Tipton Town fans speak of their pride in their team - despite their 6-0 hammering at Carlisle United

Nov 8 2010 by Chris Henwood, Birmingham Mail

HAMMERED but happy – that was the view of non-league football fans after seeing their side play in the FA Cup first round for the very first time.

There was no fairytale result for the minnows of Tipton Town after their nine-game run in the famous old tournament was comprehensively ended by League One Carlisle United on Saturday.

But some of the 350 Tipton fans who travelled to Cumbria to cheer on the Midland Football Alliance side said they were proud of their efforts against a team six leagues above them.

Despite their 6-0 hammering, some supporters of the Black Country outfit even claimed a moral victory as, 5-0 down at half-time, they only lost the second half 1-0.

Lee Oakley, aged 47, drove up from Tipton to see the game with his 74-year-old dad, Ben.

He said: “It was a fantastic day but it was just a shame about the result.”

Adrian Evans, aged 44, travelled from Tipton on one of the four coaches laid on by the club, along with sons Owen and Joel Richards, aged 11 and 15, from Wednesbury, and the boys’ 73-year-old grandad, Patrick Evans, also from Wednesbury.

“It was a great day out and it was never about the result – it was more about the occasion and making it to the first round,” said Adrian, a Walsall season ticket holder.

Tipton’s West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey was also at Carlisle’s Brunton Park ground.