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PLAY IT AGAIN, DAMN
The rise and fall of FA Cup replays… from origins 153 years ago to Arsenal needing SIX games to advance one round
The Prem is loved worldwide but our famous KO competition enchants supporters more
AS FA Cup replays fade into the history of high-level football, some of us gently mourn their passing.
Others don’t care a toss. Their view was similar to Henry Ford’s — that history is bunkum.
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But it wasn’t the frustration of waiting for results that ended them — it was, according to the FA, the expansion of Uefa competitions.
Translated into reality this means that for clubs in the higher reaches of the Premier League, replays got in the way.
It also suggests to the rather cynical among you that European competition is more profitable.
We can stand the minor emotion of a twist in history and it is true that replays do get in the way of league and European fixtures — and add to the ever-increasing burden of tired players.
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At some point something had to give and it was FA Cup replays.
The loudest argument comes regarding smaller clubs for whom a replay against, say, Manchester City or Liverpool could earn a surprise fortune.
Andy Peaks and his Tamworth side held Spurs 0-0 after regulation time on Sunday — imagine their payday had a return fixture still been on the cards.
Instead, three goals in extra-time ended their FA Cup dream.
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Replays were introduced after a chaotic inaugural competition in 1871-72 saw both semi-finals finish goalless and — before penalty shootouts existed — a consistent method of separating the teams was needed.
A century later, a record SIX ties were needed to separate Oxford City and Alvechurch.
I took non-league side on epic FA Cup run but I'm better known for keeping Classic FM-loving crocodile in my living room
After 660 minutes of football Alvechurch shaved a 1-0 victory to reach the first round proper.
Imagine being a supporter of Arsenal or Sheffield Wednesday in 1979. You would have been able to watch four replays over nine hours spanning 16 days and shuttling nearly 1,000 miles to watch them.
All before Arsenal got a result just to reach the fourth round.
It is impossible these days to fit in that many FA Cup games.
The total attendance of that tie, 143,916, would have witnessed 16 goals and ten different scorers.
Overall it took a 154-year journey to strike at the heart of replays.
It came this month although, with four draws, only eight sets of fans would have been affected.
However, one of those draws led to Arsenal eventually losing to Manchester United on penalties.
It was a fascinating contest but with a replay we might well have watched an epic rather than the quick thrill of 5-3 on penalties.
There are other traditions the FA have consigned to history.
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Not too long ago Wembley was used only for the final — with Old Trafford, Hillsborough and other stadiums staging the semi-finals.
The semis are now at Wembley, another decision made mainly for financial reasons — for the FA to recoup some of the £1billion cost of rebuilding the stadium, a debt finally paid off last year.
Such decisions may tidy up the bits and pieces of big-money football but it is often said “the magic of the FA Cup” is slowly fading.
Maybe it started when Manchester United had no option but to pull out of the Cup altogether in 2000.
The 1999 Treble winners were involved in the inaugural Fifa Club World Championship, eventually won by Brazil’s Corinthians who received $6million in prize money.
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The Premier League is marvellous, perfect for a long-running opera of our sport.
But the FA Cup is every fan's love affair with the game whether they are from London, Hartlepool or anywhere else.
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