FA Cup Finals

[Jay Mc]

Re: FA Cup Finals

This year will be an awesome final as the mighty Aston villa destroy Arsenal and i will be there to watch

[darren]

Re: FA Cup Finals

Its just lost all of its tradition it used to be the last game of the season always at 3 o clock.

Ant remember exactly when it changed.
Seeing the teams leaving there hotels on the saturday of the game etc.
And whats worse wembley has the semi finals too.gggrrr

if i was in charge id bring all the tradition back thats been lost.

[80sChav]

Re: FA Cup Finals

It used to always show the teams in blazers having a steak meal about 12-ish before the game but now they give 'em pasta and stuff for sustained energy

One things sticks in my mind , and they've been on telly a couple of times , is the sad ones in the car parks outside the stadium who come every year but nor for the game -- Transit van spotters!


Apparently its the best place/time to see such a wide variety of vans from up and down the country -- worse than train spotters LOL

Indeed Danny - all these memories are sadly no more (or less so). I used to love the build up - all afternoon and then the highlights at night (no matter how short the version was). Sadly now and for many years (though even from the middle of the 90s) it has been about money etc and the TV Companies having the most impact that has wrecked tradition I think, though other things haven't helped neither too sadly.

[Avahi1057]

Re: FA Cup Finals

1990 was the first FA Cup final I ever saw on tv. Man U v Crystal Palace. Palace had beaten pretty much the best team going at the time (Liverpool) in an epic semi-final. I got to see what Wembley looked like in the daylight for the first time. All I'd seen of Wembley prior to that were a few England games that were all played at night. The stadium just looked better by daylight imho. Anyway the whole thing seemed like magic to me. On top of the occasion the game itself was end to end and finished 3-3. I figured this is what every FA final would be like from now on. How wrong I was! The 90 replay the following midweek was a tighter duller affair. Palace had run out of steam and eventually lost 1-0. It seemed almost like an anti-climax.

The following year I was still highly interested and following "Gazza's Spurs" get to the final. What undermined the tournament for me this time was that they played the semi-final v Arsenal *in Wembley*. I think this was the first time they'd ever done this? I didn't like this at all. Of course it's the norm nowadays, but I think it kind of undermined the whole final occasion when a semi-final had already been played there.

1992 was a bit of an anti-climax (Liverpool vs a 2nd division team Sunderland) and by 1993 my interest was really waning (I was more interested in things like music, movies, drinking and girls now). I think the final was Arsenal v Sheff Wed. Arsenal won, can't remember the score or who scored. That's how I know my interest was waning.

Honestly for 1994 I wouldn't want to bet my house on even who had played in it. I'd guess Man U v Chelsea for some reason.

I actually still watch the FA Cup every year but I don't take very much pleasure in it anymore. The magic is certainly gone and the finals are certainly not vivid for me like my first one in 1990.

So there you go. In the space of just 4 years I'd gone from wildly excited about something (thinking it was special and almost magical) to being larely indifferent about it. That's what I call growing up!

[darren]

Re: FA Cup Finals

And last year i believe they had the final at a quarter past two instead of the traditional 3pm.
this i believe was the first time it had not been at 3pm

so much of the tradition of the cup has gone.
to me the final is not the same with all the tradition gone.

one of my fave finals despite my team losing was the 79 final.
the 3 minute or was it the five minute final.

[80sChav]

Re: FA Cup Finals

I can still (just about vaugly recall) when Wimbledon won the FA Cup in 1988 - I can still recall Dave Besant saving a Penalty, though I was young, it is one of those thing's that remain in your mind I think. As well I recall Man utd winning 4-0 v Chelsea in 1994 as if it was yesterday, that was another great final as well as in more recent-er times Chelsea v Middlesbrough in 1997 being a really good final.

Sadly I think since the late 1990s and the Chelsea v Middlesbrough one all has changed and the Final's have become nothing like they once were wondering what the score would be, who'll score first etc.

80sChav

[spuggybridge]

Re: FA Cup Finals

I remember it well, always switching from BBC to ITV to catch the latest team news or interviews. Then there was always cup final day wrestling that usualy involved the big names of the day in some grudge match, and also FA Cup Final day would be graced with a special Cup Final It's a Knockout competition between supporters of the two football teams competing in the final. Of course the greatest ever cup final was in 1972.

I'm sure you mean 1977 Ha Ha

[Hats Off]

Re: FA Cup Finals

another thing is itv dont show the build up like they used to do.

you know the programme started at like nine in the morning showed the teams leaving their hotels etc.
all the way up to and including post match reaction.

I remember it well, always switching from BBC to ITV to catch the latest team news or interviews. Then there was always cup final day wrestling that usualy involved the big names of the day in some grudge match, and also FA Cup Final day would be graced with a special Cup Final It's a Knockout competition between supporters of the two football teams competing in the final. Of course the greatest ever cup final was in 1972.

[darren]

Re: FA Cup Finals

another thing is itv dont show the build up like they used to do.

you know the programme started at like nine in the morning showed the teams leaving their hotels etc.
all the way up to and including post match reaction.



the final last year did not even start at 3pm which annoyed me.
tradition seems to have gone fom this great competition.

[themilkman]

Re: FA Cup Finals

!976 Southampton v Man Utd. Used to enjoy it more in those days because there were more shocks. It has a certain inevitability about it these days. Another exciting Man U v Chelsea final this year probably.

[Hats Off]

Re: FA Cup Finals

1970 Chelsea beat Leeds Utd after a replay at Old Trafford. I cried as a Child and my older sister asked for permission to swear. Gary Sprake let a nightmare goal in at Wembley from Peter Houseman.
Leeds were so good but they came up short so often because of Sprake. If they'd had a goalkeeper of the caliber of Gordon Banks or Schmeichel, Leeds would have re-written the History books.

Or even David Harvey.

[spuggybridge]

Re: FA Cup Finals

Indeed! More so as youcan guess generaly it will invole one of the big 4 a (or bifg 5 again now Man City are into mega money) and may-be one from Aston Villa
, Everton or Tottenham occasionaly and very occasionaly a Championship Team! It's always the same old teams and same old games!

Sorry if it appears i'm off topic a tad again in regards to the thread, but i've often thought (though it will never happe) why not make the Community (Charity Shield) a contest bewtween the FA Cup Winners and Leauge Cup Winners, to make it more fun like when Leeds beat Liverpool 4-3 in 1992!! That was an all time classic, but I know the Man Us of this world will only ever want it as the Champions v FA Cup Winners sadly!

To be honest it's not a bad idea (and I am a Utd fan), may make the league cup worth a little bit more.

[darren]

Re: FA Cup Finals

i quite enjoyed this seasons community shield (even though my team lost). Revenge was very sweet though.

yes it stung a bit for me losing at the weekend.

[branny]

Re: FA Cup Finals

Indeed! More so as youcan guess generaly it will invole one of the big 4 a (or bifg 5 again now Man City are into mega money) and may-be one from Aston Villa
, Everton or Tottenham occasionaly and very occasionaly a Championship Team! It's always the same old teams and same old games!

Sorry if it appears i'm off topic a tad again in regards to the thread, but i've often thought (though it will never happe) why not make the Community (Charity Shield) a contest bewtween the FA Cup Winners and Leauge Cup Winners, to make it more fun like when Leeds beat Liverpool 4-3 in 1992!! That was an all time classic, but I know the Man Us of this world will only ever want it as the Champions v FA Cup Winners sadly!

i quite enjoyed this seasons community shield (even though my team lost). Revenge was very sweet though.

[branny]

Re: FA Cup Finals

Stop going off topic now................................

Actually I've very little interest in the cup finals these days I couldn't even tell you who was in last season's final, but I could name everyone from 1979 to 1992.

Allow me to help you out on that one.

MANCHESTER CITY 1 Stoke City 0. Not a classic but famous because it signalled the end of a longstanding banner at Old Trafford.