Comments on: How the True Spark of the FA Cup Remains

By: Stevie

Stevie — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:05:23 +0000

But when was the last time a Non League beat a top top side? Sutton United beat Coventry back in the 80′s or was it the 90′s?

By: Jamie Farrier

Jamie Farrier — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:21:22 +0000

I agree with Dave, over the last 10 years the Cup’s still been brilliant, and Barnsley is indeed Exhibit A. Who can forget Havant & Waterlooville’s heroics against Cardiff before coming tantalisingly close to beating Liverpool at Anfield.

While we’re taking a walk down Memory Lane, my offering is being there when Chelsea won the cup back in 1997 – Roberto Di Matteo’s 42-second screamer and all that. That was indeed proper cup magic, Wembley glory on a baking summer’s day pre-Abramovich.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:47:02 +0000

Nice article but I’m not sure how you can say the FA Cup had lost it’s magic until now. Just last season Barnsley knocked out both Chelsea and Liverpool in the latter stages and an unfancied Portsmouth team won the competition. There are always surprises and highlights in the FA Cup although some are bigger than others.

It’s nice when different teams can win the trophy but the magic is not all about the eventual winners, it’s about the little teams scalping the big teams and sometimes earning enough money from a cup run to survive another year or two in the lower leagues of the pyramid.

The magic’s still there, sometimes we just have to look a little deeper to find it.

DAVE

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:07:31 +0000

as chest wig goes it’s more impressive then Jackie Emu’s…

By: Ray Stantonberry-bank

Ray Stantonberry-bank — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:55:33 +0000

all i remember was Giggs chest wig, it was frightening

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:17:04 +0000

I remember May 1980, FA Cup final day. Arsenal vs West Ham. It was the first time i was allowed to have the TV to myself. I closed all the curtains and watched the whole build up.

I’d been supporting Arsenal for a a few months, not really knowing anything about them or football due to the fact my whole family were sport hermits. My mate at the time supported them which was the main reason I did. If he would have supported Crewe I probably would have too. I fell in love with Arsenal that day, it was the day I became a football fan. I can’t explain why, we lost the game 1-0 to a Trevor Brooking header but something touched me.

Two years later was Espania ‘82. To me this is still the best world cup ever, it was the first time I was exposed to international football. The great Brazil side with Zico, Eder, Falco & Socrates are in my mind the greatest footballing team of all time. Of course, Italy were superb too with Rossi, Bruno Conti, Tardelli & co. The Italians didn’t actually win their first game until the 2nd round. I can remember more stats and results from this world cup more than any other. Good days when football was total magic!

By: Dan Church

Dan Church — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:12:30 +0000

To be completely honest, i used to love the FA Cup, back in the late 80′s when there was a different winner every year. i had my cup final day ritual which started with Grandstand at midday and the full 3 hours of build up, the coachs leaving their hotels and arriving at the grounds, how the teams got to Wembley, and even the little kids 5-a-side game before the match, i loved it. Sadly these days its not a patch on it, Portsmouth aside last year, its been the same winners every year, predictably one of the top 4. Not complaining as i support United, but i remember when i hoped and dreamed we would win it, these days, i expect to win it…