The FA Cup third round has never been more important

Elite are brought back down to earth – and to some mucky pitches – in an antidote to the disparity of the modern game

- MIGUEL DELANEY

At Chesterfield’s Warminster Road training ground, they’ve been extra careful with the pitches over a chaotic Christmas period because they know the Stamford Bridge grass this evening will be so much better than what they’re used to, and the players need to adjust. Even in the modern game, such differences do still persist. So do traditional feelings about the FA Cup. The Chesterfield squad are giddy at the prospect of going to the home of the European champions.

“It sounds a bit surreal,” manager James Rowe said this week about his team’s trip to Chelsea. “We are back on the map, that is the most important thing.” They’re also back on primetime TV, as were Swindon Town last night. Staff at the County Ground ensured every corner of the stadium was spotless. Many were just marvelling at the idea of “the best team in the world” – and arguably the greatest manager in history – being at their ground given the Covid situation as they hosted Manchester City.

There are few feelings like it in football. That is something that became achingly apparent at clubs such as Marine and Chorley last season. The restrictions necessary for Covid denied them the spirit of life that comes with a big FA Cup tie involving a smaller club. Yet ironically the events of the past two years should help to restore a sparkle to the competition, and especially this most compelling of rounds. That doesn’t just apply to the pandemic. There’s also the Super League, controversial takeovers, and so many other stories that foster the feeling the elite game is just getting away from us, going to some super-deluxe level cordoned off and separated from the rest of the game.