FOOTBALL FEVER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 73, 22 April 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL FEVER

MAYOR ANB TOWN COUNCIL AT A CUP-TIE. WORK AT A STANDSTILL. That football cup-tie fever has in no way abated may be judged from the fact that at Newcastle yesterday (remarked the Daily Mail on February 25) 36,000 spectators were present to see Newcastle United defeat West Ham United in the re-played tie in the third round for the English Cup. At Burnley, too, 25,000 spectators saw the local team defeat Tottenham Hotspur by 3 goals tp 1. It is estimated that quite 15,000 cotton looms were idle in Burnley from mid-day purely on account of the match, while the record crowd which cheered the home team to victory included every man in every other business who could find any excuse to desert his work. The fever actually extended to the corporation, and the Mayor's enthusiasm was shared by practically all the other members of the Town Council as well as the officials.

Early in the week many of the millowners had realised the impossibility of keeping their men at work yesterday, and while some readily agreed to stop their looms for the half-day others gave permission on condition that substitutes were found to keep the looms working. In two cases the weavers were balloted, but the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the stoppage of work. Nearly every man, woman and child ia the town sported a green rosette—the Burnley Club's color—and inanv business and private premises were adorned with green and other flags. The excitement was at fever pitch throughout the game, and at night the town gave itself up to revelrv in honor of the victory. The team'was feted and toasted-'At the music-halls the members of the team were the object of extraordinary demonstrations. So far this year over a million anil a quarter spectators have been present at English cup matches. The most amazing feature of these attendances is the number of spectators who attend the re-played cup-ties, which always take place in mid-week. Already nearly 300,000 people have attended these re-played matches. Roughlv. the figures are as follows: First round .. .. 30(5.000 Re-played ties.. .. 141.000 Second round .. .. 427.000 Re-played ties .. 80,000 Third round .. .. 207.000 r Re-plays .. ~ GKOOO