CUP FINAL

Evening Post, Issue 98, 27 April 1936, Page 9

CUP FINAL

CANOPY OF AIRCRAFT

A BATTLE FOR FILMS

SEARCHLIGHT DEFENCE

United Tress Association—By Electric Tele graph—Copyright.

LONDON, April 25,

Wembley was the scene of two cup final battles. While Arsenal and Sheffield United were fighting for the Cup the stadium authorities and liewsreel companies were engaged in a bitter contest in filming the match.

The stadium authorities resolved to obtain their own lucrative and exclusive pictures, banned cameras, and offered a guinea reward to spectators detecting unauthorised photographers.

Learning that the film companies had commissioned all the available autogiros in England, the authorities asked the Air Ministry to ban flying over the stadium, alleging that it was unsafe. This was refused, and a fleet of autogiros and other aeroplanes, one piloted by Campbell Black, appeared 20 minutes before the match. The stadium authorities arranged for a battery of 20 searchlights in order to blind the cameras. Competition was suspended by the film companies in a common effort to smash what was described as an unjust ban.

Four autogiros and twelve aeroplanes flew over the match in relays, swooping down with telescopic cameras and jockeying for position to secure more shots. The film companies claim that they secured hundreds of feet of film from unusual angles. The results were shown in 150 cinemas in the evening, some'as far distant as Newcastle, whither, the films were sent by aeroplane. The final was watched by 93,384 people, and the receipts amounted to £24,857. Thousands without tickets were not admitted, and remained outside, where they took part in community singing and cheered. Drake, the Arsenal centre-forward, scored the only.goal after 74 minutes, brilliantly snapping up a pass from the wing. Both sides, especially Sheffield United, missed several chances of scoring. Arsenal won the Cup for the second time, and Sheffield United failed in an attempt to win it for the fifth time. The Soccer season is practically ended. Sunderland secured the league championship with 56 points. Aston Villa, which spent £40,000 on new players in an effort to retain its position in the first division, and Blackburn Rovers were both relegated to the second division. They hitherto were the only clubs which were continuously members of the first division since the league was inaugurated in 1888. Charlton Athletic and Manchester United are practically certain of promotion from the second division.