As the Mirror starts its fight to save FA Cup replays, Tony Cascarino tells the story of a third-round replay that was very important not too long ago.
Tony Cascarino, a former striker for the Republic of Ireland, talked about how a match in the FA Cup made one team £1 million.
After getting Exeter City to play Manchester United in 2005, he “went down in Exeter City folklore.” “Exeter was in the Conference, had a lot of debt, and had just been taken over by the fans,” he said.
“When I pulled ball number 64 out of the velvet bag, it gave them a trip to Old Trafford, which was sold out and brought in about £600,000 in ticket sales.” Exeter and Newcastle played to a 0-0 draw, and the live replay at St. James’ Park earned them £1 million.
He said it was the beginning of the end for the club’s money problems, and they made it back to the Football League. Clubs make £25,000 from repeats shown on BBC and ITV in the first round, and $55,000 in the fifth.
Plans were made to get rid of replays in the FA Cup starting with the first round. This caused anger across the football hierarchy. People in the Mirror want to keep the games, which have helped lower-league and non-league clubs make money over the years.
There are people who think that the decision to remove the ties from the schedule was made because of pressure from the rich owners of Premier League teams. Top-flight teams, especially those in European events, have made their worries about too many games known.
From the fifth round on, replays had already been taken away. But they made it to round three, where Exeter and Manchester United played each other in 2005.
Drawing Exeter City to play Manchester United in 2005 has “gone down in Exeter City folklore” thanks to Tony Cascarino.
When Exeter played in the FA Cup for the first time in 2004–05, they beat Braintree Town in the fourth qualifying round. Following that, they beat Grimsby Town and Doncaster Rovers before drawing at Old Trafford. However, they lost 2-0 in the repeat and won a lot of money.
They made it through, and in 2008, they made it back to the Football League through the play-offs. Since then, they haven’t been outside the top four divisions again, and they’re on track for a mid-table place in League One this year.
There are more former football players who agree with The Mirror’s call to keep FA Cup replays. Cascarino was a part of their path. In 1984, Peter Reid won the cup with Everton. He has also joined those calling for the FA to change their mind.
“The FA is giving up the little clubs at the top of the football pyramid for the big clubs,” Reid said. “The FA Cup has helped many stay alive.” It was very important for Warrington Town to beat Exeter, who was managed by Reid’s brother Shaun. The money raised helped the whole town.
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