F.A. Cup Memories

It's FA Cup weekend coming up, always a highlight of the footie season for us in the seventies as kids. I'm sure there is wall-to-wall coverage in the U.K., but it is somewhat disappointing that FSC is not showing the match or even giving it much promotion.

I've got a lot of great memories of F.A. Cup days and only one bad one (1973 - won't be dwelling on that one). It was the only day that we were allowed to lounge about all day in front of the telly with our jammies on. It started early with the chat from outside Wembley, with the crowds just starting to show up. I always loved the blooper reels, the "How they Got to Wembley" recaps of early rounds. "Goal of the Season" was always a highlight. And I have to give a tip of the hat to the great Frank Bough - a constant F.A. Cup day presence.

In the mid-afternoon, you'd start to get the footage of the teams in their hotel having lunch, then on the coaches on their way to the stadium. The first touch of the pitch was always covered as if it were a moon landing. Then the commentators would shut up and just soak in the crowd noise in the fifteen minutes leading up to the match.

As for matches, 1972 is a highlight for all LUFC fans. I also remember the 1979 Arsenal vs. Utd. match as a cracker. There were a couple with Spurs in the early 80s that went to replays. The Hammers and Ipswich winning shock ones was great. The only really unworthy side to win in was Wimbledon - always hated them.

What about the rest of you. Any great memories to share?

~Bob