Just when the critics had condemned it to the history books, the FA Cup hit back over the weekend with a Third Round that portrayed all of the world’s oldest cup competition’s finest traditions.Just when the critics had condemned it to the history books, the FA Cup hit back over the weekend with a Third Round that portrayed all of the world’s oldest cup competition’s finest traditions.

With many matches played in horrible weather conditions, four Premiership clubs went out to Football League opposition while holders Manchester United were held at Old Trafford by non-league Exeter City.

And it seems the public have fallen back in love with the Cup. With an average attendance of 17,273, figures released by the Football Association show that the Third Round enjoyed its highest aggregate attendance (535,487) for nearly a quarter of a century.

The FA relates that, in 1981, the average attendance for the completed Third Round reached 17,714 but fell to 13,396 four years later. Since then, however, there has been a steady upward trend, climbing to 14,545 in 1995 and leading to this season being the best for 24 years.

Although good news in itself, writing in the London Evening Standard, Adrian Warner believes it is proof of a more general trend: “Two sets of attendance figures just released about the FA Cup Third Round and the Coca-Cola Football League indicate there could be serious change taking place in England’s football culture.

“Significant increases in crowds in the 31 ties played over the weekend and in this season’s Championship and League One campaigns suggest that fans are starting to regard a lower grade match with potential drama as being better value for money than a predictable high-class show of Premiership stars.

“There has already been evidence this season that high ticket prices, blanket TV coverage and the predictable dominance of top clubs appears to be making some fans shun the Premiership.

“The lucrative Champions League, football’s so-called crème de la crème, has also witnessed thousands of empty seats this season with Chelsea and Arsenal both failing to fill their stadiums on big European nights.

“While there is no doubt that winning the Champions League or the Premiership is of far more importance to Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal because of the financial benefits, the FA Cup still appears to provide an extra magic for the fans.”

AFS member Mike Collett - the author of the Complete Record of the FA Cup [Sports Books £19.95] - has no doubt that the famous old cup has a long and exciting future. He told the Standard: “There has actually always been around the same number of shocks every year. What the FA Cup has got is that one big upset can make a season special.

“The magic of the Cup is that anybody can play anybody else and get a result. It has retained that magic.

“When I was researching my book I came across a newspaper article from 1962 when it was being suggested that there weren’t so many upsets anymore and that the magic had gone.”

Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose, as was once said.

Plans for Everton to share Liverpool’s proposed new ground have now been officially scraped.

There’s also stadium news from York City and Heart of Midlothian.Plans for Everton to share Liverpool’s proposed new ground have now been officially scraped.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council confirmed: “It is disappointing that both sides have been unable to reach agreement on a joint stadium.

“However, the existing plan for a new Anfield is part of a major regeneration of the Anfield and Breckfield area and we fully intend to deliver that because of the economic benefits it will bring to an area which badly needs them.

“Of course, we will also do everything we can to help Everton find a 21st century stadium for the club and their fans.”

In suggesting financing arrangements was a major stumbling block, Peter Kilfoyle - the MP for Liverpool Walton - told the Liverpool Daily Post: “I don’t think either of the two clubs at board level were ultimately supportive of it either.

“One or two individuals on either side were in favour but it was not enough because most were hostile.”

In other stadium news, York City have bought back their Bootham Crescent home in a deal worth £2million. The club have acquired shares from the board of Bootham Crescent Holdings and Persimmon Homes Ltd to take control of the ground.

It maybe only a temporary reprieve for one of England’s most homely stadiums as, according to the York Evening Press, It is now thought that the club and Persimmon will submit a new planning application next month to build houses on the site. That deal will help fund the move to a new ground.

And in Scotland, following their EGM on Monday, the board of Hearts have confirmed that the resolution put to shareholders to withdraw from the agreement for the sale of their Tynecastle Stadium was passed and so the move to Murrayfield will not now go ahead.

England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has offered his services to take charge of one of the all-star teams should FIFA complete their proposed plan to stage an international benefit match in aid of the Indian Ocean Tsunami appeal.England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has offered his services to take charge of one of the all-star teams should FIFA complete their proposed plan to stage an international benefit match in aid of the Indian Ocean Tsunami appeal.

Speaking to the Football Association’s official web site on the fourth anniversary of his appointment, Sven confirmed he would be delighted to lead a team of top European talent: “Of course, if they want me to do that, I’m more than happy to do it. If I could do something which would help to raise money, I would do it at once.

“Football is something which involves the whole world, especially when you are in England.

“People see FA Cup and Premier League games all over the world. I think English football has been very good, the Premier League have sent money, many clubs have done it as well and I’m sure individual players did too.

“In a situation like this, everyone should try to help. I’ve been to Indonesia, it’s a beautiful part of the world, and for more than 150,000 people to lose their lives is incredibly sad.”

FIFA’s deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne told the London Evening Standard : “We want to do something big to show that sport is holding hands with the victims of the tragedy.

“Big clubs in the Premiership have offered their stadia. We have contacted the FA and, through Sven-Goran Eriksson and executive director David Davies, they have said they want to participate in the joint efforts of FIFA and UEFA.”

It is thought that FIFA president Sepp Blatter is keen to organise a Rest of the World XI with the game likely to take place on Wednesday 16 February in London or Manchester.

The FIFA Emergency Committee has already decided to make $2 million available. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has itself pledged $1 million.

Mr Blatter and AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam have agreed that these funds should be used to help the affected member associations (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand) as well as the local population of the stricken region.

Should you wish to contribute, the AFS respectfully suggests that donations should be paid to Care International.

It’s the most romantic weekend of the season as the big clubs face the minnows in the Third Round of the FA Cup. However, to avoid the acute embarrassment of the possibly becoming the victims of the greatest giantkilling acts of all-time, there is a way that Chelsea and Manchester United can get their hands on the trophy without facing their respective ties tomorrow against Scunthorpe United and Exeter City.It’s the most romantic weekend of the season as the big clubs face the minnows in the Third Round of the FA Cup. However, to avoid the acute embarrassment of the possibly becoming the victims of the greatest giantkilling acts of all-time, there is a way that Chelsea and Manchester United can get their hands on the trophy without facing their respective ties tomorrow against Scunthorpe United and Exeter City.

More exactly, anyone who is prepared to part with a considerable sum will soon have the possibility of owning the oldest existing FA Cup trophy.

It’s a replica of the original trophy, which was stolen in 1895 from the shop window of William Shillcock in Birmingham, and is expected to attract bids of up to £300,000 in an auction of football memorabilia on 19 May to be held at Christie’s in South Kensington, London.

It was presented to winning teams between 1896 and 1910 and during its lifetime it was won by Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Bury, Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Manchester United and Newcastle United.

It was presented to Lord Kinnaird in 1910 to mark his 21 years service as president of the Football Association and has remained in the family ever since.

Christie’s said the second and oldest version of the FA Cup was arguably the most important item of football history ever to be offered for sale. Their head of sporting memorabilia, David Convery said: “This FA Cup is arguably the most important item of football memorabilia ever offered at auction and represents the growing strength of the football memorabilia market.

“This is the oldest existing trophy of the oldest football tournament in the world.”

The highest price Christie’s have previously recorded for football memorabilia was £157,750 for the shirt worn by Brazilian legend Pele in the 1970 World Cup Final.

Following Tuesday’s controversial ‘goal that wasn’t’ incident that denied Tottenham Hotspur a win at Manchester United, it would appear increasingly likely that it is only a matter of time before technology is introduced to rule on goal-line decisions.Following Tuesday’s controversial ‘goal that wasn’t’ incident that denied Tottenham Hotspur a win at Manchester United, it would appear increasingly likely that it is only a matter of time before technology is introduced to rule on goal-line decisions.

Although many with have grave misgivings, comments made by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the current edition of the influential France Football magazine would suggest that a cyclops - style system (as used for many years at the Wimbledon tennis championships) is already at an advanced stage.

Developed by Adidas, it involves sensors on the goal line and a microchip in the ball.

Mr Blatter said: “One thing that is possible and for which we’re looking for an acceptable solution is the control of the goal-line to find out whether the ball was in or out.”

The matter seems set to be discussed when the International Football Association Board meets in Cardiff on 26 February when a trial match is expected to be arranged.

The move appears to have the qualified backing of the Football Association. A statement on their official web site reads: “The FA is willing to discuss and consider any form of goal-line technology that would improve decision-making while not disturbing the game.

“The key factor is whether a message can be transmitted immediately to the referee allowing him to take an immediate decision without interrupting play.”