The FA Cup
Semi-Final
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April 2005
£900,000 to each winning club



1

Arsenal

v

Blackburn Rovers

16 Apr

12.15

2

Newcastle United

v

Manchester United

17 Apr

14.00


The FA can today confirm details of this season’s FA Cup Semi-Finals.

Arsenal will play Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, 16 April with kick-off at 12.15pm, while Newcastle United will play Manchester United on Sunday, 17 April with kick-off at 2pm. Both matches will take place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Newcastle United are playing on the Sunday due to their progress to the Quarter-Finals of the UEFA Cup, which involves them playing on Thursday, 14 April.

FA Director of Communications Adrian Bevington said: "The kick-off times are always set after full consultation with the police and other safety authorities, and with safety and security considerations given the highest importance.

"We have taken a responsible decision bearing in mind these issues and the travel arrangements for fans from the four competing clubs.

"The decision to play this season's Semi-Finals in Cardiff was announced in September last year. Using the Millennium Stadium will allow around 30,000 fans from each club to attend the matches, which is more than at any stadium in England.

"Cardiff has proved to be a very popular venue with fans in the past, and we can look forward to two fantastic matches with great atmospheres."