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Saturday 27 July 2024

The Road To Wembley...Updated

 

View from inside Wembley Stadium prior to FA Cup semi-final between Coventry City and Manchester United

Begins again this coming Friday evening when five Extra Preliminary Round ties take place, ahead of over 200 matches at the weekend.

Another season, and more changes to the format, means that no replays will take place from the First Round Proper onwards, whether they 'strengthen' the competition as the FA insist they will, remains to be seen but an expanded Champions League will struggle to match the drama provided by some of last season's FA Cup ties, even if I am biased as a Sky Blues supporter!

At this early stage of the season, however, the format remains untouched and the prize, whether financial or sporting, remains something of huge value to all involved.

A great example of this is a Facebook post from Beverley Town FC ahead of their first involvement in the competition since 1919.

The Beavers host Whitley Bay on Sunday 4th August and are encouraging those wishing to attend the game to buy tickets (£6/£4 and free for under-16's) in advance.

Updated Sunday 4th August: Replays may be a thing of the past for Premier League and EFL clubs but there will be plenty this coming midweek.

At Handsworth FC, for example, close to me here in Sheffield, the hosts were denied by an injury-time penalty for South Liverpool FC.

That means a scramble to arrange transport and time off work but Handsworth's after-match tweet didn't moan about fixture congestion, it merely wished their visitors a safe journey home and looked forward to meeting again on Wednesday evening.

A classy reaction, mirrored by the appreciation of South Liverpool for the hospitality they had been shown in South Yorkshire and an example for those higher up the footballing ladder.

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