Peterborough Criticize Thursday Scheduling for Everton FA Cup Match

Following their 4-3 victory against Notts County in the second round, which secured them a visit to Goodison Park, Peterborough United have voiced strong objections to the decision to arrange their FA Cup third-round fixture against Everton for a Thursday evening. The encounter is set to commence at 19:45 GMT on 9 January, marking only the second occasion the two clubs have competed against each other, and their first match since a League Cup fixture in 2006. Peterborough states its understanding that the match required rescheduling due to Liverpool’s home fixture on Saturday, 11 January; however, they contend that a Thursday evening game will compel fans to miss two days of employment and prevent children from attending due to school obligations. A statement released by the club declared: “We feel a better solution could have been found to ensure all our supporters who wish to travel to the game would have been able to do so.” Manager Darren Ferguson conveyed to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: “It’s a disappointing decision, it’s a strange one, very little consideration for our fans. “We knew with Liverpool being at home and Everton being at home, they couldn’t play on the same day and I was wondering whether it would be on the Sunday. “To put it on a Thursday night is a strange decision, a poor decision – for our fans, very poor. There’s no trains back after the game and it’s going to limit how many fans we take, it’s a bad decision.”I get that obviously they’ve got to make decisions in terms of the television and all the rest of it but why not the Friday night then? They don’t give any consideration to smaller clubs and that’s been going on for quite a while now.” Furthermore, Peterborough expresses apprehension that holding the match on a Thursday could potentially lead to diminished attendance, thereby decreasing financial income for both participating clubs. Chief executive Dawn Gore stated: “Whilst we understand there are logistical challenges, we do not feel the supporters have been considered in this approach.” She added: “We have made our feelings very clear to the decision-makers at the top of the game and want to assure our supporters that we are just as disappointed as they are about when this game will take place.” Peterborough secured their place in the third round by overcoming Newport County and Notts County, which presents the potential for 18-year-old Tyler Young to compete against his father Ashley, an Everton player. The Peterborough Independent Supporters Trust has similarly voiced disapproval regarding the alteration to a Thursday fixture. Spokesman Adi Mowles informed BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: “I was gobsmacked (when I heard). Sunday wouldn’t have been ideal, but would have been acceptable compared to the Thursday.” He continued: “It’s a disgrace, there’s no other word for it. All your cynical thoughts about the FA, you just hope maybe aren’t right, but they are. They are just money-making for the big clubs, they don’t care about the little clubs.”