Luton - The FA Cup Beckons For The Hatters

Yesterday, Friday, it was announced that our FA Cup 3rd round tie, against Bolton Wanderers, will be played on Sunday 7th January with a 1400-hour kick-off.

Seemingly, the tie has been moved to the Sunday as the tie has been selected for international broadcasting.

To me, it is a shame as I’ve always held the FA Cup in high esteem, not around to witness the 1959 FA Cup Final, my best memory is of our cup run that, sadly, ended in a semi-final defeat at the hands of a very good Everton side that, for long periods of the game, we more than matched.

But, over the past few years, the grand old competition has, like the Premier League and the EFL Championship, seen its value diminished when it comes to sticking with traditional 1500-hour kick-offs.

The top teams seem to use the early rounds, especially if drawn against a team from a lower division, to field a weakened side and the once magical Saturday fixture list gets decimated for TV coverage.

For our tie, I expect the Bolton Wanderers support to turn up in numbers, the team is on a run of good form and a chance to do a number on a Premier League side will be an enticing thought and a good reason to make the kourney south.

Hopefully, Rob Edwards will give the most famous domestic cup competition the credit it deserves and field a strong XI, but with a relegation battle to fight, I’m not sure that will happen.

But, with tickets a scarcity for the Hatters supporters, as far as the Premier League goes, I do hope the ground is full and the tie is not played out in front of numerous empty seats.

COYH