No more FA Cup glory for non-league teams?

[smithyman]

Just read an article in the Daily Telegraph stating that the FA are considering ways of ensuring all clubs who draw Premier League opposition are in a position to stage the game. This has come about because of the Yeading - Newcastle game having to be switched to Loftus Road. Apparently the FA are considering barring any clubs whose facilities preclude them from staging high profile games. The FA are concerned that further instances of non-league clubs being able to stage games could affect the integrity of the FA Cup.

 

What a load of elitist nonsense is that?

 

Maybe we do need to consider the groundshare with Gillingham after all just in case we draw Man U at home at some time in the future!! And before you all hurl abuse at me I am joking - that was a totally tongue in cheek comment.

[Stu M]

Complete rubbish.

 

Perhaps they could consider barring any clubs who don't play in the same country as the venue of the final... oh, whoops, that leaves a Wrexham v Cardiff cup final every year then...

[Fleetbabe]

But that's what the FA Cup is all about. It's the only chance that the lower league clubs get to play league opposition, and prove how good they can be.

 

To cut out lower league and non league clubs because of the size of their ground would be a crime, what do the FA expect, that every club is going to have a ground as big as Manchester United, phlease.

 

Soon it won't be possible to have non-league and league opposition in the same competition, widening the void between the two.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

This sounds like a Premiership(probably Newcastle, Arsenal and Man U) inspired suggestion, so they don't get any pathetic non-league team in the 3rd or 4th round that might affect the gate and ammount of revenue they can squeeze out of the supporters.

 

Next thing you know they will play in their own Elite Premiership Cup and abandon the FA Cup(like they did to play abroad and make more money)all together.

[Harry J Allstars]

Wouldn't have been Arsenal, doesn't sound like the sort of thing they'd do. Ashamed to say it's more like a Chelsea idea when under Ken Bates.

[FleetFanatic]

Hate to state the obvious but it's Newcastle's very own Freddie Shepherd behind this, unhappy with having to play a team like Yeading. Just as Newcastle were annoyed with Stevenage a few years ago.

 

Think about Freddie's comments a few weeks back about the premiership and the non-league setup.

[chilled out entertainer]

I'm going to loftus for that game tommorrow, hope they do the overpaid losers freddie has at the TOON!

come on yeading. do it for the nonleague, although i hope exeter get shafted cos i hate them.

[gnfcmightymole]

not letting non league clubs into the fa cup will kill the compition and isnt what the cup is all about C'MON U YEADING