1952 FA Cup Final - Build Up

Tickets and Touts

Not surprisingly their was a massive demand for tickets and as usual the touts were hard at work. Rumours even swept Tyneside that Newcastle CID were making investigations into illegal ticket sales involving one of the United players.

It wasn't just fans who were left disappointed; when one of United's heros from the 1932 Cup win - Jimmy Nelson - requested a solitary ticket the club sent a telegram simply stating "Regret none available".

The Football Association turned down a request from the BBC to televise the game with fans having to make do with a Monday showing of a "telefilm".

The Preparations

In Cup Final week the United party returned to the Royal Albion Hotel, and the oysters, in Brighton. A special itinerary was laid on which included golf, a trip to an ice-hockey game and a theatre outing.

Ten thousand supporters - two thousand in dining cars - travelled to London by rail in seventeen special trains. Forty three lucky supporters used air travel.