The Cup weekend didn’t fail in its duty of providing a tranche of compelling contests, engaging stories, and as always, a sprinkling of notable upsets. Of much concern to the F.A. however, will be the paltry attendance figures recorded at many of the grounds hosting 3rd round games.
Those numbers included; a mere 5,504 turning up for Blackburn Rovers’ home win against Bristol City, 24,854 at Villa Park to see Ipswich Town defeated, 11,293 witness Alex McLeish’s stuttering start at Nottingham Forest continue with a 3-2 reverse against League One Oldham Athletic, and Fulham and Wigan Athletic, for whom the Cup offers the sole opportunity of silverware this term, draw just 14,473 and 8,199 respectively, for home ties against lower league opposition. Typically, these turnouts have led to the resurrection of the familiar debate regarding how the Cup can regain its sheen.
Those who seek to tinker with tradition also cite the weakened teams being routinely fielded by a raft of managers throughout the draw. In a radio interview on Sunday morning, Lawrie Sanchez advocated the idea of all Premier League club’s being seeded to face an away tie against lowlier rivals upon their entry into the competition.
He may be well intentioned, but the man who scored one of the most famous F.A. Cup final goals of all – Wimbledon’s 1988 winner against Liverpool – is entirely misguided in his thoughts. The reason for any discernible erosion to the cup’s gloss is the continued meddling with its heritage in recent years, as the F.A. have haplessly sought to retain the relevance of their prestigious trophy in the face of the money laden Premier League, and all-powerful Champions League.
The great joy of the F.A. Cup is found in its familiar customs. One such example is the open draw. Taking away the possibility of a team pulling a fixture against any other, from any division, at any location, is an idea on a par with the current unpalatable situation of semi-finals being contested at Wembley Stadium.
Using the national stadium for those fixtures allows more fans to attend, but beyond that advantage there is nothing to give the concept merit. Wembley was the mecca, the venue for the grand day on the horizon when each club started out in their attempts to reach the football calendar’s glamour occasion. By taking the last four teams standing to English football’s HQ, much of the wild-eyed, fresh excitement of final day, for fans and players alike, is lost.