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McBride to play for ninth-tier side in FA Cup

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

For those hoping to see Brian McBride return to the playing field, your wishes have come true.

McBride will be suiting up for ninth-tier English side Wembley FC during its quest to make a run at the FA Cup. The team, which is pairing a number of aging, retired, former standouts with its host of amateurs, is being funded by Budweiser, a lead sponsor of the FA Cup, and is also the subject of an England television documentary that will detail its efforts to pull off a shock cup run.

The 40-year-old McBride, who retired after the 2010 MLS season, will team with former Argentina star Claudio Caniggia and Arsenal stars Martin Keown and Ray Parlour, among others. Former England manager Terry Venables will be the team's technical director, while former England goalkeeper David Seaman will be the team's goalkeeping coach. McBride's Wembley FC debut is slated for Aug. 11, in a preliminary round FA Cup match.

"The initiative shines a light on non-league football, reminding people of the importance of amateur football in contributing to the development of the national game," Wembley manager Ian Bates told UK media. "A year ago we were playing in front of an empty grandstand and the clubhouse was falling down. Now the investment means great times are waiting for Wembley FC, and we can't wait to kick off our FA Cup campaign."

What do you think of this development? Think this is just a publicity stunt? Already on the hunt for Wembley FC streams? Excited to see McBride play again?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I was thinking the same thing. If they want to shine a light on non-league football, why not do a show on all of the people of, say, Altrincham, that drive straight past the local ground on their way to Old Trafford. Or highlight how important matches over the holiday period are for non-league clubs to generate income, and how they simply can’t afford to have those matches cancelled or rearranged. Fans become groundskeepers overnight.

    But good for McBride though.

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  2. “The initiative shines a light on non-league football, reminding people of the importance of amateur football”

    By fielding a team of professionals??

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  3. NY Cosmos should join NASL

    If they join NASL they keep ownership of their club. If they join MLS LLC then MLS owns their club.

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  4. They signed on a nice veteran spine for their club of amateurs. Pretty smart move actually besides the publicity they’ll receive.

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  5. Do I think that this publicity stunt is a publicity stunt? Yes. Yes, I do.

    Anyone else curious about a potential conflict of interest with Budweiser? Sponsoring the FA Cup and a team competing for it strikes me as odd.

    Here’s hoping that at least a stream is available of their game(s).

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  6. Isn’t McBride about 5 years younger than any of the other ringers?

    I think McBride wakes up in the morning with blood oozing from his head.

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  7. I don’t think that TheRhoff was necessarily criticizing this move for being a publicity stunt. But it seems that he’s pushed one of your invisible buttons, and boy did you react! Wahoo!

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  8. It reminds me of the Legends Classic played during NBA all star weekend in the 80’s and 90’s. They would have retired players come in and play a short game. One game in particular a player cut to his left then fell to the floor. The cameras zoomed in to find his patella had dislocated and was now at the right side of his knee. The next year the legends game was dropped from the weekend celebration.

    Having said that I would watch the game because McBride was a warrior for the US. If I had the chance I would watch the game at McBride’s bar in Craven Cottage. Can you imagine the atmosphere.

    Be safe Brian we love you!!!

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  9. Definite publicity stunt. But fans always want to see their favorite player, regardless if they are in shape or not. I would definitely like to see the documentary. You mention it’s a TV documentary. Where will it be shown?

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  10. In the end, EVERYTHING is a “publicity stunt”. Why do teams sign players, either for publicity and more fans or to win more games. Why do teams try and win games?? For publicity and more fans.

    Teams make money when they are popular, either through TV, tickets, sponsorship or merchandising. Teams don’t exist to win, they exist to make money.

    What you call a “publicity stunt” a team and league/organization reliant on money from the public (as in paid tickets or watching ads, not as in free from the government) calls “good business”.

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  11. If Budwiser is involved then of course there is a publicity angle to it but none the less I would still love to see McBride play and win.

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