The FA Cup...

[coupwotcoup]

...but not as we know it.

 

 

Just come across the wires:

FA Cup replays could be scrapped altogether next season if this year's fourth round produces a mass of draws today.

Premiership chiefs are bracing themselves for fixture chaos - including the possible postponement of the Manchester derby - because any replays from this weekend's matches will be on Saturday February 12.

International dates have made that the only window to complete this round of the Cup, meaning any League games due that weekend will be postponed.

And the knock-on effect of a pile-up of vital Premiership games this year will be added pressure to do away with replays altogether next season - especially in the build-up to a World Cup.

Arsenal could be the biggest losers if they don't beat Wolves first go today. They would have to replay on February 12, and then play Crystal Palace in a Sky TV Premiership game 48 hours later.

 

Poor hard done by Premier players. Life must suck earning £40k a week for no more than 25 hours work including training.

 

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[Steph]

The FA had a successful competition.

 

Games played on Saturday @ 3:00pm. Replays either Tues/Wed the following week and continue until there is a result. Oxford City v Alvechurch is, I believe the record.

 

Draw for the next round Monday Lunchtime.

 

The police buggered it up first saying that they need 10 days notice before the game.

 

Then the FA introduced penalty shoot outs and finally the FA acceded to TV and now the games can be played at any time.

 

Now the FA cup is just another football competition.

 

I blame all seater stadiums and Maggie Thatcher.

[coupwotcoup]

Just about sums it all up really...You wait only Conference clubs will be allowed it in next....So it will become Carling Cup 2....as opposed to the bestest cup competition in the world....

[Steph]

Were you at the FA cup games EFC v Romford in the sixties.

 

There was a black and white programme at Romford and I can recall goint to the ground thinking that EFC were going to get tonked as Romford were in the Southern League and we were from the Isthmian.

[coupwotcoup]

About a season too soon for me. Started going regular in 1965, but first went back in 1961. The home game v Enfield had Enfield Town printed on the cover...How prophetic? Still haven't forgiven that feckin' cheat D'Arcy (Alf) for punching the ball home in the second replay at Highbury......

[Clocksider]

I was at the Romford and Arsenal matches but missed the one at Enfield as my Dad was working and I was deemed too young to travel to midweek matches unsupervised (I probably still am!).

Legend has it, that a large amount of Boro supporters arrived late at Enfield, found themselves locked out, and broke down the gates!

By the way, I totally endorse the comments about the FA Cup. The people who run the game in this country know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

[coupwotcoup]

Hey geezer..I had heard that story re gates being broken down...but believed it to be an Urban Myth...maybe it was true then????? Come on elder Townies....tell the boys!

I know the game at Southbury is the hardest programme of the three to obtain.

[Steph]

It was the game against Watford in the FA cup replay when the gates were broken down.

 

I was there when it happened. There was such a crush that I decided it was safer to pay to go in and therefore paid whilst people streamed in around me.

 

Mind you I was still half price then. The gates that broke were the double gates at the George V end. I dont think Kingsmead was built then and there were allotments at the other end.

 

The entertainment venue had not yet been built and there was an entrance at that end.

[The Invisible Man]

This is all complete madness. (The FA Cup thing I'm on about).

 

There are inded too many games played. The solution is to abandon the pointless League (Carling) Cup. If need be then reduce divisions to 18 clubs. Clubs not fielding their recognised best 11 to be fined for cheating/match fixing.

 

Tell the old bill where to go. They are paid to serve the people, not the other way round. Stage the games, let them try to nick 30-50000 people if they want.

 

Tell Sky TV where to go, it was all more fun without them anyway.

 

I'm in that sort of mood today.

[Southport - TOWNER]

IM - Is the yorkshire weather getting to you? or have the whippets messed up the kitchen?

[The Invisible Man]

It is a bit gloomy as it happens.

 

I'm off in a tick to watch Brighouse Town v Storthes Hall. It looks like rain.......

[The Invisible Man]

Brighouse Town 1 Storthes Hall 1.

 

Just in case you were interested.

 

Which you weren't.

[Mr Happy]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz