The most annoying aspect of the FA Cup final was not the empty seats or constant references to Budweiser, it was the fact that at least some of us forgot it no longer kicks off at midnight.
You’d think I’d have learned after doing the same thing last year.
There I was with my glass of scotch, peanut bowl filled to the brim and the cat purring expectantly on the lounge, only to discover I was at least two hours early.
Generally I don’t enjoy watching the interminable build-up to big matches – ESPN seemed to start theirs around seventeen hours before kick-off – so you can imagine my disappointment when I flicked on SBS at five-to-twelve only to discover they were screening a typically gritty Euro drama.
It quickly dawned on me the kick-off time for the big clash had been moved back a couple of years ago from 3pm to 5.15pm English time, meaning I was faced with the dilemma of catching some shut-eye or ploughing on through until the game started.
I chose the latter, of course, flicking between Rafa Nadal making short work of compatriot Pablo Andujar in the Madrid Open and a replay of a surprisingly entertaining Challenge Cup clash between Huddersfield and reigning English Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.
That Huddersfield attracted their largest attendance of the season for a cup match rather than a league fixture says much about the way the English venerate knock-out competitions, however those sorts of traditions are dying a slow death.
One such tradition to have tumbled by the wayside is obviously the 3pm kick-off, and its disappearance from FA Cup final day means the traditional Australian FA Cup party is now threatened with extinction – at least on the east coast.
It seems another tradition to have long since disappeared since the construction of the ‘New Wembley’ is fans actually filling every seat.
Notwithstanding that Wigan remains a rugby league town, the real issue at Wembley is not an absence of travelling supporters but the fact that corporate ticket holders regularly fail to turn up.
I once read an interesting article about the rebuilt Yankee Stadium in New York, which explained that the Yankees deliberately situated their premium seats directly behind home plate – reasoning that the closest seats to the action should command the highest price.
Problem is, no one can afford them, leading to the comical situation of Yankees games being broadcast against a backdrop of empty seats.
The same thing happens on the halfway line at Wembley and it’s a sign of the sickness which pervades the modern game.
No longer a working class pursuit, football has been taken away from supporters and placed squarely in the hands of corporations.
Anyway, while Australia’s doyen of football commentators Simon Hill was in the crowd, SBS at least had the redoubtable Martin Tyler on the microphone.
He called the game as impeccably as always and one of the most enjoyable features of the match, for neutral fans at least, was watching Wigan’s speedy winger Callum McManaman terrorise Manchester City’s expensively-assembled defence.
In this day and age of tiki-taka and false nines, it was refreshing to see a footballer revert to the days of yore and simply run directly at defenders.
Poor old Gaël Clichy – surely one of the most overrated players to have ever planted a foot in English football – must have thought he was in some sort of Kafka-esque nightmare, as McManaman repeatedly made him look like the footballing equivalent of a garden gnome.
It was fitting that McManaman played a key role in the winning goal and there was something so predictable about the way substitute Ben Watson out-jumped a static City defence to head home.
So the underdogs owned by a multi-millionaire beat the favourites owned by a multi-billionaire, and we were then swiftly reminded that Wigan’s real goal is to avoid relegation.
It was the FA Cup final alright – just not how it used to be.
apaway
Roar Guru
Interesting concept, Johnno, and I thought at first that your 4th vs FA Cup winner could replace the Charity Shield. The problem is that I think the qualifying rounds of the Champions League begin before the start of the domestic seasons so the 4th placed team would need to be involved.
realfootball
Guest
More than half, I suspect - particularly given the fact that the Roos are virtually unwatchable under Osieck.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Japan has a League Cup and an FA Cup (the Emperor's Cup... played since 1921). Not that anyone here recalls with distinct bitterness attending the 2008 League Cup final at a sun-bathed Kokuritsu.
Kasey
Guest
Agree Sheedy is not a racist, but his narrow-minded view of Australia is pretty bigoted and very insulting to football fans.
Towser
Guest
Ned For those who use the word "Never" with religious belief,Wigan & football prove its time to change your faith. When I was growing up in England Wigan was Rugby League, highlighted by Eddie Waring on Saturday afternoons on BBC Grandstand.In a football town like Sheffield, Wigan stood out to me as the heartland of the game. Whilst its obvious from those attendance figures that RL holds firm,.it proves that if you can provide a town with a football team of high standard the punters will come.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Kevin Sheedy isn't a racist I agree,he isn't funny though either.One thing I had a chuckle about this morning though is that its my sons first birthday today,he couldn't figure out how to get one of his brand new toys to work and started lashing out,the comparison to that and Kevin Sheedys outburst was fairly identical.
Stevo
Guest
Give me replays of the Melbourne Derbies and HAL grand finals over the FA Cup. Especially the glorious victories of the HeartFC over our 'bitter cross town rivals' LOL :) :) :)
Kasey
Guest
Apparently the small Twitter profile picture of Sheedy with a single black man wasn't enough, so GWS have now released a picture of him with 18 black people. LOL http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2013-05-13/giant-diversity-match
Kasey
Guest
BREAKING NEWS...…Mancini sacked as Man Citeh Manager. I guess that’s what you get for losing to Wigan in the FA Cup Final!
Kasey
Guest
Chairman, it was before my time, but from wiki: The highest confirmed DEFCON ever was Level 2. During the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 22, 1962, the U.S. Armed Forces were ordered to DEFCON 3. On October 26, Strategic Air Command (SAC) was ordered to DEFCON 2, while the rest of the U.S. Armed Forces remained at DEFCON 3. SAC remained at DEFCON 2 until November 15.
Punter
Guest
Something called Kama AR.
Punter
Guest
Long may we reign, living in the history of Cloughie snr.
Ned
Guest
Wigan is no longer a rugby league town,it is a sporting town,the football clubs average attendance is 19200,the rugby teams average is 16,043.
Punter
Guest
You are one of the lucky ones Kasey.
Kasey
Guest
‘I’ wonder where ‘I’ fit into Mr Sheedy’s narrow-minded view of sokkah and its fanbase? ‘I’ was born in Australia, raised on SANFL footy, made the conscious decision to turn my back on AFL footy in favour of the A-League and haven’t regretted my decision for a micro-second…does that make me un-Australian to Mr Sheedy? Perhaps I need to go out and buy a v8 ute, abuse some Muslims and get a southern Cross tattoo to reclaim my ‘Australian-ness’?
Kasey
Guest
If you think about it….its a bit of a backhanded compliment....An AFL post-game presser and the 'wonder-coach' 'Mr. publicity' himself spends time talking about how successful WS Wanderers have been. My how the landscape has changed ;-) A crude method of communication from KS, but he's not exactly the most skilled of orators is he? It was insulting, narrow-minded and crude, but hardly the racist bombshell some are declaring it.
peeeko
Roar Guru
thanks Nick
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
i think you are confused peeeko: all euro countries have a national cup (called FA cup in Eng but its usually called German Cup, French cup etc) in which every clubs from amateurs to pros ranks take part (knock out games) and some also have a League cup which is played by professional clubs only. The FA cups or national cups are by far the most prestigious of the 2 trophies and the oldest. The League cups are just here to bring in some money if you ask me and most clubs send their b teams to compete (knock out comp again).
peeeko
Roar Guru
is it only Scotland and England that have FA cups as well as league cups? it appears that every other Euro country runs a league cup and not a FA cup? The FA cup seems to still have relevence in England but not the league cup?
Titus
Guest
[To the sound of violins]