Archived News from December 2005
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RUNDLE`S CUP OF CHEER
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Adam's Cup Of Cheer
By Gary Oliver , http://www.nufc.co.uk MANSFIELD Town's Geordie winger Adam Rundle is dreaming of running out at St. James' Park after the Stags were handed a glamour FA Cup Third Round draw against Newcastle United. A real David-versus-Goliath contest will be staged on Tyneside in early January as the Magpies play host to a side currently lying fourth from bottom in League Two. And while everyone at Mansfield was delighted with being drawn against a Premiership side, no one wore a wider smile than the 21-year-old Rundle. He played for United at schoolboy level from the ages of 11-15, and his contemporaries included the likes of Michael Chopra, Peter Ramage and Steven Taylor. Rundle, who has seven goals in 30 starts for Mansfield, told nufc.co.uk: "It really is a dream draw to get Newcastle United at St. James' Park. "When the draw was being made you just hope to get one of the really big clubs, and with coming from the north east this one really is a little bit special. "I played at schoolboy level with the likes of Peter Ramage, Michael Chopra and Steven Taylor for Newcastle. "I've played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but this will be the first chance I've ever had to play at St. James' Park." The game will be a real family affair for Rundle. His father John is chairman of Northern League outfit South Shields, while the winger's girlfriend Gillian and her family are loyal season ticket holders at St. James'. He added: "As soon as the draw was made I think everybody was on the telephone to me asking for tickets! "My girlfriend Gillian and her family have season tickets at St. James' Park, and if I'm back home and there's a Newcastle game on, then I often borrow one of the tickets. "When you sit in a huge crowd and look around the stadium, you just can't help but think how great it would be to play in a game at St. James. "I hope I get the chance to play, but as our manager Peter Shirtliff has pointed out, we have an awful lot of games to play before the Newcastle tie and we have got to focus on the league." Rundle's professional career began with Darlington before he moved to Carlisle United, where he was part of the Cumbrians team beaten in the 2003 LDV Vans Trophy Final by Bristol City in Cardiff. He then had a spell with Dublin City in the Eircom League before returning to England and linking up with Mansfield Town. The Stags set up the tie with Newcastle with a 3-0 Second Round win over Conference leaders Grays Athletic on Friday night, managed by former Magpies defender Mark Stimson. |
Latest | December 2005