The times really are changing

IT WAS a strange old day in the FA Cup yesterday – you didn’t know if you were coming or going.

That was due to the scheduling. There were ten games that kicked off at the traditional 3pm slot, while seven games kicked off at 12.30pm and another five at 5.30pm.

That followed the opening tie of the round on Friday night – Tranmere against Tottenham. There are another eight games this afternoon, seven at 2pm and Newport versus Leicester at 4.30pm. Oh, and there’s an all-Premier League clash between Wolves and Liverpool tomorrow night to round things off.

Apparently, the main reason for the bizarre programming is due to a new overseas broadcast deal which will net the FA £820m over six years.

Sadly, it is the poor old supporters who go to games and generate the atmosphere that makes English football such an attractive proposition who suffer most.

What time would those Tottenham fans who went to Tranmere have got back? What time would the Reading fans who headed to Manchester for their lunchtime clash against United have had to set out?

No wonder Football Supporters’ Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke has his reservations.

“The third round of the FA Cup on the first Saturday in January was always one of the great highlights of the season, and to have less than one third of the games kicking off at three o’clock on Saturday definitely to some extent diminishes the magic of the day,” he said.

He certainly has a point, though the FA do make a decent reply.

“The new deal, which began this season, will see more money than ever before reinvested back into English football and prize money doubled to over £30.2m, with a guaranteed £4m distributed to Non-League clubs,” said the governing body.

“In addition, the new deal will provide an increased level of investment into grassroots football pitches, facilities and participation programmes across England.”

That is all positive, but some will ask if the price is worth it, in particular those fans travelling to games yesterday.