counts towards Nelson's suspension....

Oh joy, it's that time of year again when Pools get to take part in that most worthwhile of competitions, the LDV Trophy. I've never made a secret of my indifference to this particular cup: and it seems that many managers regard it in the same way as some of the top clubs see the League Cup these days, with more than the odd team using it as a chance to experiment with fringe and youth players knowing that very few fans are likely to get irate about a defeat.

It seems strange to me that while the Anglo-Italian Cup and the strange confection known as the Full Members Cup have gone by the wayside years ago, the Associate Members Cup continues. It's only when you get to the likes of Regional Semis that the fans - who are after all the paying customers - begin to take it seriously. No-one would turn their nose up at winning it of course, but it's one of those that's going to get more of an "Oh, that's nice..." reaction from everyone else rather than undying respect.

That's not stopped me going to a few games over the years though. Mainly I think it's because I'm an exile, and so any game close by is a bonus. Remember the 8-0 hammering at Crewe? I was there, although even by Half Time I wished I wasn't. Chester, with Stuart Brightwell's Golden Goal? Check. Shrewsbury, on a Saturday because we'd both gone out of the FA Cup? Yep. Fortunately in many ways I missed out on the Reserve Team outing at Tranmere a couple of seasons back, and was out of the country for the Oldham game last season. But given the choice, I'd prefer a League Game every time.

Cruelly, this first round at least is on at the same time as the blanket coverage of the Champion's League - Scunny v Pools, or the attractions of Man Utd v Lille, Sparta Prague v Arsenal, and no doubt highlights of Bayern Munich v Juventus to follow? It's not exactly going to attract the floating voter, who can stay away from one of the coldest grounds I've ever been to and instead sit in a nice warm house or pub with a couple of beers.

So it's Scunny away this year, and a win could see us in with a chance of getting a glamour tie against the likes of Bury, Carlisle, Stockport, or big guns like Huddersfield. Ummm. No, sorry, it doesn't quite work, does it? With no disrespect meant, Pools v Tranmere is about the biggest game we could get (Forest are in the Southern section), and it's unlikely to get the pulses racing.

I really can't be bothered about a full write-up of our opponents, but Scunthorpe are doing OK this season against most expectations, and really should have beaten us at the Vic earlier in the season. On their own patch they will fancy their chances, although what sort of side either of us will put out I don't know. Prediction? Scunny to win 1-0, and apathy to be the real victor on the night with a sub-2000 attendance. Still, at least one match of Nelson's suspension will be served for this otherwise meaningless match so there is at least one slight upside... Then it'll be back to what really matters on Saturday.