Eric Hobsbawm on the FA Cup
The Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm wrote about the link between a working class identity and culture and the rise of professional football. Hobsbawm himself was certainly a football fan and was suspected of being an Arsenal fan.
In the Invention of Tradition (jointly with Terence Ranger) Hobsbawm argued that the history of football cup finals tells the historian more about the development of an urban working class culture than more conventional sources.
In the Making of the Working Class 1870-1914 (a nod and a critique of E P Thompson as Hobsbawm notes) he argues that an increasing secular tendency saw working class support for unions and the Labour Party but it was also characterised by fish and chip shops and cup finals.
Where that culture is on the last weekend of April 2026 which sees the FA Cup semi-finals played is perhaps worth discussion. Is the culture and spirit of the early FA Cup finals now to be found not just in the big money games but in the lower leagues?
Kmflett's Blog 
I used to support Newcastle and was in the London Mags. Then there was Ashley and the Saudis.
Luckily, I was able to spend more time in the North East snd could to put ‘support your local club’ into practice. With all our ups and downs I’ve been much happier with Gateshead FC.