English Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 334, 20 April 1928, Page 10

English Soccer

! I WOMEN WERE INJURED j , IN BIG CUP CRUSH IN I ENGLAND. | I L

200,000 SPECTATORS "VT EARLY 200,000 people watched the sixth round fight for the F.A. Cup on four English grounds on February 25. Th e . total gate money was £15,000. Never before have so many women been present at Cup-ties. Tens of thousands of them crowded the turnstiles wearing their club’s colours. Several women were among the injured in the crush at the Manchester United v. Blackburn Rovers match at Blackburn. SCHOOLGIRL “FANS” Family parties, and even groups of schoolgirls, took part in the trek to the Cup matches. They were particularly noticeable in the excursion trains from London to Huddersfield for the ’Spurs match. One party on enthusiasts walked from Blackpool for the Manchester United v. Blackburn Rovers game. Tens of thousands of people travelled by road from all parts of Lancashire to this match, and there were scores of excursion trains. DAYBREAK QUEUES Queues assembled outside the gates at dawn. One man, Albert Sprigg, of King’s Cross, reached the Arsenal gates befor© daybreak. He brought his breakfast with him. Ticket speculators had a bad time at most of the matches. One cnan who tried to sell tickets at exorbitant prices outside the Blackburn ground was greeted with choice and pungent criticism in good Lancashire English. He moved on hastily! THE GATES The official figures for the day were; —

The crowds were not so large as had been anticipated.

NOTHING MORE TO SAY Jack Dempsey thought for a lonj moment before answering when showi a copy of Tex Rickard’s announcemen that there will be only one heavy weight boxing championship matcl this year, and that it would be agains an opponent for Tunney yet to b< selected. Then he said: “I have n< statement at all to make now. I hav< made a good many statements lately and have nothing more to say jus now.”

Attendance. Takings. Huddersfield . . . 52,390 £4,390 Blackburn .. 42,312 £3,749 Sheffield .. 52,640 £3,518 Highbury .. 41,974 £3,782 Total . . . , . .. 189,31G £15,439