CUP OR WAR

It is the FA Cup First Round proper this weekend (Fri-Mon), a time when clubs that have fought through the various qualifying rounds finally get some glory by being drawn against Football League clubs, albeit  clubs at the lower end of the FLeague. You may have watched Dulwich Hamlet take on Carlisle United last night, a road journey for the Cumbrians of 325 miles and therefore a long journey by coach, both for players and supporters. Carlisle won 4-1, so that took the edge off the two day journey and Hamlet did themselves proud at Champion Hill, their home ground.

If you are a regular reader, then you will remember the "Marmalade" capital of Maldon and Tiptree where the local FC play Leyton Orient tomorrow (Sunday) in the Cup.
Elsewhere, on Sunday, Wrexham visit Rochdale, Lincoln were hosted by Ipswich Town today , a 1-1 draw and coincidently, Blackpool were at home to local Lancashire neighbours, Morecambe, winning 4-1. Harrogate host Portsmouth on Monday, not a local derby!

Keeping on the theme of War and Remembrance, the FA Cup was suspended from 1915/16 until 1918/19. The previous season had seen the Khaki Cup Final when Sheffield United beat Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford. Nearly 50,000 saw this. Hope you can read the comment below the drawing.

The FA took advice from the War Office and were encouraged to maintain the cup ties during that winter, to maintain national morale.
Not everyone agreed, including the satirical Punch magazine which included "just as if the country did not need the services of all its athletes for the serious business of war".

In season 1919/20, the Extra Preliminary Round included 25 ties, and in that round was Denaby United from South Yorkshire who played Mexborough, also South Yorkshire (now), losing 1-3.
I watched a Sheffield and Hallamshire Premier Division league game today at AFC Penistone (P Church Reserves) who beat Denaby Main (once United) 4-1. Originally Denaby Parish Church FC, the club was founded in 1895, changing its name to Denaby United three years later.

The next round in the 1919/20 FA Cup held well over 150 ties with clubs being drawn out of the hat "in regions"!

By Qualifying Round Six there were 16 ties and the winners moving on to the Proper Round One, when more "elevated" League clubs joined and by Round Two, there were 16 ties, then 8, 4,2 obviously.
When there was ONE TIE, the Final, Aston Villa beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 aet at Stamford Bridge and over 50,000 watched in relative "freedom".
Luckily Chelsea lost to Aston Villa at Bramall Lane in the semi-final, avoiding the prospect of Chelsea playing on their home ground in the Final!!!