Memories of FA Cup final days gone by.... on the tv.

Seem to remember It's a Knockout between the two sets of supporters, wrestling, what else do you remember?
It all started early on the Saturday morning up to about two o'clock, on both channels I think.
The match was on BBC and ITV, then on Match of the Day later and Sunday football on ITV the day after.

 

Build started really early

Cup Final Question of Sport
Cameras on the coaches
Wembley Way as the teams arrived
Tarby's tent
Switching between channels for best coverage
My biggest one 3pm kick off - 5:30 ruined it for me

 

Yep, it used to be a really special day. My first cup final was 1987, Coventry v Spurs, an all-time classic. Remember some absolute corkers when I was a kid. Wimbledon v Liverpool, Spurs v Forest, Man Utd v Crystal Palace (the first game!). The semis were also amazing that year. I've completely lost interest now, as I don't actually remember a cup final in recent years that wasn't a cure for insomnia.

 

The build up with the back stories for both teams was always good. It was a special day in the footballing calendar.

 

I remember a Friday night program called Up For The Cup. Light hearted banter in a 'Question Time' sort of format. Saturday morning I was up early camped in my chair for the day. It's a knockout, cup final grandstand, Roy of the rovers and shoot magazines in hand. NEVER ITV, couldn't be doing with adverts spoiling football. Sacrilege. Used to love looking at all the home made banners in the crowd. Used to love waiting to see if there was a decent FA cup made out of tin foil. And I loved Abide with Me. First games I remember were the Leeds / Arsenal / Chelsea games of the early 70s. First one in colour was Liverpool Newcastle in 74 (?)at a neighbours. Wow, that was amazing, the catalyst for my dad getting our first colour. From 82 to 90 I was lucky enough to see every final at the real Wembley.
Today? I don't give a flying **** about a made for TV 5.30 production. I'll probably watch if I'm in, but no, it's not the FA Cup I loved and cherished.

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Used to be an all day job for me. Watched build up at home then up to the Club where I played
Sunday League football and enjoyed a few pints watching the game with my team mates.
Spoiled it by moving the kick off IMO.