What does it mean? And who would it be for?

[Freeman's Wharfer]

I’m 32 years old and well aware that there’s a generation or two of LCFC fans older than me for whom the FA Cup means even more.

 

My memories of the FA Cup include the Wycombe debacle when we thought we had an easy passage to the semis and didn’t recover from the shock for a long time, vague memories of the Chelsea quarter-final during the O’Neill years when we were robbed and that dire period from 2004-2008 when we were playing the likes of Tottenham at home and Charlton away and a win felt like a ‘giant-killing’.

 

I’m in the camp where winning the FA Cup felt like the most we could realistically ever achieve and that one day we might strike lucky, come up against a big side in the final and pull off a plucky upset. In many ways, it’s crazy that we go into tomorrow 3rd in the top league and above a Chelsea side who are our opponents.

 

But to the rest of you (I’m looking at those of you older than me), what does it mean? What were the finals of the 60s like if you were there? And who will you be thinking of if we’re lifting the cup tomorrow?

Hit me with your nostalgia and sentimental thoughts...

 

 

[Webbo]

I'll be thinking of our Dan. The best Leicester fan i ever knew.

[Torten]

Zoumana Bakayogo

[Bert]

I’ve been trying to think how I’d feel if we won it. Truth is I actually have no idea. So many of the lads in the group chats are all nervous, saying they’ll not be sleeping. And I love it. What it’s all about. These times don’t come round too often.

[st albans fox]

It’s just mad ........... 

[Staff]

21 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I'll be thinking of our Dan. The best Leicester fan i ever knew.

There will be many of us thinking the same mate

[Wymsey]

22 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I'll be thinking of our Dan. The best Leicester fan i ever knew.

I've never personally met him but, from the numerous tributes left for him, he seemed a sound young man.

RIP.

Also, @Rincewind.

Edited 14 May 2021 by Wymsey

[foxile5]

It's one of those instances where the phrase 'if you know you know' actually applies. 

[filthyfox]

I'm 38, and I dont think I've bothered watching an FA Cup final before.

 

This is for ME, and it means I can stick two fingers up the arses of the Bottleham fans that used to bully me at school for being a Foxes fan, back when we were shit.

Edited 14 May 2021 by filthyfox

[Izzy]

This would be for all those fans who've travelled home and away over the last 50 years to see us regularly get knocked out of the FA Cup in the early stages ('82 apart)

 

If we win this, it means we've completed domestic football and I can die a happy man.

 

The FA Cup final is the English equivalent of the Superbowl and the highlight of the football season. It's a competition that's revered around the world, even if modern day fans think it's lost it's magic.

 

My Mastermind round would probably be FC Cup finals of the 80's as I can remember all of them fondly.

 

I'll be thinking of Vichai and all he did for our club when Kasper lifts the trophy. 

 

[Sly]

I’ve watch the FA Cup final every year for over 25 years. 

The fact we’re in it is amazing. 
 

I’ve felt disjointed from football in a way this season, however this is brilliant. I’d like to immerse myself in it, like the old days, where the BBC start coverage at 08:00 and cover it all day. Such a shame that they don’t do this anymore. 
 

I’ll be nothing short of delighted if we win. After 15/16 and the miracle and basically capturing lightning in a bottle, this would feel like real progression as a football club; a major achievement in the rollercoaster story of Leicester City Football club. 
 

Three of the biggest games in the clubs history stand in front of us, to make this squad legends like our immortals. 
 

We’ve experienced the lows, so that we can truly appreciate the high times. 
 

As Achilles said in Troy to the Myrmidons,  “immortality is yours, take it”! 

[Vlad the Fox]

36 minutes ago, Staff said:

There will be many of us thinking the same mate

Too right, I’ll be going with my dad and thinking of my mum, wishing she was there with us. It was her who took me down as a young kid, I can’t remember my first game, I’ve always been going as far as I can remember. 
 

I remember milkshakes and cakes in the majestic cafe on high street? Is it still there? It was a few seasons back when I last looked.

 

I remember how she said our liverpool supporting neighbours turned my brother so she made sure they weren’t getting at me.

 

I remember how she instilled my hate for forest.

 

I remember looking round to see if she’d let me go on the filbert street pitch after promotion v burnley, only to see her making her own way on herself shouting “come on” with her arm outstretched grabbing my hand.

 

I remember when confronted with a few thousand geordies heading back to the train station after a defeat to us, she took my hand and led me through them dealing with class the banter she got, and was too quick for one lad who tried to nick my hat.  

I remember how ‘Abide with me’ moved her to tears before cup finals as it brought memories of her times there supporting City.

 

I remember how happy the Martin O’Neil years made her. 
 

I also remember how heartbroken my dad was when she was too ill to renew her season ticket. 
 

I hope she’s there watching with us tomorrow. 
 

For me, this will be for her as much as me, my dad and anyone else. She started me on the path to supporting this wonderful club, the lows, and the incredible highs. May tomorrow be another incredible high.

 

COME ON LEICESTER

 

Edited 14 May 2021 by Vlad the Fox

[Vulpine Victor]

I was born in 1949, so obviously I can not remember that game. I watched in 1961 when Dave McKay crippled Len Chalmers and got away with it reducing us to 10 men. In 1963 we were favourites but Man U beat us. In 1969 I was at Wembley when Woollett  failed to clear the ball which allowed Man City to win 1- 0. Now 52 years later I hope to see LCFC  at last win the FA cup, Happy to be in the stadium, but not happy at having been told I had to travel on an official coach having been shielding for the last 14 months. But what the hell it could be another 52 years until our next appearance, which I don’t expect to attend. To me I would put the FA Cup before the Champions League. Having supported the City all my life.

 

[ARM1968]

One thing is for sure. I can’t wait another 50+ years for another go. So we best fuching win it this time

[UniFox21]

47 minutes ago, Bert said:

I’ve been trying to think how I’d feel if we won it. Truth is I actually have no idea. So many of the lads in the group chats are all nervous, saying they’ll not be sleeping. And I love it. What it’s all about. These times don’t come round too often.

I've very rarely felt like this before a game before. I've had feelings of big games coming or knowing what could happen, but I've had a weird nervous feeling for this game for days now. I genuinely can't wait

[Freeman's Wharfer]

6 minutes ago, Vlad the Fox said:

Too right, I’ll be going with my dad and thinking of my mum, wishing she was there with us. It was her who took me down as a young kid, I can’t remember my first game, I’ve always been going as far as I can remember. 
 

I remember milkshakes and cakes in the majestic cafe on high street? Is it still there? It was a few seasons back when I last looked.

 

I remember how she said our liverpool supporting neighbours turned my brother so she made sure they weren’t getting at me.

 

I remember how she instilled my hate for forest.

 

I remember looking round to see if she’d let me go on the filbert street pitch after promotion v burnley, only to see her making her own way on herself shouting “come on” with her arm outstretched grabbing my hand.

 

I remember when confronted with a few thousand geordies heading back to the train station after a defeat to us, she took my hand and led me through them dealing with class the banter she got, and was too quick for one lad who tried to nick my hat.  

I remember how ‘Abide with me’ moved her to tears before cup finals as it brought memories of her times there supporting City.

 

I remember how happy the Martin O’Neil years made her. 
 

I also remember how heartbroken my dad was when she was too ill to renew her season ticket. 
 

I hope she’s there watching with us tomorrow. 
 

For me, this will be for her as much as me, my dad and anyone else. She started me on the path to supporting this wonderful club, the lows, and the incredible highs. May tomorrow be another incredible high.

 

COME ON LEICESTER

 

That’s what this thread was meant to be about. Beautiful memories for you!

[Spudulike]

I watched the '69 final on a black and white telly with my Dad. My Auntie brought around a cup final cake that she made with an icing pitch on top. I remember my Dad telling me as the clock ticked down not to worry as we'll score soon. 

 

We went together to all home matches (and I mean all) of the Bloomfield era. He took me to my first away match at WBA. He put a NottsF fan on his arse during the riot in '71 (self defence). 

 

He went with me to all the Wembley finals in the 90's and 2000. His last match was watching the 2014 Championship winners and we walked across the pitch afterwards. 

 

He caught covid in January and died. I'll be thinking about him tomorrow. 

[Mint23]

It’s a strange one, mostly because we can’t be there which is so painful.  I grew up when the FA cup was everything. Cup final day was after the season had ended and there was hardly any live matches on tv other than this and the coverage started in the morning,. I loved the cup final songs/singles, the passion, the giant killings - I even loved the Liverpool “spice boys” Armani suits but I’ve got to admit I’ve hardly watched a final for 20 years and haven’t really cared for it because the way it’s been treated by teams, managers, tv companies and the FA themselves. Now that we’re in it i so so so want us to win it but also know that very few people outside of Leicester will care or even watch it - it used to be the most viewed tv show of the year with £15m + viewers.  

[Paninistickers]

It means basically my entire childhood to me..

 

Marching band on the pitch. Coaches on Wembley Way going about 1mph through the crowds. TV coverage from 9am onwards. Elton John crying. Brian Kilcline and snoz sillet. Cameras on the team coach. Spice boys suits. Scarves walking up the steps. Merseyside final after Hillsborough disaster. Teams from the tunnel end over the speedway track. 100,000 attendance in the Sunday papers (the number seemed impossibly big). Billy Bonds. Dave Beasant. Ricky Villa. 

[trabuch]

The first FA Cup I properly remember was the Sunderland v Leeds one. I've had a tendency to support the underdog ever since. If I wasn't a Leicester fan I'd still be 100% behind us for this. I expect most true football fans will be wanting a Leicester win. I'm just ridiculously excited about this. I feel like I'm ten years old again.

[trabuch]

5 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

It means basically my entire childhood to me..

 

Marching band on the pitch. Coaches on Wembley Way going about 1mph through the crowds. TV coverage from 9am onwards. Elton John crying. Brian Kilcline and snoz sillet. Cameras on the team coach. Spice boys suits. Scarves walking up the steps. Merseyside final after Hillsborough disaster. Teams from the tunnel end over the speedway track. 100,000 attendance in the Sunday papers (the number seemed impossibly big). Billy Bonds. Dave Beasant. Ricky Villa. 

For some reason I have a memory of Freddie Starr dressed as Hitler taking penalties in his wellies. Please tell me I didn't dream this! And cup final It's a Knock Out.

Edited 14 May 2021 by trabuch

[Paninistickers]

2 minutes ago, trabuch said:

For some reason I have a memory of Freddie Starr dressed as Hitler taking penalties in his wellies. Please tell me I didn't dream this!

Rings a bell. And Bruce Forsyth on a temporary stage 'conducting' abide with me

[Rusko187]

I'm 35 years old, I wasn't fortunate enough to go to many games growing up.

Everytime Leicester on TV I would watch the matches with my dad and grandad, truth be told, when my grandad passed away I just totally lost interest in the game for a good chunk of time.. I'd passively follow Leicester, but I wasn't watch it much anymore. It's only been I'd say a couple of seasons before we went into League 1 that I really got back into following Leicester.

 

He used to say to me and my dad "The thing is with Leicester, we're too good for Division 1, but we aren't good enough for the Premier League". Up until these recent years, he had us absolutely nailed on.

 

I'd have loved for him to see us lift the Premier League, but I knew he loved the FA Cup... I want us to win it for him, and for all Leicester fans both past, present and future.

[trabuch]

Just now, Paninistickers said:

Rings a bell. And Bruce Forsyth on a temporary stage 'conducting' abide with me

It is all that. It's triggering a lot of memories. It was so important when I was young. I am honestly so happy we are there and part of the day. 

[bovril]

Members of my family have gone to most of the previous finals. One of my relatives played in the 49 final. My great-grandfather went in 61, my Mum in 63. Mum again in 69, but not with her grandfather, as she told me tonight in her inimitable Leicestershire style, "I can't remember why he didn't go, I think he was either dead or nearly dead". 

 

Mum kept the programmes from the 60s games. I was brought up with stories of Len Chalmers (Dad's a Sp*rs fan), Banks' howlers and Rodrigues' miss. So the win would be for that side of the family, the ones who are still with us and those who aren't. It would mean more to them than the Premier League win, I am sure. 

 

For me, it would mean the same as our title win - the fact that we will have done it, finally.