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Does anyone care anymore about the normal fan. What a nightmare time. I wanted to get the train but this time could put a stop to that. If the game goes to extra time and pens its going to be one mad rush trying to get back to meet train times. Can you imagine thousands rushing to get trains.

The FA cup should be the last game of the season on a Saturday at 3pm. How long will it be before its on a Wednesday night at 745pm. The FA are fucking joke and destroying the game.

It's a piss-take. The FA are highly content to reap the money that the sponsors pay but don't give a stuff about the people who actually make the event and event.

Well done David.

Not great getting back I was home for 1am on Sunday night. I think I was home for 2am for the semi final two years ago.

Should mean everyone is tanked up for kick off and create a decent atmosphere.

Apparently the last train back to Wigan is 8.30.

Is there any good reason for this?

Beefymcfc wrote:It's a piss-take. The FA are highly content to reap the money that the sponsors pay but don't give a stuff about the people who actually make the event and event.

Well done David.

Shambles from top to bottom. This does not benefit any paying City or Wigan fan. It will force people into paying for hotels etc. Do they not get that people are broke. For Wigan fans this may be the one and only time they make a final and the FA are trying to make as inaccessible as possible for the working class.

Is there any good reason for this?

Sister of fu wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:It's a piss-take. The FA are highly content to reap the money that the sponsors pay but don't give a stuff about the people who actually make the event and event.

Well done David.

Shambles from top to bottom. This does not benefit any paying City or Wigan fan. It will force people into paying for hotels etc. Do they not get that people are broke. For Wigan fans this may be the one and only time they make a final and the FA are trying to make as inaccessible as possible for the working class.

It's OK, they can give the unsold tickets to the wider football community who will have them up on E-Bay for double the price within minutes.

The FA don't just do cock-ups, they actually plan them.

Beefymcfc wrote:

Sister of fu wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:It's a piss-take. The FA are highly content to reap the money that the sponsors pay but don't give a stuff about the people who actually make the event and event.

Well done David.

Shambles from top to bottom. This does not benefit any paying City or Wigan fan. It will force people into paying for hotels etc. Do they not get that people are broke. For Wigan fans this may be the one and only time they make a final and the FA are trying to make as inaccessible as possible for the working class.

It's OK, they can give the unsold tickets to the wider football community who will have them up on E-Bay for double the price within minutes.

The FA don't just do cock-ups, they actually plan them.

On Sunday we were saying how many empty seats there were in the club Wembley section, some people these games are one offs, once in a lifetime and they FA continue to make a dogs dinner of it. There should not be rows and rows of empty seats. It will be the same in the final you can guarantee.

Lee_R wrote:Is there any good reason for this?

Commercial reasons it's all about the pounds and the pence.It's gone beyond a joke these days as they don't seem to show any consideration for the fans of the game anymore.

Green & Blue wrote:

Lee_R wrote:Is there any good reason for this?

Commercial reasons it's all about the pounds and the pence.It's gone beyond a joke these days as they don't seem to show any consideartion for the fans of the game anymore.

I'm pretty sure there's an obscure piece of legislation stopping live football from being shown at 3pm domestically on Saturdays during the season (to encourage people to go and watch matches rather than staying at home to watch TV) - so it will have been shifted to accommodate TV. Kind of shit for the hardcore travelling fans though.

Green & Blue wrote:

Lee_R wrote:Is there any good reason for this?

Commercial reasons it's all about the pounds and the pence.It's gone beyond a joke these days as they don't seem to show any consideartion for the fans of the game anymore.

I remember reading something where they said that a 5 o'clock KO at the weekend gets the most viewers. Something to do with the ideal time when everybody has done their weekend thing and are then settling down for dinner and a night in. They get more fair weather watchers tuning in.

More people tuning in equals more money from the sponsors.

Me n kiers were having this conversation today....Think I'm gonna take a tent just in case!

What's worse is the FA knew about the problems it would cause beforehand, after being warned by Virgin:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... anded.html

bunch of fucling dollar chasing cnuts.


The Football Association took the decision to hold this season’s FA Cup final at 5.15pm even though train operators warned them they would not be able to get Manchester City and Wigan Athletic fans back to the North West after the game.

Supporters of both clubs are already upset that a late afternoon kick off on May 11 has left them facing a long trip to Wembley and back by road or an expensive hotel bill after it emerged Virgin trains do not operate Saturday night services to Wigan and Manchester later than 8.30pm and 9pm respectively.

They will now be incensed even more, though, by news that Virgin told the FA exactly what the situation would be.

CUP FINAL TIMETABLE

Saturday May 11, trains from 7.30pm onwards:

London Euston to Manchester

Depart: 7.40pm
Arrive: 9.53pm

Depart: 8.20pm
Arrive: 10.51pm

Depart: 9.0pm
Arrive: 11.38pm

London Euson to Wigan

Depart: 7.30pm
Arrive: 9.33pm

Depart: 8.31pm
Arrive: 11.04pm

Depart: 9.00pm
Arrive: SUNDAY at 9.11am

The last direct service to Wigan leaves London Euston at 8.31pm, while there are only two services back to Manchester Piccadilly after 8pm (8.20pm and 9pm).

A statement from the train company, released today following this morning’s announcement that the showpiece would be staged at tea-time for the second consecutive year, read: ‘We have had a direct dialogue with both the FA and Wembley Stadium that if team(s) from the North West were to be involved in the FA Cup final at Wembley then a 5.15 kick off would mean supporters would be unable to return to the North West that evening.

‘We appreciate that the FA do have major commercial considerations in agreeing to a tea-time kick off, but to be fair to all concerned we thought that at least the FA should be made aware of the situation as soon as possible.’

Virgin, however, did say they would help City and Wigan supporters return to the North West a day after the Cup final.

‘We are of course more than happy to bring Wigan and Manchester City supporters down to London on the Saturday and for them to return on the Sunday.

‘We are looking at the possibility of running an additional service from Wigan on Saturday morning.

‘The 20-minute frequency from Manchester to Euston on Saturday morning will meet the expected demand from the City supporters.'

As was the case last year, when Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1, the game will be broadcast on ITV and ESPN to a prime-time audience.
Paying the price: Sergio Aguero scored the decisive goal at Wembley to sink Chelsea

Final fling: Sergio Aguero booked another Wembley date for Manchester City

Given the violence that erupted during Millwall and Wigan’s semi-final last Saturday, critics will also point to the fact a 5.15pm kick-off has the potential to be dangerous if supporters have the opportunity to drink for long periods before entering the stadium.

However, it is understood the FA are relaxed about the scheduled kick-off and were not going to revert to the traditional 3pm start time on the back of one isolated incident.

Both Manchester City and Wigan, meanwhile, have the option to run special services for those fans wishing to travel by rail to Wembley.

Although Virgin ruled out the possibility of running an additional service after the game, but they claimed ‘specialised’ companies could be in a position to help City and Wigan supporters.

‘The unpredictability of exactly when the match will end, coupled with the earlier close down of the route for essential maintenance and inspection means that the planning of any additional services is extremely difficult given the high numbers of supporters that would attempt to return to the North West that evening.

‘We would much rather that everyone fully understands the position well in advance so that that they can make their plans accordingly.’

‘There are specialised train charter companies separate from Virgin Trains who might be prepared to run a special service(s). They would need to discuss with Network Rail timings and routes.'
Plans: Wigan and Manchester City fans could be faced with travel chaos after the FA Cup final at Wembley

Plans: Wigan and Manchester City fans could be faced with travel chaos after the FA Cup final at Wembley
Plans: Wigan and Manchester City fans could be faced with travel chaos after the FA Cup final at Wembley

Starting at 5.15pm also means the FA Cup final will not clash with other games; Aston Villa host Chelsea that day in the Barclays Premier League (12.45pm kick-off).

The FA Cup final needs to be played on May 11, a week before the end Premier League ends, to give Wembley a fortnight to prepare for hosting the Champions League final.

Traditionalists have long since argued that the FA Cup final should be the final game of the domestic campaign and the FA have not ruled out the possibility of that being the case in the future.

City reached their second final in three years after beating Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday, while Wigan’ 2-0 victory over Millwall secured their first ever FA Cup final date.

The Cup winners will receive £1.8million this season, with the runners-up getting £900,000.

This is the reason the FA let Sergio off with that tackle .................... Agenda ! LOL

Wonder if Dave Whelan has an opinion on this?

Blue Since 76 wrote:Wonder if Dave Whelan has an opinion on this?

he is too busy pulling one off over thatcher !

5.15 is a feasible time for the US East Coast as well as the Far East. More potential viewers equals more cash.

Dameerto wrote:
I'm pretty sure there's an obscure piece of legislation stopping live football from being shown at 3pm domestically on Saturdays during the season (to encourage people to go and watch matches rather than staying at home to watch TV) - so it will have been shifted to accommodate TV. Kind of shit for the hardcore travelling fans though.

Never stopped 3pm cup final kick offs in years gone by.

Edit - Maybe it's because, as you say, it's before the end of the season. Still fucking wrong though.

Beefymcfc wrote:I remember reading something where they said that a 5 o'clock KO at the weekend gets the most viewers. Something to do with the ideal time when everybody has done their weekend thing and are then settling down for dinner and a night in. They get more fair weather watchers tuning in.

More people tuning in equals more money from the sponsors.

True the cup final just gone kicked off at the same time and drew a bigger audience than the champions league final.As such it was deemed a huge success so it seems they will stick with it on that basis.

Green & Blue wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:I remember reading something where they said that a 5 o'clock KO at the weekend gets the most viewers. Something to do with the ideal time when everybody has done their weekend thing and are then settling down for dinner and a night in. They get more fair weather watchers tuning in.

More people tuning in equals more money from the sponsors.

True the cup final just gone kicked off at the same time and drew a bigger audience than the champions league final.As such it was deemed a huge success so it seems they will stick with it on that basis.

Basically that is what it is all about, ask any of our overseas viewers (Dazby, Carl, Doomie, Tokyo etc) if suits them better or not and pretty much all of the will all say yes I reckon?

I believe the ruling only relates to premier league for 15:00 Kick off?

Really feel for all of you back in Manchester. Sunday we left the game and got home about 21:45 (after a cheeky couple in Leicester square) on a normal day it only takes me 40 mins to drive to Wembley.

This whole thing sucks on the FA side it really does. I can live with a 17:15 KO, but at minimum 40 THOUSAND (crude figure for both sets of fans, given corporate bollocks alocation) is just wank