FA Cup final returns to final game of season

The FA Cup final will be played after the conclusion of the Premier League next year, restoring the Wembley showpiece to its rightful place as the last game of the English season.

In a victory for traditionalists, the 2014 Cup final will be staged on Saturday May 17, six days after the end of the Premier League season.

It will be the first time since 2010 the Cup final has been played after the end of the league campaign.

Last season, Wigan Athletic shocked Manchester City in a Cup final played on May 11, only to then have their relegation from the Premier League confirmed by defeat to Arsenal three days later.
The change is a victory for outgoing FA Chairman David Bernstein, who has lobbied for the famous event to be returned to its traditional place in the calendar.
It is expected the kick-off time for the final will be kept at 5.15pm for a third season running in order to ensure primetime television audiences, instead of reverting to the original 3pm start.
The move has been helped by next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, as major summer competitions usually mean an early end to the Premier League so internationals can join pre-tournament training camps.




However, regardless of whether there is a tournament or not, the Cup final will bring the curtain down on the English season every year from now on.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z2WbTMisfO

17th May, same date as our last fa cup final!

Good news. That is how it should be.

Good news. That is how it should be.

Agree

Winner should get a Champions League place instead of 4th place in the Premier League as well.

Winner should get a Champions League place instead of 4th place in the Premier League as well.

its a decent idea, though cant see it happening. Dont think the premier league want teams like Portsmouth, Millwall and Wigan representing them in the Champions League.

Winner should get a Champions League place instead of 4th place in the Premier League as well.

Agreed!!

Winner should get a Champions League place instead of 4th place in the Premier League as well.

its a decent idea, though cant see it happening. Dont think the premier league want teams like Portsmouth, Millwall and Wigan representing them in the Champions League.

The likes of those wouldn't get near the final if a CL place was on the line. The likes of Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle etc would be all guns blazing for it!

Doubt Wigan would do much worse than Man City did last season anyway

of course they would, sometimes.

Look at us for example, we reached the final playing only 1 premier league team in the run in (and that was boro) in cup competitions anyone can beat anyone within reason, the top side wouldnt always be the ones to get to the final.