FA Cup: A cup competition like no other where underdogs’ dreams can come true

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The world’s oldest cup competition, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, has always brought excitement to fans around the country.

My first real experience was the prequel to the ill-fated semi-final at Hillsborough in 1989. The year before, I attended Liverpool v Nottingham Forest at the very same ground and was absolutely blown away by the passion and the amazing atmosphere created by both sets of fans.

A cup competition like no other where the underdog can actually dream of winning, and of course, the illustrious giant-killing. If you dare to dream in this competition, it may well be your team walking out on the hallowed Wembley turf in front of thousands of fans and of course beamed into the households of millions.

There have been so many wonderful memories our generation have been blessed with from the 1988 Cup Final and Wimbledon FC upsetting the odds against the much-fancied kings of Europe, Liverpool.

That is not to forget the giant-killing exploits of Bradford City at multi-million-pound high-flying Chelsea or perhaps Ronnie Radford’s rocket for Hereford United against Newcastle United in 1972. Whatever your special memory is, who can deny it is what makes the FA Cup so exciting to watch.

The famous Third Round draw that has blood pumping and tongues wagging is the chance for lower league sides to write their own history against the giants of Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City or Chelsea and not forgetting the financial impact this can have on clubs who spend most of the season desperately trying to balance the books.

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For those clubs who rely heavily on the sales of players and the importance of volunteers, the revenue created by this competition through TV rights and huge ticket sales is phenomenal and can make or break the season for some clubs.

It was back in the summer of 1871, in the offices of The Sportsman newspaper that Charles William Alcock introduced the idea of a challenge cup competition open for all Association members.

“That it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association, for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete.” 

Alongside Alcock were Alfred Stair, the civil servant who would eventually referee the first three FA Cup Finals played in London, Charles Stephenson, J.H. Gifford another civil servant, D. Allport from Crystal Palace and Morton Betts, who scored the first-ever goal in a FA Cup Final.

With the backing of Sir Francis Arthur Marindin, the proposition was carried forward and began the history of the biggest cup competition in English football.

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Nowadays, we have a new Wembley Stadium and various TV companies fighting for the rights to show live games, highlights and the much-coveted Final itself. For me, it is the build-up to Cup Final day on the BBC that evokes so many happy memories.

Usually a beautiful sunny day in May, the build-up to the Final would for many I’m sure begin with Des Lynam on FA Cup Final grandstand alongside former Fulham legend Jimmy Hill.

Lynam was a gentleman, and for me personally, the greatest ever sports presenter to grace our TV sets. I would sit back and soak in the atmosphere from a stadium over 400 miles away as though I was actually there.

We are then introduced to the teams via various interviews from both managers and players past and present. Then, the journey begins with the famous “route to the final” presentation. The chance to relive the exhilarating journey both teams and their fans had to endure to reach Wembley.

All this before a ball is even kicked whilst in the background, the cameras would tease you with high-quality images beamed live from the eye in the sky as thousands of fans began to make their way down the historical Wembley Way each dreaming of glory, all believing that today is the day their beloved colours will hang from the old trophy’s handles.

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Then we reach that moment, the time has come for the players and its colourful managers to walk out to a chorus of cheers, flags and banners as 100 thousand ecstatic fans welcome them into the sunshine-filled arena and that glorious green turf and of course “Abide With Me”.

This is where heroes are born and villains are left at 4:45 on their knees crying to themselves whilst jubilant opposition players sarcastically pat them on the back as they run to celebrate with friends, families and the fans.

So much has changed nowadays with the introduction of Sky Sports and the millions of pounds they brought into the game when they gave birth to the Premier League back in 1992.

However, I genuinely believe that the FA Cup has not lost its power to provoke or create nostalgic memories or any of its magic. There are certain differences now with the Semi-Finals being held at Wembley instead of Villa Park or tragically Hillsborough, something I am not a big fan of, however, we live with and are culpable subscribers to the monster that is sponsorship and TV rights.

There will be many more challenging decisions made that will split opinion but, one will always for me remain completely protected and unashamedly beautiful and that is the magic of the oldest cup competition in the world, the FA Cup.

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