Only 40 tickets left for Blyth's big cup fixture

Dec 30 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

ONLY 40 tickets are left for Blyth Spartans’ big FA Cup clash against Blackburn Rovers. Club chairman Tony Platten last night told The Journal the final few precious spots at Croft Park would be sold from the social club on Saturday morning.

And he said the third round home clash with Sam Allardyce’s men at Croft Park had set the whole town buzzing.

Posters have been put up in a number of Blyth’s shop windows and a supportive banner has been erected at the local Keelrow Shopping Centre.

Mr Platten said: “The whole town is buzzing. I have been selling tickets on Saturday and Sunday and everybody you pass on the street has got a big smile.

“The whole world’s on our side, wanting us to turn Big Sam (Allardyce) over. I don’t even think the players are thinking they might beat them. What they are thinking is ‘this is the biggest game of my career and we want to put a show on for the people supporting us all season’.

“That’s what the club is all about – being part of the community. If we do get that little bit of luck and we get the opportunity to get a draw perhaps and go back to Blackburn, that would be fantastic.”

Spartans’ manager Harry Dunn was Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn’s guest of honour at the Black Cats’ Boxing Day clash with Rovers, giving him an opportunity to assess the opposition.

Mr Platten said: “I don’t know how much he’s learned from a 0-0 draw, mind you. All I know is that Harry will get the best out of the players.”

The team’s success has drawn comparisons with the heroes of Blyth’s 1978 team, who reached the fifth round.

The Northumberland side’s fifth-round replay against Wrexham attracted more than 42,000 to St James’s Park, though a 2-1 defeat put an end to their cup fairytale.

Mr Platten said: “People are talking about 1978 and now we have got something that the current generation can be proud of – the young kids that weren’t around in ’78. There’s never been a Premiership team at Croft Park and you can put that down in the history of Blyth.”

The 40 tickets remaining for the game will be sold from the Blyth Spartan’s social club on Saturday from 10am.

The game is to be televised live on Setanta Sports.

Blyth MP Ronnie Campbell said the second round defeat of League Two Bournemouth had put the town on the map. He said: “The excitement is building up very well. There’s a good atmosphere around the place and tickets are as good as sold out.

“A lot of people are disappointed they won’t get tickets, naturally, but people are excited and by the end of the week the place should be humming.

“We are playing a Premier League side. We don’t expect to win but you never know in football – it’s a funny old game.

"Even Newcastle supporters are saying ‘well done Blyth, at last we've got something to shout about'."