CUP TIE GAMES RECALL THE THRILLS OF HAPPIER DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

CUP TIE GAMES RECALL THE THRILLS OF HAPPIER DAYS.

LONDON, March 10. A Cup tie is a Cup tie whether in peace or in war! The first round matches of the London Cup provided all the old thrills of a Cup tie in happier days. There were bigger crowds, greater enthusiasm and bigger sensations packed into one afternoon than we have witnessed all through the dark months since the season began, and there is every indication that the Soccer football position has taken on a new lease of life which will carry It on until the season closes.

The biggest surprise in t*he first round was undoubtedly the Arsenal's clear-cut defeat by Reading, one of the "out-side" teams. Reading had to wait until the second half to rccord their goals, but there was never any doubt which team, on the day, was putting up the better show.

The Aldershot-Chelsea match also produced some good football. Here again Aldershot deserved the victory won at the expense of the London team. But the result was a complete reversal of form, for the week before Chelsea had beaten Aldershot by six goals to one. There were good gates all over the country.

More than 6000 turned out at Reading for the home club's match against the Arsenal, and it is an indisputable fact that the London area clubs are getting less support from their followers than other districts. Further north Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers at Bolton attracted a crowd of some 5000. In London it was the match between Millwall and West Ham that drew the gathering