Wembley

‘Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, we’re going to Wembley…’

A tune heard on football grounds from Telford to Tottenham as the big and small come together united through knockout competition with a common goal: to make it to the FA Cup final. Or in this case, the semi-final. This year, Villa Park will be left cold and lonely as the FA has decreed that both neutral semi-finals will be played at Wembley as well as the final.

And while Barnsley, Cardiff, Portsmouth and West Brom fans will no doubt be relishing the opportunity of a day out at London’s latest amusement park, it just seems a little bit of the magic of ‘reaching Wembley’ has been taken away by granting these teams access a round early as part of the FA’s desperate attempts to balance the books. Two of these clubs will be heading back again a few weeks later, surely not as exciting second time round?

The New Wembley Stadium attracted years of negative publicity through delays and an escalating budget which eventually made it the most expensive stadium in the world at around £798m. Clearly this cost has to be met, and since its opening, we have seen Wembley’s doors open to various cup finals and international friendlies. Fine, you might think, but if everyone’s going then who’s going to be left wishing? Was it really necessary for last year’s FA Vase final between Truro and AFC Totton to be played at Wembley in front of 27,754 people? Several League 1 grounds can hold this, and I can imagine the atmosphere wasn’t quite as resounding when the ground was only a third-full.

This is not even to mention the various gigs, benefit concerts and even NFL matches that have graced the hallowed turf. I’m all for making use of it now it’s there, but it just feels as if everyone’s invited and noone has to earn the right. FA Cup, Carling Cup, League Play-off finals, fine. That’s a potential 10 clubs who get bragging rights and a great day out. When you start bringing in semi-finals, non-league finals, and the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, your motives turn from magic to money.