‘A national phenomenon’: What the FA Cup final used to mean

[davieG]

The historical and cultural significance of the FA Cup final has never been more important, writes Miguel Delaney, at a time when football’s communal values are under threat

 

There aren’t too many similarities between the football of 1953 and now, but there’s something about Saturday that means Chelsea and Leicester City players might feel the way Nat Lofthouse did ahead of that most famous of FA Cup finals. With more than 20,000 fans returning to Wembley, it will be a scene so familiar, and yet so novel. Lofthouse had that same sense of wonder in 1953. The Bolton Wanderers hero had played at Wembley many times, but even he was struck by the uniqueness of the stage as he lined up in the tunnel that day.

 

More here - https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-cup-final-history-b1847466.html

 

 

[surrifox]

 I bloody loved cup final day - highlight of the year irrespective of whichever team you followed you'd find someone to transfer allegiance to out of the finalists   and  back in the day it felt  there was less visceral loathing of certain  players. 

The Friday evening papers in London started the coverage and there would be 20 page supplements in the morning papers on the day. TV coverage starting about 10am and continuing up to  the KO on BOTH channels interspersed with bits of filler such as film of key players washing their e type jag/ Morris 1100 or /Hillman avenger or interviews with their girl friends.

Edited 14 May 2021 by surrifox

[kushiro]

Loved watching these pre-match features from the 1976 Final. Give you a great sense of how massive an occasion it was.

 

Southampton V Man United 1976 FA Cup Final - YouTube

 

Saints V Man Utd 1976 FA Cup 1 - YouTube

[HybridFox]

Still means a lot to me and absolutely buzzing this year for obvious reasons. Genuinely don't remember the last time I was this distracted all week

[AndyMaidenhead]

This is Massive for Foxes. Winning this Trophy bigger than Champ Lgue qualification

[Corky]

I really think playing it on a weekend where league matches are being played, and with league matches still to play, has taken something away from it. It should always be the final match of the domestic season, the culmination of nine months work.

 

Another problem with the Final nowadays is that so many teams are repeat performers. Chelsea have been in 4 out of 5, Arsenal won 3 in 4- of course it is good that these teams take it seriously but I think us being there, along with the likes of Hull, Wigan, Aston Villa, Stoke in the last decade, gives it a freshness and full commitment, certainly from the fans.

 

It is vitally important despite the changes in the game and it desperately needs at least one "lesser" team every couple of years in the final to keep it fresh.

 

Actually- that's happened. Since 2010 we've had Portsmouth, Stoke, Wigan, Hull, Crystal Palace, Watford and Leicester in the final. That's not a bad effort really.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

8 minutes ago, Corky said:

I really think playing it on a weekend where league matches are being played, and with league matches still to play, has taken something away from it. It should always be the final match of the domestic season, the culmination of nine months work.

 

Another problem with the Final nowadays is that so many teams are repeat performers. Chelsea have been in 4 out of 5, Arsenal won 3 in 4- of course it is good that these teams take it seriously but I think us being there, along with the likes of Hull, Wigan, Aston Villa, Stoke in the last decade, gives it a freshness and full commitment, certainly from the fans.

 

It is vitally important despite the changes in the game and it desperately needs at least one "lesser" team every couple of years in the final to keep it fresh.

 

Actually- that's happened. Since 2010 we've had Portsmouth, Stoke, Wigan, Hull, Crystal Palace, Watford and Leicester in the final. That's not a bad effort really.

Apparently, the last time the FA Cup Final was played before the league campaign had finished was 2013, when Wigan upset Man City. Could be a good omen if you believe in that kind of stuff.

[ceredigion]

The great days of the FA Cup Final are well and truly over I'm afraid.

 

The first one I remember watching on tv was Man U v Southampton in 1976. Back then it really was the biggest, most important game of the season and the only one you could watch live on the telly. The build up would last all week, the teams would release cup final records, on the Friday night before the game the news would show the teams arriving at their respective hotels and there'd be Who'll Win the Cup panel shows on the tv in front of packed studio audiences with experts like Tommy Doherty, Malcolm Allison and Derek Dougan arguing the toss.

 

Then on the day both Grandstand and World of Sport would start their coverage at midday and go on all day. The whole country seemed to come to a standstill at 3.00 o'clock.

 

I went to the 1979 Cup Final between Arsenal and Man Utd at the age of 12. My dad knew someone who knew someone who had a couple of spare tickets, so off we went. 

 

My first match at Wembley and I remember being blown away by the size of the crowds on Wembley on a blazing hot day, the noise, the excitement, the sense of occasion, the huge ramparts of the stadium and the Twin Towers, the marching bands on the pitch and 100,000 people singing Abide With Me.

 

We were the Man Utd fans and they were streaming out with 5 minutes left because they were 2-0 down. But they all came flooding back in when they scored in the 86th minute, then equalised in the 88th.

 

But then Liam Brady, with his socks round his ankles, put in a cross from the left wing and Alan Sunderland scored a last gasp winner for Arsenal.All in all it was an unforgettable experience for a young kid. I spent years after that dreaming that we would get there one day.

 

I really hope we win today, but whatever happens, it won't be like it was back then.

[Spacey_Fox]

I absolutely love the FA Cup and hate how it has been devalued. I often feel like I'm on my own on that one.

[weller54]

12 hours ago, AndyMaidenhead said:

This is Massive for Foxes. Winning this Trophy bigger than Champ Lgue qualification

It's not though is it?

CL qualification is a massive step towards cementing the club as a serious consistent top 4 contender, which in turn attracts the top players and will help keep the likes of Youri Tielemans/Brendan Rodgers at the club.

Winning the FA Cup is great but does nothing like the above!

Times have changed.

[Deebhoy]

Simply put it should be the last game of the season with a 3pm kickoff. So many great memories of FA Cup Final day growing up and for many years had a wee routine of an Ulster fry and to the pub. Not the same since it changed and certainly feels devalued.

[SpacedX]

21 minutes ago, Spacey_Fox said:

I absolutely love the FA Cup and hate how it has been devalued. I often feel like I'm on my own on that one.

You're not. 

 

Cup final day and the build up was like Christmas. The entire country seemed to grind to a halt and the streets were deserted by 3.00pm. Never understood people that watched it on ITV though - that is until Saint and Greavsie. You'd switch over by lunchtime though if you had any sense. 

[LukeyZade]

45 minutes ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

Apparently, the last time the FA Cup Final was played before the league campaign had finished was 2013, when Wigan upset Man City. Could be a good omen if you believe in that kind of stuff.

All i hear from my father in law. Watching the final together later if he compares his wigan to us il slap him silly and he can leave his beers aswell. 😂

[Super_horns]

It is a bit of a shame there are other games on but they don't matter and hopefully this game will be a good one with both teams so keen to win (in the past either one team has been real underdogs or had minds on other things)

 

I remember once Man City won the FA Cup in 2011 but it was overshadowed by Man U winning another league title!

 

Least it won't be 6-0 eh?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 May 2021 by Super_horns

[fuchsntf]

1 hour ago, weller54 said:

It's not though is it?

CL qualification is a massive step towards cementing the club as a serious consistent top 4 contender, which in turn attracts the top players and will help keep the likes of Youri Tielemans/Brendan Rodgers at the club.

Winning the FA Cup is great but does nothing like the above!

Times have changed.

Leicester fans..will remember the cup finalz, day,date, know exactly what they were doing..even more so if we win...

Non Football Leicester Aunts,uncles,Grandmas,Grandads around the Leicester  bars,will have their memories in 20,30,40,70 years time..

Players English & foreign will remember...Foreign fans will remember...

 

But..they wont remember, the when & ifs, if we finish in the top 4....They will sit around, their pub,or their Sunday dinner tables, very few if one, will

remember 20/21 League position, unless it coincides with a cup win, or just because they were in the final...

 

Even with covid...My Dutch,Belgium,Germam,Italian Friends ,will Talk about the English cup finals, comparing with their own..!!

Over the years, & their kids..!!

Edited 15 May 2021 by fuchsntf

[Twitcher]

Sandwiched between league games with us playing last Tuesday and Chelsea Wednesday, and then both teams having to play on Tuesday again is disgraceful for the showpiece final.

[weller54]

51 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

Leicester fans..will remember the cup finalz, day,date, know exactly what they were doing..even more so if we win...

Non Football Leicester Aunts,uncles,Grandmas,Grandads around the Leicester  bars,will have their memories in 20,30,40,70 years time..

Players English & foreign will remember...Foreign fans will remember...

 

But..they wont remember, für when & ifs, if we finish in the top 4....Then will sit around, their pub,or their Sunday dinner tables, very few if one, will

remember 20/21 League position, unless it coincides with a cup win, or just because they were in the final...

 

Even with covid...My Dutch,Belgium,Germam,Italian Friends ,will Talk about the English cup finals, competing with their own..!!

Over the years, & their kids..!!

The cup final of 1969 against Manchester City was when the FA Cup was massive and prestigious..

Can't compare it to today's devalued competition.

[Corky]

People not being bothered about finals helps to devalue it, too.

[fuchsntf]

25 minutes ago, weller54 said:

The cup final of 1969 against Manchester City was when the FA Cup was massive and prestigious..

Can't compare it to today's devalued competition.

Whos devaluing it..!!  

Only some  fans, who Keep repeating its a devalued competition...

And  the Media through PL, Insisting they will Play PL games on FA.cup day...

 

The Real truth...Players & fans still want it on their CV...

Its up to the ground-root fans , through stories ,Anecdotes,memories ,& attendances ( once Covid is foreby)

to Stop plastic fans Keep yamming all season long on about how devalued its become....

The Heart & Romance of a cup, gives memories....4th disolves in the sand over the Waves of time....

 

BBC are trying to Keep some Flow of the past with the Build up......

 

 

 

[sishades]

2 hours ago, weller54 said:

It's not though is it?

CL qualification is a massive step towards cementing the club as a serious consistent top 4 contender, which in turn attracts the top players and will help keep the likes of Youri Tielemans/Brendan Rodgers at the club.

Winning the FA Cup is great but does nothing like the above!

Times have changed.

Feck off and go and watch the tigers. Winning a trophy is far better than getting fourth. Football is about winners, silverware and champagne poured on managers.

[Dahnsouff]

30 minutes ago, Corky said:

People not being bothered about finals helps to devalue it, too.

Think that is not quite it, football is now spoon fed to the people, the nature of the food is defined by the broadcasters.

[weller54]

Why the FA Cup isn't what it used to be:

Majority of the PL /Championship teams put out weakened sides from round 3..they don't give two hoots about the competition!

No replays anymore.

Semi finals at Wembley!!.... devaluing the honour of playing there in the final.

Traditionally a Saturday 3pm ko..

Now 5.15!

 

[Duquesne Whistle]

2 minutes ago, weller54 said:

Why the FA Cup isn't what it used to be:

Majority of the PL /Championship teams put out weakened sides from round 3..they don't give two hoots about the competition!

No replays anymore.

Semi finals at Wembley!!.... devaluing the honour of playing there in the final.

Traditionally a Saturday 3pm ko..

Now 5.15!

 

And a pint isn't 20 pence anymore either. Scandalous.

Would still like the club to complete the set though.

[weller54]

23 minutes ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

And a pint isn't 20 pence anymore either. Scandalous.

Would still like the club to complete the set though.

Nothing to do with that..

I'm talking about the importance of the tournament .. back when it was THE premier domestic cup competition every team that competed played their strongest possible side, they didn't rest players/the entire first team 11 for league games!

I understand lots of the younger generation on here weren't around to witness the era I'm talking about, but the FA Cup today is a mere shadow of what it once was.

Love us to win it, but wouldn't be heartbroken if we don't... unlike 1969 when it was massive !!

 

[sishades]

28 minutes ago, weller54 said:

Love us to win it, but wouldn't be heartbroken if we don't.

Are you still here? Why?