Battered Cup still shines

THE POOR old FA Cup has been subjected to more battering in recent years than the Spanish version which Sergio Ramos let fall under the wheels of the Real Madrid bus.

Yet, somehow the shine still manages to poke through, even though, in the latest insult, today’s Wembley decider between Stoke City and Manchester City finds itself shoehorned into a day of Premier League action in order to facilitate the hosting of the upcoming Champions League final at Wembley.

And that on top of already hard-pressed supporters being asked to shell out over £100 (€113) for the first time ever for tickets for what was traditionally considered the people’s day out in the football calendar.