'It's completely unfair' - Tottenham FA Cup hero joins campaign to save replays

Tottenham FA Cup final hero, Paul Stewart, has joined a campaign to save replays, following the announcement that they are to be axed from next season.

The 59 year old, who played alongside Gary Lineker in one of the most memorable finals of all time, scored as Spurs beat Nottingham Forest in 1991 despite Paul Gascoigne being stretchered off. The 2-1 victory gave the North London side a then-record eighth FA Cup win.

Stewart spoke out as fans' groups warned that the decision to remove lucrative replays would have a devastating impact on communities.

"They should get these replays back on," he told the Mirror, who are running the campaign. "English Football League clubs have been devastated by this. I go around them as part of my work. They were not consulted properly.

"Replays are the opportunity to get big days for them and to help grow the communities around them. It is completely unfair to do this to clubs that are struggling, to help the rich elite."

The Mirror's mission is to to prevent the loss of FA Cup replays has gained notable support from former England stars like Peter Reid and Malcolm Macdonald, as well as members of football royalty such as Sir Bobby, Jack Charlton, and Nobby Stiles' families.

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The Football Supporters Association, with its over 600,000 ranks, will also appeal to FA chiefs to reconsider during an FA Council session this Friday. In addition, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is reportedly mulling over a letter from Fair Game, the group of clubs campaigning against the change.

According to FA: "We had to find a solution to our calendar congestion. We will make sure no club loses out financially."