Great breakdown! Talk about persevering! The magic of the cup is still alive! I wish here in the US the federation would embrace the US Open Cup the same way. All of the MLS teams don't even participate in it, which lessens its significance.
Great piece, though it also stirs memories of one of Albion’s worst days, the loss at home to Woking!
It was a great match yesterday, and important to savour, but it was almost certainly the only moment where the magic will be in evidence. Most games are televised behind a paywall, attendances in the early rounds will mostly be down, as clubs from the top two divisions field weakened sides so they can concentrate on the grind and slog of their league campaigns.
Another great article for us football romantics. When I was a kid the FA Cup was everything - it trumped the league competitions. In fact the first FA Cup game that I watched (on TV) was The Albion beating Everton...it's been downhill ever since! I agree that the authorities have trounced the FA Cup with paywalls and scrapping replays, etc. In fact, the turning point for me was the year Man Utd abandoned the cup in favour of a commercial enterprise elsewhere. I don't think the Cup ever truly recovered from that.
Ps I didn't go yesterday, either, Peter - but we're still in the Cup and have broken that ridiculously long away losing streak! Phew.
Great breakdown! Talk about persevering! The magic of the cup is still alive! I wish here in the US the federation would embrace the US Open Cup the same way. All of the MLS teams don't even participate in it, which lessens its significance.
Great piece, though it also stirs memories of one of Albion’s worst days, the loss at home to Woking!
It was a great match yesterday, and important to savour, but it was almost certainly the only moment where the magic will be in evidence. Most games are televised behind a paywall, attendances in the early rounds will mostly be down, as clubs from the top two divisions field weakened sides so they can concentrate on the grind and slog of their league campaigns.
You off to Swansea today?
Me neither.
Great piece, Josh!
I completely agree - I'm so pleased the FA cup gives us a chance for these folklore stories to happen.
Another great article for us football romantics. When I was a kid the FA Cup was everything - it trumped the league competitions. In fact the first FA Cup game that I watched (on TV) was The Albion beating Everton...it's been downhill ever since! I agree that the authorities have trounced the FA Cup with paywalls and scrapping replays, etc. In fact, the turning point for me was the year Man Utd abandoned the cup in favour of a commercial enterprise elsewhere. I don't think the Cup ever truly recovered from that.
Ps I didn't go yesterday, either, Peter - but we're still in the Cup and have broken that ridiculously long away losing streak! Phew.