The De-Valuation of the FA Cup

The FA Cup is said to be the most historic football competition in the world. Indeed, so far as I’ve read, there is none that can date as far back. 1872, to be exact, was when it was at first played out, over 13 matches by teams made up solely of amateur players; some 16 years before the football league was created. The cup in its maiden year was won by the Wanders, who beat the Royal Engineers in a final that took place at the Kennington Oval. London’s Lillie Bridge and Crystal Palace were joined by Manchester’s Fallowfield as locations for its climax over the coming years; as well as sites that would become famous stadia like Old Trafford, Goodison Park and Stamford Bridge. Wembley is where it would find its home in 1923 though, where it is still played to this day; albeit it in a stadium that was rebuilt in 2007. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff acted as a go-between from 2001 to 2006, as they closed the old and made way for the new.

Some of my fondest and best recalled memories have involved the FA Cup. Indeed, as I’ve mentioned in one of my earlier pieces, my first is of that Cantona goal in the 1996 showpiece. In the years that followed, Ryan Giggs scored one of the best and most famous goals in the semi-final of 1999 before Manchester United went on to win it as part of an unprecedented treble, Michael Owen made his name in the 2001 final, and the same could be said of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004. There’s an opportunity for glory and, ultimately, a wonderful day out, for the little guy too; with Everton in 1995, Portsmouth in 2008 and Wigan in 2013 being surprise victors; while lower league clubs are given the chance of a lifetime to play at some of the finest stadiums in England, if not the world. Of course, much of this is still valid, but for reasons that I’ll explain, nothing quite feels like it used to.

The trophy win that has meant most to me as a Manchester United fan since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club was the FA Cup win against Crystal Palace in 2016 (although I quite enjoyed the Europa League win that meant that they’d won every possible competition over their history). The London club had, incidentally, been the finalists in the win that many say saved Fergie’s job; becoming the catalyst for all the success to come. That 2016 victory was not enough to save Louis Van Gaal’s job though, which only demonstrates how much less important it is deemed now than it was before. Coming a mere 4th in the Premier League is one such occurrence, where the money and prestige of qualifying for the Champions League is seen as a much bigger prize. Entering Europe’s leading cup competition is a much bigger carrot for the world’s best players, which can only improve a club’s standing.

There’s been such a deterioration in the perceived importance of the FA Cup that is, quite frankly, a little saddening. I read fans on social media call it a Mickey Mouse trophy and you can hardly blame them when you see some of the line ups that managers put out. Second string or near reserve teams have become the norm, particularly in the earlier rounds, while you get coaches like Jurgen Klopp going a step further as he shows it such utter disrespect as to field an under 23 side, while not even bothering to turn up himself. Some strike a good balance; resting some players as they still put out a strong group, but they seem to be few and far between. As a Manchester United fan, I can’t complete this paragraph without mentioning their 1999/2000 omission, which may just have started to open the cracks. Although that is the only comment I can make really, as I can’t really remember why these events were able to occur.

Having the semi-final at Wembley, as it has been since 2008, is one of the biggest factors that de-value the FA Cup in my opinion. I understand that it is a big money-spinner, which will be needed more than ever in post-Covid times, but it doesn’t quite sit right in my mind. Sure, the prospect for a less fancied team to play at the great stadium doubles, but it gives them a smaller incentive to go that step further and, more importantly, makes the final a little less special. While it’s almost certainly the most iconic of possible neutral venues (albeit a shorter travel for London clubs), added to the fact that I’ve never watched a game at this stage live, I miss seeing my team compete in the final four at places like Villa Park. I had looked forward to being a spectator for such an event, which I believe would engender a higher level of intimacy; and I truly see a move back to go some way to bringing some form of respect back to the cup, at least in the eyes of the fans.

The only way I see managers taking the FA Cup more seriously is to award a Champions League place to the winner. I know this gives teams unequipped for Europe’s top competition a better chance to take up a spot, resulting in England’s co-efficient score being damaged (which is why it will never happen), but it is a gamble that I, who has nothing whatsoever riding on this, would be willing to take. It would provide a double benefit from my idealistic point of view, as it would make winning the most historic cup competition more desirable than just obtaining a 4th place finish in the league (God forbid). I’d even put a rule in place that no club outside the top league (including relegated teams) can enter, which will go some way to preserving its integrity – instead reverting back to the way places are awarded now. Winning the FA Cup used to be one of the most prestigious things in football, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.

By Calum Dewsbury