Wembley 1 - 1 Royston Town

Beautiful, isn't it?

That there picture is the FA Cup in one shot. From the Extra Preliminary Round at clubs like Wembley FC, 762 sides will battle it out until two remain.

I'm sure you recognise the skyline.

The spirit of the Cup, given the defibrillator treatment by Barnsley and Cardiff City earlier this year, is alive and well. I was lucky enough to see it with my own boogly eyes, as I went along to see said early round at Wembley (yeah, yeah) today.

The upper echelons of football (with one notable exception - more of him later) would have you believe that the FA Cup is all about Steven Gerrard's goal against West Ham. About Cantona, or Villa, or Di Matteo. Today, I learned that it's not really about those guys at all. The FA Cup is about the teams that enter from the bitter beginning, destined to fall short of even the first round, just because...well...it's the FA Cup.

I found Wembley to be a genuine, welcoming, wonderful club. When I walked into the club's bar and made myself known, chairman and owner Brian Gumm personally escorted me into the boardroom - where I was supposed to be - and got me a drink. It was a good sign. There was also an otherwise normal looking fan who attended the game barefoot. Very odd, but kinda cool.

After typically pleasant football chat with Gary Andrews, from my hosts for the afternoon, ITV.com, we continued our conversation with a third party: Mr Gumm's wife Jean, Wembley's club secretary. It was that kind of place. It's a club founded on community and family. I loved it.

Before long, a surprise. I found myself sitting at a table with Mr and Mrs Gumm, my aforementioned erstwhile accomplice, and one Brian Barwick. Yes the Brian Barwick, the Chief Executive of the Football Association. After initial pleasantries, I sat back and listened while the two Brians talked about football, the FA and, fascinatingly, the history of Wembley FC.

It's a very impressive history. The England squad trained at Vale Farm before the 1966 World Cup, as photographically proven in the boardroom. The club had ongoing correspondence with key figures from that set-up, including one who continued to send a menu from anywhere the players ate for years afterwards. The menus are still there. So are some of the club officials from the sixties.

Over the years I've been no fan of the Football Association, and have criticised them heavily. But I've noticed that, from the sacking of Steve McClaren and throughout 2008, I've generally been in favour of much of what they've done. I think Fabio Capello was the correct appointment as England boss, and I'm broadly in favour of the National Game Strategy and Respect. It's good, solid policy. I hope it works.

My move towards FA sympathy was deepened today. I have something controversial to say: I think Brian Barwick has learned from early mistakes made in his name by the FA. Undoubtedly, he is a charming, engaging guy. He loves football, and he struck me as incredibly passionate about the FA Cup, the national team and, refreshingly, clubs like Wembley (there's that exception I was talking about).

Joined later by ITV.com Head of Content Marc Webber and Chris Oakley from Some People Are On The Pitch (another person providing excellent company this afternoon), we were fortunate enough to have the FA's security guards unpack the FA Cup especially for us. It was a real highlight, and the photos will no doubt be treasured by us all.

The game itself was very enjoyable. The Lions dug in and achieved an impressive draw against a well organised and technically gifted - if not terribly incisive - Royston side.

The away team were 1-0 up at half time, after a Luke Robins free kick from distance squeezed through the hands of Wembley 'keeper Ricky McCabe. The home side came back into it in the second half and created a nicely worked equaliser.

They continued to press until near the end of the game, when their charge was brought to a halt by the sending off of Andrew Walker for a second bookable offence. Determined defence and a little bit of luck earned them a replay, to be played on Tuesday.

Royston played the better football, and were another set of officials, players and fans which seemed as down-to-earth and 'real' as Wembley. But I really do hope the Lions get to the next round.

It was a top day, thanks to proper football people - from an Exeter-supporting PR, an ITV content guru, a chairman, a chairman's wife and another blogger, to the Chief Executive of the FA. Never write off the FA Cup.

You can see Wembley v Royston (and probably Royston v Wembley) and a whole bunch of other FA Cup type stuff at ITV.com/football.