FA Cup Final Day 2020

[QueenOfGoths]

So it's cup final day.

I'm not a massive football fan and have never been to the final itself but cup final day was always a big thing.

In previous years you had the big match build up, celebrity fans, players fashion, special footballers edition of "Blankety Blank", maybe a song ("Ossie's going to Wembley").

I remember getting drunk at a friend's in Epsom while betting against each other on corners and throw ins as well as goals then going for a curry where there was a man dressed as a referee.

And upstairs we have an unwashed scarf from THE final when Wimbledon won.

So on this non cup final day what are your cup final memories

 

[marty21]

As a kid , has to be Alan Sunderland scoring in the last minute in the 79 final . Arsenal 3 Man U 2 . Man U had come back from 2-0 down and looked likely to win. I danced around the room , much to the disgust & of my dad who was a Man U fan .

 

[MrSki]

As a kid , has to be Alan Sunderland scoring in the last minute in the 79 final . Arsenal 3 Man U 2 . Man U had come back from 2-0 down and looked likely to win. I danced around the room , much to the disgust & of my dad who was a Man U fan .

One of my fondest childhood memories.

 

[The39thStep]

I used to love Cup Final day, the whole themed coverage from early in the morning to the kick off itself. My mother always used to make a buffet of sandwiches, pies, crisps etc in my mid teens my father used to let me have a shandy. I always stayed home or went and watched it.
So Chelsea/Leeds final.I'm Chelsea, my dad didn't really support any team . My mum , coming from a mining family in Wakefield was Leeds , as were her family of whom several members of which and their friends turned up unexpectedly at our doorstep half an hour before the game as they hadn't been able to get into Wembley stadium . Our front room which normally was my precious viewing den with me in my favourite seat strategically positioned with a great view of the TV and in easy reach of the table where the buffet was , paper and pen poised for man of the match was transformed into me being shunted onto the floor, the buffet speedily demolished by the visitors as they drank the crates of beer they had brought . Whatever insights Kenneth Wolstenholme's commentary would have revealed was drowned out by barely understandable thick Yorkshire accents and repeated shouts of 'southern softies' as Leeds and Chelsea fought out what would now be seen as a death match.

1-1 in the first half and spirits slightly bloodied but not unbowed I squeezed out for my traditional half time playing keepsy uppy with the football in the back garden. This was rudely transformed into what seemed to be a live re-enactment of Leeds brutality on me by uncles joining in tackling and pushing me before the ball ended up going over the fence. The second half was very even but as it went on to the half hour no more goals, it was still tense and captivating as each team looked to prise the winner. Or so it was to me but apparently not to one of the miners wives or girlfriends ,who clearly may have been at my mums Cherry B, perched on the settee arm and then started to interrogate me as to whether or not I had a girlfriend. Her very pleasant and reassuring observation that there were plenty of young girls in her village that would go for me and her description of a possible suitor was interrupted by Leeds scoring five minutes before full time. Thankfully Chelsea equalised and she went back to talking to my mum about beauty products and home furnishings. Extra time brought no more goals and no more beer and so they left to get the train. We waved them off from the front door my hand still throbbing from them squeezing it too hard in their handshakes.

 

[mx wcfc]

I worked at the 1986 Liverpool v Everton cup final, sort of stewarding. We were called "crowd packers". Didn't get paid but saw the game for free. I don't remember much about it now except the passion of the Merseyside fans.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Sadly, probably my most vivid memory is the dire Man Utd v Liverpool final, where me and my mates ended up going into the back garden to kick our ball about ourselves. Periodically checked back in, and saw the Cantona volley from just inside the area.

Oh, and more recently, Wigan v Man City

 

[Numbers]

I worked at the 1986 Liverpool v Everton cup final, sort of stewarding. We were called "crowd packers". Didn't get paid but saw the game for free. I don't remember much about it now except the passion of the Merseyside fans.

The second time I came to London was for this game (had been over for the McGuigan v Pedroza fight the year before) , came with a pal, we done it on the sly from our folks cos we were only 16. Ferry to Fishguard, train to Paddington, then walked to Cricklewood. We'd saved for ages so got to spend 3 days in and around Kilburn and Cricklewood (+ Wembley) getting drunk with my Uncle. Can't remember much of the game/day but it made me want to come and live in London (which I did a few years later).

 

[Pickman's model]

Sadly, probably my most vivid memory is the dire Man Utd v Liverpool final, where me and my mates ended up going into the back garden to kick our ball about ourselves. Periodically checked back in, and saw the Cantona volley from just inside the area.

Oh, and more recently, Wigan v Man City

That Cantona volley was class tho. Pity he was playing for such a shitty team

 

[dessiato]

My father loved it. At the time I was disinterested. The one I always remember though was 1966 World Cup final. We all watched it just because...

When England won he was so excited. He threw chocolates at us, was jumping and shouting.

I never saw him so excited ever again. He was famous for his coolness and calmness. Nothing ever got him excited like that.

 

[Sprocket.]

As a kid , has to be Alan Sunderland scoring in the last minute in the 79 final . Arsenal 3 Man U 2 . Man U had come back from 2-0 down and looked likely to win. I danced around the room , much to the disgust & of my dad who was a Man U fan .

Great final that, I was watching with some mates in another mate’s house. We weren’t Arsenal or Man U fans, but we knew Alan Sunderland, he was a few years above us. But the most popular footballer we knew.

 

[Sprocket.]

One of my favourite finals was 1973 when Sunderland beat the seemingly unstoppable Leeds United.
Great team performance from Sunderland who at the time had no capped players. I remember Jim Montgomery playing a great game in goal. Ian Porterfield the only goal scorer went on to be manager of the mighty Millers, we won the Third Division championship under him in 1981. Great final for the underdog supporters.

 

[cybershot]

2006 cup final is on bbc iplayer atm, although 15 mins left, if you tune in now, you'll soon see a worldie!

 

[stavros]

2006 cup final is on bbc iplayer atm, although 15 mins left, if you tune in now, you'll soon see a worldie!

I watched the first half hour on the red button earlier, and will catch up on the rest tomorrow probably. I'm pretty sure I didn't watch it at the time, for some reason.

I remember when I was at secondary school me and a friend used to take it in turns to host the other for the day. Paul Rideout and Bobby Di Matteo stick in the memory.

 

[marty21]

One of my favourite finals was 1973 when Sunderland beat the seemingly unstoppable Leeds United.
Great team performance from Sunderland who at the time had no capped players. I remember Jim Montgomery playing a great game in goal. Ian Porterfield the only goal scorer went on to be manager of the mighty Millers, we won the Third Division championship under him in 1981. Great final for the underdog supporters.

First cup final I can remember .

 

[Steel Icarus]

My first cup final was the five minute final if 1979. My grandpa bought me some United chocolate bars on the morning.

Cup finals were always such a special day, they serve as markers down the years. It's a sense of history happening in front of you. Someone scores and it's there for all time. Ricky Villa's slalom in 81, Keith Houchen's diving header in 87, Gazza getting injured in 91 (the day I lost my virginity!), the Owen Final, the Gerrard Final.

The all-day shows were great in the 80s. Meet the players, interviews with players on the bus, goal of the season.

 

[Sprocket.]

I remember the 91 final.
Gazza got injured being reckless for a change. He had a great scoring season up to then. I remember Brian Clough coming on and seeing to Gazza, berating the Forest fans for booing. My most vivid memory though was Des Walker scoring an own goal. He was one of my favourite players in the country at the time and seldom put a foot wrong. Was a bit gutted to be honest, even though not a Forest fan, I still had loads of respect for Clough.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

The 1979 final seems to be a lot of peoples' first memories. Mr. QofG's said that's the first one he really remembers, he even demonstrated Alan Sunderland's celebration

 

[Sprocket.]

Can we also spare a moment’s thought to recall Alan Sunderland’s perm?
He’s living in Gozo these days.

 

[Pickman's model]

Can we also spare a moment’s thought to recall Alan Sunderland’s perm?
He’s living in Gozo these days.

some very nice restaurants in gozo

 

[Steel Icarus]

I remember the 91 final.
Gazza got injured being reckless for a change. He had a great scoring season up to then. I remember Brian Clough coming on and seeing to Gazza, berating the Forest fans for booing. My most vivid memory though was Des Walker scoring an own goal. He was one of my favourite players in the country at the time and seldom put a foot wrong. Was a bit gutted to be honest, even though not a Forest fan, I still had loads of respect for Clough.

Like I said, I lost my virginity that day. Missed most of the second half lol
I watched every cup final from 1979-2001. Remember being in the pub for the "it's only Ray Parlour" final of 2002 and not being arsed enough to go home or even watch it in the pub. After that it's been hit and miss, the last one I think I watched all of was when Wigan beat Citeh, the magic has gone, it's on at tea time now

 

[ruffneck23]

I lost the FA cup final in Fifa yesterday mainly because I was trying to get a lad from the youth squad a goal on his first appearance , actually madly timed as I only got it a few weeks ago..

Lost on penalties me Me Arsenal them Spurs

 

[Steel Icarus]

I lost the FA cup final in Fifa yesterday mainly because I was trying to get a lad from the youth squad a goal on his first appearance , actually madly timed as I only got it a few weeks ago..

Lost on penalties me Me Arsenal them Spurs

Did Willie Young hack him down when he was clean through, leading to the invention of the "professional foul" rule?

 

[stavros]

I remember watching the 2007 final with a flatmate who supported Manchester United. Even he conceded it was total shite, and we were both willing for there to be a goal in normal time to spare us another 30 minutes.

 

[stavros]

I finished watching "the Gerrard final" today. He was quite tidy and took two very good goals. However, I thought Yossi Benayoun was much better over the full game, which West Ham really should've won.

 

[Steel Icarus]

I finished watching "the Gerrard final" today. He was quite tidy and took two very good goals. However, I thought Yossi Benayoun was much better over the full game, which West Ham really should've won.

Dean Ashton first half was superb. Such a clever player. Shane injuries wrecked his career

 

[stavros]

Dean Ashton first half was superb. Such a clever player. Shane injuries wrecked his career

Yes, that blind pass for the opening goal was great.