MY colleague, David Pye, on this page yesterday, lambasted the use of Wembley for FA Cup semi-finals.
As a Wanderers fan, I can only agree, but I would have to take his ire at the FA’s use of the national stadium a step further.
I don’t know if I am in the minority here, but I couldn’t bring myself to go to either of Bolton’s recent Wembley semi-finals.
The unlucky ones who went to see the Whites take on Stoke in 2011 and Aston Villa in 2000 will probably say I made the right choice.
After all, Owen Coyle’s men were hammered 5-0, while Big Sam’s boys dipped out on penalties after a last-gasp miss from Dean Holdsworth denied them a deserved winner in normal time.
Both were heartbreaking in their own way, but even more so for me as I couldn’t bring myself to go.
Maybe my principles are skewed, but the only time I will ever countenance following my team to Wembley is for a final.
That’s what Wembley is for.
Whites fans may never know, but surely the whole cup final experience is watered down if it’s your second visit to Wembley in as many months.
That’s quite apart from the cost of making two trips to London and shelling out on all the associated food, drink and memorabilia, not to mention the over-priced tickets.
While Mr Pye doesn’t want the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley either, he argued that the two losing teams at least now have the consolation prize of having their big day out, I would say that’s not the case.
He also said that it’s not like the old days, when a defeat in the last four could be heartbreaking for players and fans alike.
The fact is that losing a semi-final – especially 5-0 – is hard to take no matter where it happens, the fact it is at Wembley definitely doesn’t soften the blow.
In reality, for people like me, who have decided to take a principled stance, it is even worse, as I am not only robbed of a chance to go to Wembley for a final, I have also been denied the opportunity of seeing my team play in the flesh in an FA Cup semi-final.
That’s all I dreamed of during the great cup runs of the 1990s.
I just wonder how many more people in Bolton feel the same way.
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