119 CLUBS JOIN OUR REPLAY FIGHT
EXCLUSIVE MORE than 100 clubs back the Mirror crusade to save the magic of the FA Cup.
It comes as the game’s governing body hold a meeting today to discuss the controversial axing of replays.
The Football Association say the move is to ease the fixtures calendar which has been made more congested by the expansion of European club competitions.
A total of 119 clubs across England and Wales have signed up for our campaign.
Yesterday, world body FIFA was threatened with legal action by player unions if it does not reschedule the 2025 Club World Cup, to be held in America, which is expanding from seven teams to 32.
The clubs looking to save replays line up alongside the Football Supporters’ Association, which represents 600,000 fans, as well as ex-England stars Peter Reid, Malcolm Macdonald and Paul Stewart.
The families of 1966 World Cup heroes Jack and Sir Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles also backed our fight.
Minnows have told how a good FA Cup run raised vital funds for clubs, fans and their communities. Maidstone Utd owner Oliver Ash revealed they made £800,000 this year as they beat Ipswich Town to make the fifth round.
He said: “It is the icing on the cake in the football calendar. Players compete against the best in the world. The finances are a bonus; it gives clubs the chance to fund special projects.
“But it is all about the dream of taking on the elite clubs, going to places like Anfield and Old Trafford.”
Sutton United’s FA Cup run in 2017 contributed around £1million to a ground revamp.
“Our cup run will contribute to the community work around the club,” added Mr Ash. “The Premier League is making all the decisions on this issue. The big clubs are bullying the smaller clubs on the traditions of the game.”
The FA Council, made up of 92 representatives from across the leagues and county FAs, meets at St George’s Park National Football Centre, Burton, Staffs, today with the cup on the agenda.
Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game, the campaign group backing our crusade, added: “There is still time for the FA to overturn this decision.”
Some of the greatest moments in the game have happened in FA Cup replays, including a sensational solo goal from Manchester Utd’s Ryan Giggs in the semi-final against rivals Arsenal in 1999.
More than 8,600 fans have signed our Save the Magic of the FA Cup petition.
■ You can also sign our petition at you.38degrees. org.uk/petitions/don-tscrap-replays-keepthe-magic-of-the-fa-cup