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Chorley seeks repeat of famous FA Cup triumph with virtual tickets venture

Chorley has followed in the footsteps of fellow non-league football club Marine in launching a virtual ticket scheme for its glamour FA Cup draw against Premier League opposition.

On Monday, the draw for the fourth round pitted the National League North outfit against Wolverhampton Wanderers, in what will be a repeat of a famous FA Cup fixture from back in 1986. At that time, Chorley knocked out Wolves, then a Division Three club, with a 3-0 win in the second of two first round replays.

That game, now remembered as one of the darkest days in Wolves’ history, was held at Burnden Park, the old stadium of Bolton Wanderers, but the 2021 edition will be staged at Chorley’s 4,300-capacity Victory Park (pictured) on the weekend of January 23-24.

With no fans being allowed to attend the game due to COVID-19 restrictions, Chorley has launched the virtual tickets scheme as part of ongoing efforts to plug what it claims is a near £500,000 (€562,000/$684,000) hole in revenue left by 2020’s struggles amid the pandemic.

Read more about the venture via our sister website, TheTicketingBusiness.com.