Stand up for FA Cup against the wreckers
The FA Cup has become of the utmost importance to us Hammers this year but ClaretandHugh FB member CAROL COMBES fears that Football Association suggestions to turn it into a midweek competition with no replays will harm it irreparably. She declares: “It’s not about the football… it’s about the money.”
That question could be one some of us will be asking each other in years to come.
Why?
Because there are growing rumbles that will result in the high profile of the FA Cup being weakened.
We are hearing ‘suggestions’, (which in my experience usually means ‘done deals’!), about midweek games, no replays, etc. I suspect that most agreeable managers are from the Prem League!
Why is this important? Simply because this is about the money – NOT the football!
Clubs/TV companies don’t earn as much money from the FA Cup as they do pimping their players, by flying them around the world, playing exhibition matches!
Whatever benefits the clubs tell you, they don’t seem to be worrying about their biggest ‘stars’ getting injured/tired, or playing too many games in a season, when there is money to be made!
Maybe the players would enjoy more rest if we stopped the International Tournaments? No flying players around the globe, during our season, for World Cup/African Cup or Euros games? Wonder why they don’t want that to happen-maybe the answer is, yet again, money?
To many ‘lesser’ clubs, the Cup is a chance to earn a financial lifeline, something which means a lot to clubs NOT in the ‘Money-No-Object’ League! If they earn a replay against one of the ‘big’ clubs, (as my lovely local club Exeter City have done, more than once!), it can make the difference in surviving or closing.
To devalue this Cup is an insult to all clubs not in the Prem AND fans!
We HAVE to speak up, before it’s too late, and tell them how much it means to you?
How many of us have NOT watched a match, shouting for that underdog to beat that Prem club?
Speaking for myself, I LOVE the FA Cup. I remember when it was treated by both clubs with respect!
The excitement of FA Cup Final Day!
The BBC would spend the whole morning with one team, ITV the other. You would watch whichever side had the team you were hoping would win. Cameras on the coach to Wembly-chatting to the players.
All before a ball was even seen!
Please, stand up for FOOTBALL – not business! Leave OUR FA Cup alone!