A request from ITV...
In 2013, a request was received from ITV, asking if they could use the Stadium of Fingers to shoot an introductory piece for the FA Cup final of that year between Wigan and Manchester City.
Further discussions resulted in the making of bespoke figures to celebrate key events in the many 'giant-killing' cup shocks that had taken place that season.
The ITV team of 3 took 10 hours to create the footage. ITV also made a donation to fAABI for the use of the stadium.
The east stand removed
To aid with the filming the east stand needed removing. This was a bit worrying for all concerned, not least the 5000 miniature spectators! ?
A field near Riegate...
"The FA Cup.
It really does feel extremely special.
Banish any preconceptions from your mind and embrace the reality. This is the setting - a field near Reigate.
This is how it's meant to feel"
Brighton 2 Newcastle 0
Championship side Brighton had knocked Premiership club Newcastle out of the FA Cup 12 months earlier in 2012. The fates matched them again in 2013.
"It is 3rd Round weekend in the FA Cup.
Are you ready for the roller-coaster?
From Brighton to Newcastle - all points between, there're about to be surprises...
Will Hoskins! Brighton have done it again! Barely past lunch time on 3rd Round Saturday and we have the first upset."
Macclesfield 2 Cardiff 1
Matthew Barnes-Homer secured a famous win from the penalty spot after Nat Jarvis was penalised for pulling the shirt of Pablo Mills.
"What drama... Matthew Barnes-Homer, to put Cardiff out of the Cup...
...And he does! Macclesfield Town, eighty-two places behind Cardiff in the footballing pyramid..."
Millwall 2 Aston Villa 1
Nearly 15,000 Millwall fans saw Darren Bent give Premiership Villa the lead against their Championship opponents. Villa looked vulnerable and surrendered an equaliser five minutes later. The winning goal, in the 89th minute, was nodded into the net by John Marquis after more negligent marking.
"Aston Villa enter the Lions Den...
Marquis scores!
It's Millwall's night - South London is alive with FA Cup fever!"
QPR 2 MK Dons 4
QPR manager, Harry Redknapp: "I thought in the first half we played well...We gave two diabolical goals away. Terrible, sloppy defending... the third goal was offside... the fourth goal was another sloppy goal."
MK Dons manager, Karl Robinson: "We felt we could come here and get a result. I understand the gulf in teams and I respect that as well... getting into the fourth round was a little bit of history for us and now the fifth round makes it a little more special."
"The exodus has started. The men from the new city have broken new ground. A maiden fifth round appearance awaits..."
Norwich 0 Luton 1
With the game at stalemate with 10 minutes to go, JJ O'Donnell bulldozed through the left channel and pinged the ball to the near post. Substitute Scott Rendell, a journeyman of lower-league sides including Cambridge United and Torquay, slipped the ball nipped past Luton's keeper Declan Rudd into the net.
"Luton Town have done it!
Norwich City, the first top flight side to perish to non-league opposition since 1989."
Leeds 2 Tottenham 1
Leeds manager Neil Warnock: "We didn't get anything other than what we deserved today...a typical FA Cup game, like when I was a kid."
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas: "This is a difficult place to play... we were knocked out by a Leeds team who were extremely competitive today."
"Of all English footballs fallen giants, none landed with a greater thud than Leeds United. They are back on the map now! Leeds have knocked Tottenham out of the cup..."
Oldham 3 Liverpool 2
A year earlier, Oldham suffered a 5-1 defeat to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup.
"Oldham Athletic want to add their name to the weekend's headline writers.
Wabara arriving at the far post...Oh, it's three for Oldham!
It's a momentous victory! - Liverpool out of the FA Cup..."
Arsenal 0 Blackburn 1
Blackburn manager Michael Appleton: "Colin Kazim-Richards has been fantastic for the last five games... I am delighted he got the reward for all of his work, it was not his greatest of strikes, but I think he was just trying not to welly it into Row Z and got the bit of luck he deserved."
"Quite a week for Arsene Wenger. Blackburn between him and an overdue trophy...
Kazim-Richards - In! That's how crazy the cup can be!
Eight years and waiting..."
Wigan 1 Man City 0
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, who broke his leg playing for Blackburn Rovers in the 1960 FA Cup final against Wolves at Wembley, led the underdogs out...
"Manchester City are through to another cup final.
Wigan Athletic will be their opponents, here at Wembley.
This is the cup final.
Is there one more upset to come?..."
One more upset to come?
There was...!
Dave Whelan immortalised in miniature, celebrating Wigan's winner, scored by Ben Watson in the 88th minute!
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez: "Ben Watson is a unique professional, you know. He broke his leg four months ago. Nobody expected him to be back this season..."
Wigan 1 Man City 0
Wigan had only one shot on target in the whole match...
