Happy New Year! MOTD Kickabout

Good morning, footie

fans, and happy New Year

from everyone here on Kickabout.

It's our first show

of 2018, and I must say,

it's great to be back.

I've missed you lot.

It's been a busy time in the footie

calendar while we've been away,

so with loads to catch up on,

we'd best get cracking.

Here's what's coming up.

We look ahead to the weekend's

FA Cup fixtures, to find out

who your favourite footie

teams are facing.

Kickabout meets FC United's

fantastic young ball group.

And the New Year brings

a new challenge to the show.

Keep watching to find

out more about this,

the Kickabout Hat-trick Challenge.

I can't wait to see

more of that later!

Top stuff.

Let's kick things off by checking

out this week's Headline Hitters.

Sick of chocolate by now

after one too many

selection boxes over Christmas?

St Mirren full-back

Stelios Demetriou clearly

isn't, as he tucked

into a bar mid-game after it was

thrown at him from the stand.

Talk about biting back.

Check this out for a fantastic start

to 2018 for Preston North End's

Kevin O'Connor,

who won the lottery this week.

He was visiting family

in Ireland when he found out

he was a millionaire,

after his uncle had bought him

the ticket as a present.

Keven's priority is still his

footie, though, as he says his main

focus is helping his team

climb up the league.

And a busy festive fixture period

finally came to an end on Thursday

night, as Spurs and West Ham scored

two stunning long-range

strikes to draw at Wembley.

Elsewhere, Hector Bellerin's

injury time goal earned Arsenal

a point against Chelsea,

runaway leaders Man City stormed

15 points clear with victory over

Watford,

and second-place Man United picked

up three points at Goodison Park.

Stoke's troubles continued, however

with a 1-0 loss to Newcastle,

piling more pressure on manager

Mark Hughes, as that

as that is seven defeats

in ten games now for the Potters.

Oh, dear, bad times for Stoke,

and what a whopping

round of fixtures those games bring

to a close.

We've only been gone a couple

of weeks but Premier League teams

have played up to six times

since then, and it's not just

players that are kept busy

with all the fixtures for teams up

and down the country.

Hundreds of thousands of fans

volunteered their time every week

for their favourite footie clubs,

from welfare officers and club

secretaries to coaches

and programme sellers,

volunteers well and truly keep

the game running.

And I'm not only talking

about adults, as Ben

found out when he went

to visit the ball crew at FC

United last month.

Welcome to FC United in Manchester.

This club has only been around

for 12 years, but already it's

a very special place.

I've been told it's

all about friendship.

It's about community.

And it's about passion.

Especially the ball crew.

So, let's go and meet them.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

Hi, I'm Rebecca, and I'm 12.

I'm Jacob, I'm 11.

I'm Amy, and I'm ten.

I'm Will, I'm 11 years old,

I've been ball crew for 4 seasons.

I'm with my new friend

William, or as I like to

call him, snake hips.

Because William has some

serious dance moves.

What's the best thing

about being part of the ball crew?

I think it's just

the club in general.

The backroom staff,

the players and the manager.

And you have the fans.

It's like another family to me.

Everyone is just nice, and you make

new friends when you join,

and all the players take pictures

with you, they are really nice

and friendly and you get

high fives and stuff.

Everyone in there, I didn't know

before I was a ball boy,

and now we're all friends.

This season, it's my fourth season.

So you must love it, then?

Yes.

What's the best part of doing it?

Well, you get to know

the players well, and you've

got loads of friends.

FC United!

FC United!

If I wanted to be part of the ball

crew, what would I need to do?

What are the main skills?

You have to keep concentrating

because if you're looking around

and stuff, you might get whacked

in the face with the ball.

Make sure you don't go on the pitch.

Wear layers.

Lots of layers.

Should I have worn gloves today?

Yes.

Always be ready.

OK.

You never know what's

going to happen.

I'm going to cheer for you today.

Every time you get the ball,

I'm going to be like yes!

Yes!

William, it's 2:35pm.

25 minutes before kick-off.

What do you do to get ready?

A quick laugh and a giggle

and a chat and things like that,

but overall just chill out,

make sure we are calm, get

on the pitch, and then go to work.

Two minutes in, and Will has already

been called into action.

Corner, brings in

the ball, job done.

Not great news for FC United,

because Harrogate have just scored.

Right, guys, half-time, it's 1-0.

How was that for you?

Well, playing is OK,

but I think we can do better.

I am with Adrian, who is Amy's dad.

Adrian, can you tell me

about this football club,

what's it all about?

Every supporter has an equal share

in the club, so everyone wants

this club to do well

because they own it.

It must be amazing for you that Amy

is involved and clearly loves it.

She went to her first game

when she was two months old,

and she's been coming here since.

And she could see the ball crew

and she was like, daddy,

when can I be on the ball crew?

They've got the best

seat of the house.

This is what this club is about.

It's a first step for those

kids and they enjoy it,

we're looking at being in the club.

Brilliant news for FC

United because it is 1-1.

We've got about 15 minutes left,

and I tell you something,

the atmosphere is amazing

and the ball crew are loving it.

Is there going to be a winner?

FC United!

Bye, guys.

That's it.

Top stuff.

Big thanks to snake hips

Will and all the team at FC United.

Let's look at how you guys at home

have been keeping busy over

Christmas and New Year break.

I tell you what, is mainly meeting

top players, you lucky lot.

Here is Charlie with some of his

favourite Bristol Rovers players.

Henry was mascot for Burnley

against Watford last month

and met his favourite footballer,

Scott Arfield.

Hugo has just started

playing for his local team,

and he was introduced to Blackpool

by his great grandpa, Dave.

They love going together

to watch them play.

Finally, Theo met Leicester City

star Daniel Amartey,

who even signed his water

bottle for him.

Nice one!

And Theo will be hoping they can

beat Fleetwood Town in the early

kick-off in the early

kick-off this weekend.

And there's plenty to look

forward to in the league

and championship clubs,

but do not

expect any non-league

giant-killing this time,

because it is the first time in 57

years that it's just

football league teams left.

We've had a little break

from the vote over Christmas.

But we're back next week

and with Chelsea taking

on Leicester next Saturday,

we need you to get online

and vote for your favourite

between these two.

Willian and Jamie Vardy.

Head to the Kickabout

website to cast your vote.

You've got until 9am on Wednesday

the 10th of January,

and we will reveal the winner next

Saturday.

While you're online,

do not forget to check out

all the ways you can get involved.

We love hearing from you,

whether it is voting

for your favourite player,

sending us a photo or showing

off your skills, just

like this lot have done.

A lovely solo goal at his

seventh birthday party!

What a way to round it off.

What a way to round it off.

A Man United fan showing us a great

technique for a free kick,

right in the top corner.

In the top bins!

Nice one, Lucas.

And he gets to play

football indoors, no

wonder he is celebrating.

Finally this is how to nail a top

corner free kick followed

by an outrageous celebration.

Super skills as always,

and sticking with top bins,

like we just saw, that leads me

nicely onto the new Kickabout

challenge I promised

you at the start.

Here it is, folks.

Look at this.

This is the Hat-trick Challenge.

We've got five balls,

three bins and one challenge,

to land a ball in each of them.

Sounds simple?

It's a lot trickier than you might

think when you're under pressure.

We're asking our favourite stars

to give it a go each week,

starting today with Question

of Sport captains Matt

Dawson and Phil Tufnell.

Let us see how they got on.

Hi, Kickabout.

I am Matt Dawson.

And I'm Phil Tufnell.

We are question of sport captains,

I am a former England rugby

player, and he is a former

England cricketer.

OK.

Right.

Unlucky.

Really good, nice touch.

Hard lines.

Could be here a while.

You're going for the little one.

Come on!

Try this one here, it's bigger!

OK, OK, OK.

Which one?

Anyone you fancy.

Yes!

Yes, let's do it.

Ready?

Again!

I'm just going a little bit right.

Come on, Phil, come on.

So close.

Hit the bar, double!

Nice try, you two.

Phil, unlucky, but Matt,

well done on the last bucket.

That officially puts you top of

the Hat-trick Challenge leaderboard.

Although it is only week one,

so maybe enjoy it while you can!

Keep watching for more stars taking

on the hat-trick challenge over

the coming few weeks.

I'm not going to lie,

I'm quite nervous about my attempts.

And we want you at home to send

videos showing us your take

on the challenge, too.

You do not need our bins.

Any will do.

It could be a trick shot, or three

bins lined up with five balls,

like we are attempting

here on the show.

Whatever that is, be

creative and get involved,

and you could be appearing

alongside your favourite

stars on the hat-trick

challenge very soon.

See if you can do better

and actually land on!

Right, that's all we've got time

for this week, but before we go,

looking ahead to the FA Cup this

weekend we thought we would prepare

you for the action with a look back

at some of the best goals from this

round last year.

And if we get any like this lot

again, we are in for a treat.

See you.

Accrington break now

down the left-hand side.

Up towards the edge

of the penalty area.

Long-range effort, and into the far

corner of the net, Accrington take

the lead with a minute gone.

Sean McConville with the goal.

Dougherty up to the

corner of the box.

Dougherty off to the corner

of the box, he sees cost a free

a free on the right,

and floats the ball over to him.

Costa looking for a

delivery into the box.

Shoots, scores.

On the breakaway.

He can make it three.

It is curled in.

Brentford make it 3-0.

It is the perfect start for Arsenal!

What a fantastic strike

from Aaron Ramsey.

Here comes Sinclair.

He takes great pace

onto his right foot.

Sinclair!

He makes it two!

Terrific finish

from Jerome Sinclair.

Costa is there, Doherty.

2-0!

They could be going through

to the fourth round!

Matt Doherty has scored

wonderful free kick.

Sawyer shoots with his right foot.

Brentford have scored again.

Kamara in possession.

Finds Bett.