THE Football Association has received a lot of justified criticism recently relating to England’s failed bid for the 2018 World Cup.

But by arranging for former England captain Stuart Pearce to take the FA Cup on a surprise visit to British troops in Afghanistan ahead of yesterday’s fourth-round draw, the governing body provided a welcome boost to morale.

Pearce coached at seven skills clinics and oversaw a match between Irish Guards and Afghan soldiers, with the winners lifting the FA Cup trophy.

It was a well-judged gesture, from an organisation that is often accused of being out of touch with the wider world.

Warrant Officer Stephen Nadollek described the day as the “highlight”

of his six-week tour.

We applaud the FA’s decision to take the trophy to Camp Bastion. It is just a shame that it will not be coming anywhere in the North-East the remainder of the year.

Saturday’s results, in which Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool all crashed out of the competition, were disastrous.

It is the first time in 51 years that the North-East has had no representation in the FA Cup fourth round, a situation that represents a genuine embarrassment to a region that prides itself on its relationship with the beautiful game.

The North-East is often described as a hotbed of football. This morning, the word “sickbed” might be more apt.