English FA Cup: Semi-final venues

March 12th, 2008 by SM Dev (ste)

The weekend of 8/9th March, 2007, will long be remembered by fans of Barnsley, Cardiff City, Portsmouth, and WBA as their clubs beats the odds and reached the semi-finals of the English FA Cup.

It was truly the weekend of the underdogs, the day the English FA Cup regained its glory, or whatever else you want to phrase in relation to these fantastic results. Now the draw for the semi-final has been made, and is as follows:

Portsmouth v WBA at 12:15, Saturday 5th April, 2008;
Barnsley v Cardiff City at 16:00, Sunday 6th April, 2008.

The English FA also announced that both semi-finals will be held at Wembley, and this is breaking from tradition as Villa Park and Old Trafford are usually used.

Why have the English FA decided to use the national stadium (which is traditionally used to host cup finals, national team games etc) to host the semi-finals? Surely they should stick with tradition and use Villa Park and Old Trafford, and only use Wembley for the final? Does it not take the gloss off reaching the English FA Cup Final and the hallowed turf of Wembley if you only just played there a few weeks prior? Does it ruin the experience of the English FA Cup Final day for the traditional fans?

Soccer Manager would like to hear the views on this topic from the fans of all clubs involved in the semi-finals, as well as from the neutrals out there.

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26 Comments Add your own

1. Boro 0-2 Cardiff | March 12th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

it shudnt be held at wembley cos it takes the magic and excitement out of going to wemnbley for the final
2. oliver e | March 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

I agree
3. Phil Brown | March 12th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

I agree too. Its just rubbish having it at wembly. E=Whu can’t they hav it a neatual grounds li9ke they did before
4. Daniel Murphy | March 12th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

It’s a rubbish idea having the final at Wembley.There is not as much excitment for the players and the fans.Also Wembley should just be used for Cup finals and National games.Cup games especially because it is like an added prize to play in such a great stadium for a final and the semi’s aren’t important enough to be played there.
5. tom | March 12th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

The Semi Fianls should be at wembly because they need to use it as often as possible brcause if they only use it for fianls it won’t be to use. so they need to use it as much as possible to make it worth building
6. sam | March 12th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

i agree coz whats the point building it if your not gonna use it it’s a waste of money if you don’t use it
7. alex | March 12th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

coz it is more exiting and will be oall most sold out if the semi fianls are at wembly who wants to see semis at old traffod and villa park but villa park is nice
8. Ben | March 12th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

The FA are desperately trying to recoup whatever money they can for this investment. Of course they shouldn’t be held at Wembley.
9. Lewis | March 12th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

Its A Disgrace…Wembley Is The holy-Ground Of football…For Internationals And FA cup Final
10. ryan perrin | March 12th, 2008 at 8:59 pm

i think not because thers no point cause when u get 2 da final the magic is gone and the occasion has disappeared
11. Adam | March 12th, 2008 at 9:19 pm

My gut feeling is to say yes because it might the the last time Barnsley ever get there! But in all honestly, I think it takes the shine off of the final. Wembley should be about the whole experience of being 90 minutes away from the cup. I think the FA should revert to neutral Premiership grounds again. Of course, they’re not gonna ‘cos they need to make their money back…
12. Dakota | March 12th, 2008 at 9:31 pm

I agrre with that it takes the meaning of WEMBLEY out, Wembley is a holy ground for the most memorable and exciting of matches which is usually the FA cup final, they should playe the semi’s at Old Trafford and Anfield because i think they are 2 of the most amazing stadiums in the world.
13. James Smith | March 12th, 2008 at 9:49 pm

The whole POINT of the FA Cup is to be at Wembley in the final, that’s the grand prize! Whoever thought of the idea should be sacked.
14. Matt | March 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm

I think they should be held at the millenium stadium, cos thats where thay held the finals before Wembley (The Ground Of God) was finished
15. RajanWBA | March 12th, 2008 at 10:56 pm

It shud be played at the next biggest ground in Englandl… Old Trafford. It aint the same when u get to the final azwell, they are jus doing it to make more money for wembley
16. dan | March 12th, 2008 at 11:03 pm

it should not be played there cozthe plays will try hard to get their for the finals hope barnsley win coz thay knocked out 2 premereship teams
17. Macca | March 13th, 2008 at 11:35 am

it should be held at cardiff… it was good enuf 4 a final b4 wembley so y isnt it gd enuf naw??
18. tom | March 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

coz cardiff will get a home draw at cardiff.
19. alex | March 13th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

u gotta make money
20. ben | March 13th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

thats why their doin it
21. Sal | March 13th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

i agree with ben no.8 the semis r just being held there so they can recouperate some of the costs involved in building the stadium. evrything nowadays is just about money. customs & traditions r just goin out the window. the semis should not b held there but at neutral grounds like old trafford and the emirates as it is 2 of this countries biggest stadiums.
22. chris | March 14th, 2008 at 4:24 am

the fa are a bunch of idiot!! first all this extra game abroad crap. now the semi’s at wembley!!!? complete bunch of c*nts!! has anyone seen the cost of a semi final ticket at wembley???
23. Phil Brown | March 14th, 2008 at 6:32 pm

I’ll have a gues. £50+
24. brad | March 15th, 2008 at 10:26 am

no coz its hard 2 explain :O
25. femi | March 16th, 2008 at 5:14 pm

i think it shouldn’t be held at wembley
26. sas | March 27th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

all i have to say is semi-finals at old-trafford and villa park, final at wembley to make it special for lower league sides if they get to the final, like Barnsley, end of story.