THE SPECIAL – Bromley at home in the Cup –
FAC 3rd Round, Newcastle United v Bromley, St James’ Park, 12/Jan/2025, KO 3pm.
UK TV: Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button.
Freesat (Ch980), Freeview (Ch601), Sky (970) and Virgin Media (990).
It’s early January so by the ancient decree of English football, it is the third round of the FA Cup. Marvellously, the FAC draw has thrown up yet another fantastic tie. I don’t think it is arrogance for me to suggest this tie was greeted with more delight at Bromley FC than it was by Newcastle United, though I’ll admit to some relief at a winnable home draw (on paper).
This is the romance of the FA Cup – giants against minnows and journeys into the unknown for all participants. The FA Cup is full of clichés ... Newcastle United is expected to win, should win and can’t really win because of that justifiable expectation. But we must win if you get my drift.
For Bromley it is a dream come true and they can’t lose, they are expected to exit the FAC at SJP and return to the business of League 2. But they will wish to defy that expectation.
And as we are reminded annually, Cup upsets do happen. Most famously in the TV age, we lost to Hereford and being a child when that FAC disaster happened, I can still recall the shock it generated amongst our support, particularly those who had witnessed United winning the FA Cup three times in the 1950s with Milburn, Robledo, Mitchell, Brennan, Stokoe, Harvey, White et al.
That was less than two decades previously at the time.
There are several David v Goliath ties across this year’s third round ties. It seems inevitable there will be a Cup shock. It takes a bit of complacency, lack of attention to detail, too many regulars rested, players selected not getting into the contest as they should and the lower league opposition raising their game. David often beats Goliath.
The days when playing surfaces, a bit of rough-housing etc could be levellers are largely things of the past. On the flip-side I expect the lower league sides heading to more celebrated opposition today will be physically fit and well prepared. The days are over when you might see a bit of a beer belly from some players at any serious level of football. Then again ... Mike Hooper, Sol Campbell spring to mind in modern times.
There will be changes to Eddie Howe’s team today. We can say with confidence there will be no Alexander Isak turning out because the Head Coach gave us advance notice of that in his pre-match press conferences last week. At a guess I’d also suggest after brilliant performances at Spurs and Arsenal, Sven Botman might also get a rest after his exertions following a lengthy lay-off. There will be more than a ready eye on Wolves and Bournemouth coming to SJP for Premier League games over the folowing days.
A week or so ago, I’d have been confident of Lewis Miley starting this game but now I’m not so sure as he’s been largely absent over the last few fixtures. We’ll see.
It might be the opportunity for John Ruddy, Kieran Trippier, Matty Targett, Sean Longstaff, Will Osula, Harvey Barnes to start a game. Whether there are sufficient Academy players Eddie Howe will trust too we’re about to find out.
It is a delicate balance. I’d guess there will be first team regulars on the bench but I would hope they aren’t needed and whatever side Howe selects can deal with what Bromley throw at us.
There has been talk of the decline of the FA Cup within the game. It is true some of the changes made, the scrapping of FAC replays and the timing of the final for example has reduced the profile of the competition. Premier League clubs in particular take the opportunity to rotate their sides and first team players often sit these early rounds out, particularly on days such as these, against what might be judged modest opposition. Is it any wonder then the sheen of the Cup has been dulled by those running football and despite its latent popularity with supporters?
The changes are entirely driven by clubs in the Premier League and in particular, those competing in the Champions and Europa Leagues. Others are culpable too, judging the finances of the Premier League mean far more to them than going all in on the FA Cup. Their thinking is rational but simultaneously grim.
At Newcastle United, we heard Lee Charnley, Managing Director under Mike Ashley’s ownership explain to some supporters that the cups weren’t a priority. The ambition was no more to exist and keep the PL money rolling in. That is the bleakness of a game where money matters more than glory. Charnley simply articulated what others think in private and which are evidenced by their actions.
For Bromley, today is potentially seismic for them in terms of finance. I’m going to guess the game will have sold out and so the Bromley share of the gate, TV revenues and increased sponsorship and other marketable exposure will make the Londoners’ coffers considerably more healthy. Good luck to them.
It has been estimated there might be around 3000 Bromley fans at SJP today. I hope they enjoy their trip to the city, our Geordie hospitality and the experience of being up in Level 7 of the Leazes End. I’m sure many will have had a weekend in the city and enjoyed what it has to offer.
But we have suffered too many bloody-noses down the years from lower league and non-league clubs to take this game for granted. Defeats, draws and scrapes at Hereford, Exeter, Stevenage, Yeading, Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday, Cambridge, Wrexham and many more should be an antidote to complacency with Eddie and his coaching team.
Making a personal return to Newcastle United today is the club’s former goal-keeping coach, Andy Woodman. Andy was at United with former manager Alan Pardew. It’s fair to say Woodman (whose son Freddie was also at United as a goalie) was here at a largely unhappy time for supporters under Mike Ashley.
I will say for Andy Woodman and indeed Alan Pardew that they never fail to speak well about United and with obvious affection for the club, supporters, city and region. I hope Andy gets a nice welcome, enjoys his day but travels home concentrating on the league.
Match Preview
Bromley Low Down
Newcastle United Supporters Trust
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Newcastle United Supporters Trust's Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 29 January 2025 at The Tyneside Irish Centre, 43 Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4SG.
Doors will open at 6.15pm and we will be located in the private room upstairs
with formal business commencing at 7pm prompt.
Football Photography
Who doesn’t love a good photo from the football? I spotted this during the week courtesy of Terrace Edition and thought I’d share it with you lot. Some great photos here of football overseas. The photos in this collection are taken by photographer and fan Daniela Spina who lives in the Parque Patricios area of Buenos Aires. Daniela is a fan of Club Atlético Huracán (me neither) and the club is followed by her family by tradition. Sound familiar?
Anyway, these are some really powerful images and capture the emotions of being a football supporter. As Mags we’ll recognise what the subjects in the photos are going through. I hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as I did.
Click on the image below.
There are few sources of analysis that can provide as detailed and accurate coverage of football’s finances than the Swiss Ramble. This week in two parts Swiss Ramble have explained the impacts of PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) on a load of different clubs (including Newcastle United). I’d recommend you have a good read of this direct from the source as opposed to being ponced off by those who struggle to read a team-sheet let alone a balance sheet. Click on the image above.
Catch Up
If you missed our coverage of the wins at Tottenham and Arsenal, you can still see the match reports.
As always, all of our reports are written by Mags in the stands home and away.
The same applies to our friends recording the Podcasts.
Arsenal away
Spurs away:
New Writers welcome
As I hope you all know, there’s an open door at TRUE FAITH for writers. You don’t need to have experience or qualifications. All you need is a love of Newcastle United. Our writers come in all shapes and sizes. We have writers who are home and away zealots, season ticket holders, members, ex-pats, arm-chair Mags, Geordies and those from further afield.
All are welcome and if you think you can inform and entertain your fellow Mags with something to say, then get in touch.
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Cheers for reading ...
Keep On, Keepin’ On ...
Michael Martin, @TFMick1892 - @TFMick1892.bsky.social
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That is all, see you back here for the Wolves game.
Many thanks to Peter Willis for his art-work - much appreciated comrade!
Liked the article about Huracán. It’s on my list of stadiums in BA to visit at the end of this year while in Argentina. Picked up a lot of hints from the History of Argentinian Football previewed by Mick on this site. The ground isn’t that far from Boca, which I visited in 2022.