Writer and comedian Andy Fury spent ten years reporting on football games around the world for local, national and international news organisations.
He followed Sunderland on pre-season tours to America, reported on Northern Ireland's famous Euro 2008 qualifying campaign that took in wins against Spain and England and has interviewed a host of big names along the way.
Then in 2009, he walked away from the world of football and into stand up comedy. A rapid rise through the ladder saw him writing for BBC Radio 4 and winning a host of awards along the way. But it wasn't as good as football.
The smell of fresh cut grass, that brilliant green, the indescribable sound and feeling of a ball hitting the back of the net. It wasn't long before Andy was back. In August 2013 he decided to spend a season with his best friend Mark, watching the FA Cup on a giant game of winner stays on, from the Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round game between Tow Law Town and West Auckland, all the way to Wembley for the final.
It was the perfect way to rediscover the game he'd fell out of love with. Watching the world's greatest competition from its grassroots beginnings accompanied by his best friend. But, just like football itself, things didn't go to plan. By March 2014 they were threatening to sue each other having endured countless arguments and a 500-mile round trip for a Crawley vs Bristol Rovers replay that was abandoned with 15 minutes left.
Thankfully while it didn't make life much fun at the time, it did make for a fantastic hour of stand-up comedy. In support of a book that also covers the pair's exploits, Andy is taking to the stage to recall the events in last season's FA Cup. This one-man comedy show tells the story of the pair's marathon 19 game adventure in a heart-warming and hilarious tale of friendship, football and pointless drives to Crawley.
Tickets for the show on Thursday, January 28th are priced at £7, with the show taking place in the first team changing room at Meadow Lane.