Darlington or Peterbrough

If we can't beat either of them, we don't deserve to win anything. At least there won't be far to travel. ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

Answers

Hmm.

There's a quagmire inhabited by giant-killers to cross here. Sometimes I'd prefer to be drawn at home to some sh!te premier team like Everton.

At least our manager's too much of a gentleman to slag off their facilities, as did TSM re. Stevenage - gaining us much "popularity" in the process.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

It's better than Arsenal away.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

balls, oh that was stevenage as well.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

If it's Darlo they may ask to switch the game to SJP.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Steph
Some thoughts on this are already up and running on the 'Leicester away' thread.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Silly me, should have checked there first - it's an obvious place to post stuff about our 4th round tie! ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Makes keeping up with what's going on a bit more interesting. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Nice they've kept the draw on the GNER mainline :-) Remember, to bring your fireproof clothing for Darlo

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

That draw was fixed. Nobody can convince me that Pallister and Bryan Robson didn't deliberately try to set up Boro v Man Utd. When Boro came out they had to have a careful swirl around to find the marked ball for Man Utd. Blatant.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

If you can prove that Softie, you'll be able to retire on the procedes from the rags grovelling for the rights to publish. :-{E}

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

I'm always suspicious of the draw too, only to be consoled by the fact that it would be too risky - too many people involved so it would have to be a massive conspiracy.

Re fireproof clothing, Bobby, I know Donnie Rovers and Bradford had fires but didn't know about Darlo. Or am I missing the point?

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Wasn't there an arson attack? Did I hear that Reynolds was implicated (allegedly).

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

According to BBC News FS and George "Breaks Your Legs" Reynolds have agreed to try to switch the 4th Round tie to SJP, if of course Darlington get through. Apparently, the FA first have to be convinced that the switch is purely being proposed on safety grounds.

This is where we came in with S*******e B*****h wasn't it? I've always believed that we felt there was a tacit agreement with SB on the same basis. This would have been why we wheeled in the Safety Consultants to ensure the two Clubs had independant advice, only to be subsequently sold down the river by Mr. Victor "Second Hand Car Salesman" Green.

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

At least you know where you stand with George......or not! I'm sure he'd like to maximise his revenue. I mean, there's nee bliddy silverware to nick from SJP while we're away for the day so he might as well do it legit like ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2002

Dead right clarky. Mr Green was actively seeking the SJP money until the Sun stepped in and offered to make up the difference. Of course, any lingering grudges over Kenny's part in the Sun boycott on Merseyside was purely coincidental.

Of course, Mr Green was removed for financial irregularities so I'm sure that the plucky attempted-giantkillers did really well out of it all. It still hacks me off that they get trotted out every time they talk about giant-killings despite the fact that I seem to recall us getting all the way to the Final.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

It seems the FA, with their usual wisdom, have told Darlington they will have to play the tie at Feethams, if of course they win at Peterboro.

With a capacity of ca. 10,000, anyone know how many tix we would get?

Actually, I can just see Peterboro winning and spoiling the NE party!

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Knowing our lot Clarky they'll only ask for 200 in case they can't sell em all.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Rumour has it that the tie might be played at the Smoggies' ground

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

..... yes, that's precisely what I was thinking also, Andy!

I have a feeling you can demand up to 25% of capacity for FAC ties, but I'm not entirely sure. Anyone else know?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

What is the problem allowing a cup tie between a big club (crowd-wise, before anybody's bottom lip starts to tremble), and a smaller club, to be played at the big club's ground, even if only for the reason that the small club stands to make a ton more money ?

What the feck's wrong with that, if neither club has a problem with the arrangement ?

Makes me think the FA is still run by 'gentlemen-don't- participate-in-sport-for-financial-gain' type old farts.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Exactly my thoughts on the matter, PB. If Darlington (or whoever) want to give up home field advantage for a bigger pay day, what's the problem?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Got to agree. I seem to remember this happening all the time in the past, and had thought it was entirely at the discretion of the "small" Club.
Presumably, the FA officials still haven't got enough to fill in their time - even after interfering with the minutia of the jobs of their Referees, and making a complete and utter bollox of the National Stadium project. Tossers!

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

According to The Ronnie, Darlington will make a freash plea to the FA (does that acronym stand for what I think it might?) to switch the game to SJP - if they beat Peterboro.

This time they will 'play the game' by arguing it on safety grounds - they reckon they can only provide 100 car parking places. Call me a cynic, but this 'safety case' sounds just a tad flimsy!

Apparently, Feethams would be limited to a capacity of only 6,800 with the Toon getting ca. 1,500 tix.

The other consideration here is suggested to be the possibility of a Boro v ManU tie on the same day. However, surely the FA would get round this one by instructing one tie to be played on the Saturday and the other on the Sunday?

Hhmmm.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002