FA Cup Regains It’s Sparkle

Like most football fans I can remember when FA Cup Final day was the best day of the footballing year. SKY TV hadn’t polluted us all with blanket coverage of every game they could find and the rampant charge towards Champion’s League money hadn’t completely devalued all of the domestic competitions. These were the glory days when the FA Cup was THE cup to play for and win. If we’re honest it hasn’t been like that for ten years or more. Things change and at the top level of football they usually change for the worse when tradition, real excitement and passion for the game are taken into account. Well, up until yesterday that was.

The FA Cup Final between Liverpool and West Ham United was one of the hardest fought, most entertaining football matches I’ve ever seen, regardless of competition or standard, and it may just put the FA Cup Final back on the map as one of the “must see” footballing events around the world.

End to end action, six goals in the ninety minutes and then a cagey, injury struck period of extar time before a nail biting penalty shoot out where the penalty masters from Anfield shown the wannabes from the East End how it was done. From start to finish it was non-stop action and it got to the point during extra time where it didn’t look like either side would have enough players still standing to be able to take the penalties. Dedication to their clubs and their fans kept those players almost crippled by cramp on thier feet and still fighting and it was really a great advertisement for the game and for modern day professional footballers. Much like the Tottenham players last week who played through crippling stomach pains and vomiting, we saw a display from the players which had nothing to do with driving Ferraris and wearing more gold chains and jewellary than Mr. T and everything to do with giving their all towards winning the FA Cup. A refreshing change indeed.

On a day of great performances Player of the Year Steven Gerrard stood head and shoulders above the others as the epitome of a modern day footballing hero. Non stop running, tackling and encouraging his side on, Gerrard weighed in with two great goals, the second and Liverpool’s equaliser to make it 3-3 in injury time after the 90 minutes hit from fully 40 yards out, and deservedly finished it off with a successful penalty in the shoot out before accepting the cup from Prince William.

I could be churlish and make fun of the West ham fans who taunted Spurs during the last week but I won’t. They all played their part in a great final and even though I was glad that the Bingo Club didn’t take the pot home, it wouldn’t have been anywhere close to as great a game if they hadn’t been involved.

Here’s to next year’s FA Cup, may they all be like this one.