150 YEARS OF HISTORY

Magic of the cup is still alive today

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As the Emirates FA Cup gets underway, The NLP caught up with The FA’s Director of Professional Game Relations Andy Ambler

A MILESTONE YEAR

THE FA Cup celebrates 150 years this season. It’s a fantastic milestone for a wonderful cup competition.

We’ve got 729 teams entered – 348 have been playing over the course of this weekend. That just goes to show the beauty of The FA Cup. It’s what makes it what it is.

The competition is oversubscribed every year. It’s an odd number of teams this season because of the revamp to the Pyramid and there are always so many wonderful stories.

This may be the 150th year but there will be 16 teams taking to the pitch in an FA Cup game for the first time in their history.

We will also have the most southerly FA Cup tie ever when Jersey Bulls make their debut at home to Horsham YMCA.

This round also shows the rebirth of clubs. Milton Keynes Irish are the formation of three clubs, including the old Buckingham Town. Macclesfield FC, North Ferriby – there are some great names.