The FA Cup sparks passion for football fans across the country. But what if your team makes it to the semi final and you are in a different continent?

Here are some stories from Hornets fans across the globe as they look forward to Watford's semi final against Manchester United.



Geoff Boreland moved to Sydney, Australia from Hemel Hempstead in 1996. He is such an ardent Watford fan that his car numberplate is WFC 99W in memory of Watford's Play-off Final victory at Wembley in 1999.

Geoff will watch the semi final at a bar in Sydney with fellow members of the Watford Australian Supporters Club. They will meet for a beer and a curry at 9pm local time, in order to prepare for a 2.30am kick-off on Sunday morning.

"There are a few Watford fans dotted about around Australia and it's no surprise anymore when you bump into a Watford fan in the street, although its always great to say g'day," Geoff says. "A friend and I watched a few live games from the Championship days in a local bar in Sydney, and we met a few like-minded fans doing the same.

"Although we had often talked of setting up Hornets Down Under, it was not until this year that we finally decided to proceed and its still very early days for us. We also have got together for some live Premiership matches, especially earlier in the season, although they were all 5am Kick off's which was a bit tough going.

"Our pre-match preparations usually involve copious amounts of beer and curry, where the promise of an early night goes out the window. Followed by a very loud alarm call at 4.45am and lots of tea. The barbie is turned on about 10 minutes before half-time and a few sausages thrown on, to help the traditional half time atmosphere. We also try and form a queue for the toilet at half time to really help it along.

"It's always hard being away from the action and from Watford, as you miss out on so much. You don't get all the titbits of news about who we are going to sign and you get all the information from the internet. Kick off times are usually quite late, although the Portsmouth match kicked off at 9.40pm, which was fantastic.

"Normally though it's a case of either getting up at 5am to watch a night game, or staying up to watch an afternoon game. Although being away from Watford for so long, you don't lose the passion and sense of pride when the team do well."

"One World Sports in Darling harbour is a top place to watch a game and the atmosphere will be quite good, which is why we chose the venue. I have a feeling it will be full of Unietd fans, which is why we want to get as many people in there wearing yellow as possible.



David Freedman, 56, from Ra'anana, about 15 miles north of Tel Aviv in Israel has a Watford flag permanently draped from the balcony of his flat.

He won't be travelling to Villa Park but says he will be there "mentally and emotionally from early Saturday morning".

David follows most Watford matches on the internet but returns to England at least once a year and always goes to see as many matches as he can. He was at Wembley in 1984 and also came over for the two play-off finals.

"My optimism has been severely stretched this season," David says. "The game in Cardiff against Leeds was absolutely fantastic but, even then, I think we all knew it was too soon. However, I'm sure that it's been an invaluable learning curve and it'll make us that much better prepared for a quick return next season."



Kate Holmes, 36, is a teacher of English as Foreign Language in Madrid, Spain,.

She thinks that the Manchester United game "isn't going to be pretty! After seeing their result in the Champions League I don't expect too much.

"I fly to Luton on Thursday evening after work, arrive at about 11.30pm. Then catching the train to Birmingham on Saturday, flying back to Madrid on Monday morning and going straight to work. This will be my first live match this season in the FA Cup.

"Before I invested in the computer last year, I relied on text messages from people back home (much better on the nerves!). This season I've watched a lot of the games live over the internet.

"I've been to 1.6 games at the Vic this season (Wigan in December being the 0.6). I've also been to three away games.

"If we beat Man U I wouldn't miss the trip to Wembley for anything.

"Obviously this season hasn't been nice to watch. However, I don't think it's all doom and gloom. The players have gained valuable experience, as has Aidy Boothroyd, which will only serve much better in the future. We knew what we were up against as soon as the ref gave that penalty at Everton."



Marc Proctor, 39, is a financial planner, living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Marc follows most Watford games on the internet but is also able to watch the Hornets when they are live on Sky. He has recently started downloading highlights as well and also subscribes to the Watford Internet Mailing list so keeps up to date with all the gossip that.

"Initially I was apprehensive and gave us about as much chance against Manchester United as Ireland have of beating Australia in the Cricket," Marc said. "But ironically Manchester United's win against Roma gives me more confidence, as football has a strange was of bringing teams back to earth, in a similar way Portsmouth were against us on Monday, meaning Manchester United may be a little over confident, thinking they just have to turn up to win, and you never know what may happen."

Although Marc is not going to Villa Park, his father is travelling to the game from Western Australia. The last game he saw live was in August 2000 against Sheffield United, when he took Greta, his then girlfriend, and now his wife to visit England, and paid a trip to Vicarage Road.

"I very much hope to be at Wembley if we make it," Marc says. "I am overdue a trip, but expect to have some trouble getting tickets from the club, as I have in the past. For some reason they do not appreciate that fans may travel from New Zealand for an important game, and as a result do not have a booking history. I had this problem for the Play-off as well, so eventually did not make the trip as $3,000 is a lot to pay and not to get to see the game."



Tim Tweddell, 65, is retired and lives in West Virginia, USA.

He says he has feelings of "dread" before the semi final after what Manchester United did to Roma. Tim follows Watford on specialist soccer TV channels in the USA and BBC Three Counties Radio commentary on the internet via the Watford FC website. He will be at Wembley if Watford make it to the final but is not booking his flights yet!

"My overall thoughts on this season are excellent, we have lived up to the expectations of all the media experts and mine! Really this was a money-making venture from the start. Anything else was a bonus."