FA Cup third round: a fine romance or outdated tradition?

Fixtures offer a break from the domination of the Premier League and a chance to celebrate football

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(Image credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

This weekend sees the third round of the FA Cup - the most romantic day of the English football season and one that still holds a peculiar place in fans' hearts in an age largely dominated by greed.

"The FA Cup still matters," wrote Henry Winter in The Times earlier this week. "It's not solely about the distant glimmer of glory or the long shot of a day out at Wembley for those outside the elite; it's about reminding the world that football exists outside the Barclays Premier League. It's about the history of the game and its fabric - and they are worth fighting for."

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