JANUARY brings the inevitable post-festive downer for many of us but at least the sport goes on to keep us entertained on the dark winter evenings.

The world darts championship is synonymous with this time of year, be it the heralded Professional Darts Corporation and the big names like Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen or its less-publicised counterpart run by the British Darts Organisation.

But there is another tradition that kicks in at this time in the New Year with the FA Cup third round welcoming its own big names into the fray.

This year, the famous old competition is back on the BBC and the institution has gone the whole hog in promoting it.

But is that old magic still there? Results last weekend would suggest not.

While it is great to see non-league sides like Blyth Spartans and Dover Athletic get their day in the limelight, those days of cup shocks aplenty are few and far between in modern times.

Fair play to the Beeb for trying to build it up but I’m afraid there were probably more watching made-up drama on the other channels than tuned in for the real stuff between AFC Wimbledon and Liverpool on Monday.

As it turned out, the game was a close one between top and bottom division sides.

It was a similar situation between Manchester United and Yeovil the day before.

But the only real shock – if you can call it that – was Sheffield United’s impressive 3-0 win at QPR, however, the Blades are hardly minnows and are already into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.

Many will point to the situation back in 1999 when the FA granted holders Manchester United the opportunity to withdraw from the competition to focus on the Club World Championship in Brazil – mainly to promote their own bid for the 2006 World Cup with FIFA which ultimately failed – as the catalyst for the cup’s demise.

Since then, you could argue its standing has dwindled despite the odd classic final or giant-killing.

If ever there was an example of that then just look at the measly crowd at Cardiff’s Round Three clash with Colchester last Friday which made for a reserve game atmosphere

More often than not, the bigger sides progress furthest these days even if many use it to shuffle their squads in the earlier rounds.

The talent available to those big names means even a much-changed side is packed with internationals and that usually sees them advance.

The question is while many of us still love the old trophy, can it ever get back to its heyday?

Maybe not, but let’s not allow it to diminish further – the FA Cup can still throw up some magic now and again.

Most Wanderers fans will hope it does at Anfield later this month and provide a repeat of that famous White Hot night in Liverpool 22 years ago.

Now that was the real magic of the cup.