Village club sets record crowd in FA Cup replay after referee mistake - Punch Newspapers
A Norfolk village rallied behind its non-league football club as a record 806 supporters turned out to watch Mulbarton Wanderers beat Woodford Town 2-0 in a rare FA Cup replay sparked by a refereeing error. BBC on Wednesday reported that the match played on Tuesday, drew international attention after the Football Association ordered the original tie to be replayed, saw Mulbarton secure a place in the third qualifying round of the world’s oldest football competition. The victory also earned the club £3,375 in FA Cup prize money and set up a home tie against Gloucester City. Mulbarton had introduced advance ticketing for the replay because of what the club described as “unprecedented demand” following the attention surrounding the fixture. Ashley Jarvis scored both goals for Mulbarton as the Norfolk side completed the replay victory. “It was a great atmosphere. The whole village came out and we’re delighted to get the win,” Jarvis said.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google Joint first-team manager Danny Self also praised the supporters after the victory. “We’re over the moon that we’ve given the fans something to shout out about. Their support was incredible to have,” Self said. The club’s other joint manager, Ben Thompson, said the support would be needed again when Mulbarton host Gloucester City in the next round. “[To our supporters] see you again on Saturday,” Thompson said. Ronaldo’s sister slams Portugal after CR7 leaves camp From Awoniyi to Azpilicueta: Footballers studying to become sporting directors Guinea-Bissau defeat Nigeria 3-0 in AFCON qualifier “It will be the biggest game in our history and we need the fans again. They’re our 12th man.” Why was the FA Cup tie replayed? The unusual replay was ordered by the FA after Woodford Town appealed over the way the Laws of the Game had been applied during the original fixture. Mulbarton had won the initial meeting 2-1, but the controversy occurred when Woodford were awarded a penalty in the first half with the score still 0-0. The penalty was disallowed after Woodford players encroached into the penalty area. However, instead of allowing Woodford to retake the penalty, the match was restarted with Mulbarton being awarded a free-kick. Woodford, a London club playing in a league below Mulbarton, appealed the decision, prompting the FA to order the replay and switch the fixture to Norfolk. The replay consequently generated far greater interest than a normal non-league fixture, with 806 spectators attending to set a record crowd for Mulbarton. The FA Cup trophy. Photo: Emirates FA Cup The result means Mulbarton are now one victory away from potentially reaching the FA Cup first round proper, where they could face an English Football League club, including Sheffield Wednesday or 2021 FA Cup winners Leicester City. For the village club, however, the immediate focus is on Gloucester City and another home crowd. “[To our supporters] see you again on Saturday,” Thompson said, urging the supporters to return for what he described as “the biggest game in our history.” Tosin Oyediran Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!
Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.
