The CC scheduling is awful and I think it goes along way to galvanise the apathy of the fans towards every round apart from the final. 5 weeks between 5R and QF then 9 weeks between QF and SF giving only 2 weeks to sort out tickets, travel and accommadation for the final is barmy.

If the final is moving back to May (which it should IMO) then it could quite easily be worked around:

4R - February
5R - March
QF - April
SF - early May
F - end of May

I suppose the BBC calls the shots? Let's face it without the BBC the Challenge Cup would be nothing.

Or, support Hull or Rovers and you generally don't have to worry about that sort of thing

Isnt it moving back next year or year after?

Last year a distant memory now?

Don't know what the problem is. Grand Finalists only get a week to plan their travel or get time off work etc.

When London get to the Grand Final - that will be worth mentioning.

Show off

It doesn't affect me it's a long time since my team were there - 1988.

I might go as a neutral and i'm happy to make a late decision, the cost and time of work won't be a factor.

Yes committed supporters can make provisional plans and most will do but such short notice will deter many many casual supporters from the towns of the competing finalists, just the people you need to stop Wembley feeling like a cavernous bowl.

Since we have returned to Wembley, finals have attracted crowds ofthat[/i difficult.

Anyone who's attended a recent final knows that the official attendances do not reflect the number of people sat in the stadium watching the game.

I was at Wigan v Leeds, 12000 empty seats? Yeah and the rest.

Club Wembley are counted in the total, which is why you get more empty seats than the total suggests. They are 10 year debentures I think, so they are due to come up?

Saints fans love a day out.

Or might just be that En-ger-land are kicking off versus Uruguay at 8 in the Footie.....