kwik1980
21 Feb 2004, 10:24 PM
Apparently, there is a growing sentiment to allow Arsenal to keep the FA Cup trophy perminently should they pull off their 3rd straight win in the competition this season. I hadn't heard any of this until I saw this BBC article on the situation: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/3498735.stm
The last club to win 3 straight FA Cups was Blackburn Rovers from 1884-86, and they were given the option, under rules at the time, to keep the trophy perminently. They declined, with the provision that the trophy could never be won outright. Some have claimed that FIFA actually set a precedent by awarding the old Jules Rimet trophy to Brazil outright after their 3rd World Cup win in 1970, though those were not consecutive wins. Current Blackburn officials have not objected to the idea, and some within the FA feel that it could add spice to the competition, if it gets to the final, with the trophy on the line in more ways than one. Presumably, this excitement would carry over into next year's competition as well, as you could stretch out the "what will the new FA Cup trophy look like?" speculation straight through to the next final, if you wanted.
FA Officials will discuss the matter should Arsenal reach the semifinals. They will travel to either Portsmouth or Liverpool for their quarterfinal match.
So, what do you all think? Personally, I don't think it's a bad idea, it would give the final another level of importance, especially if it ends up Arsenal-Man U.
The last club to win 3 straight FA Cups was Blackburn Rovers from 1884-86, and they were given the option, under rules at the time, to keep the trophy perminently. They declined, with the provision that the trophy could never be won outright. Some have claimed that FIFA actually set a precedent by awarding the old Jules Rimet trophy to Brazil outright after their 3rd World Cup win in 1970, though those were not consecutive wins. Current Blackburn officials have not objected to the idea, and some within the FA feel that it could add spice to the competition, if it gets to the final, with the trophy on the line in more ways than one. Presumably, this excitement would carry over into next year's competition as well, as you could stretch out the "what will the new FA Cup trophy look like?" speculation straight through to the next final, if you wanted.
FA Officials will discuss the matter should Arsenal reach the semifinals. They will travel to either Portsmouth or Liverpool for their quarterfinal match.
So, what do you all think? Personally, I don't think it's a bad idea, it would give the final another level of importance, especially if it ends up Arsenal-Man U.