The prospect of going out live to the nation might not have the same resonance now as in days gone by but Everton’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United will now be shown on ITV. The game has been moved from its original Saturday slot to an 8pm kick-off on Friday, January 6 and given that it’s an all-Premier League clash in the third round and over a 12-year sequence between 2005-17, 58 consecutive matches in the competition featuring the Red Devils were televised, it probably comes as no surprise.
Over the years, Everton have featured in 62 FA Cup ties televised in the UK and their record is currently finely balanced, reading, won 25, drawn 12 and lost 25. In the past, the game being shown on one of the two main terrestrial channels would have been a really big deal as it would have guaranteed an audience of tens of millions but a saturation of television coverage of football, more diverse viewing habits and loss of lustre for the game’s oldest competition will all conspire to erode those figures here despite the magnitude of the tie.
The Blues’ television debut came in the FA Cup but perhaps surprisingly it wasn’t for a final and was further back than many might realise. Everton made their bow in front of the BBC cameras way back on February 7, 1948 when they featured in a fifth round tie against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
