re: The magic of the FA Cup (or otherwise)
Was the 'magic' of the FA Cup a myth or reality?
I looked back at the competition of 1974-75 and some of the statistics were staggering.
Stafford Rangers got to the 4th round and switched their tie with Peterborough to Stoke's ground. A crowd of 31,160 turned up!
Likewise Wimbledon (then non-league) drew at Leeds and for the replay, (played at Crystal Palace) they got a crowd of 45,071.
The 5th round game between Birmingham and Walsall attracted 45,881, and the four matches between Ipswich and Leeds in the 6th round drew a combined attendance of 142,819.
Even our first round replay at non-league Gateshead, played on a Monday afternoon due to lack of floodlights, attracted a crowd of 6,000!
It is impossible to imagine the FA Cup ever having such a hold on the imagination again!