I can not begin to tell you how excited I am for tomorrow. Honest to God, I won't be buzzing any more two weeks today when I depart for Amsterdam and then Paris. Or a week on Sunday if we are to win the football league. AGAIN!
Being a Liverpudlian, and no less a fortunate survivor, the FA Cup always holds paramount significance each and every season. I appreciate fans who have grown up in this era, where the Cup's importance has been disgracefully denigrated, not only by clubs, but by the FA themselves, not holding it in much esteem compared to the League/ EC. But as Liverpudlians, after all we've lost in this competition, you should ALWAYS want the club to go out and give everything in the FA Cup. EVERY season. And man have they delivered this year and then some!
The Cup has always been massively important to the City. I remember being a young teenager back in '86 when we were vying neck-and-neck with the Ev for both league and Cup. And after we managed to avoid each other in the semi draw for the first time ever, ALL anyone could talk about wasn't the title race that went to the last game. But the Cup final. Whatever happened, we COULDN'T lose the Cup final to them! Which probably sounds mad to the younger generation now who have been conditioned to believe all that matters is the PL and CL. But the FA Cup was, even in such recent memory, held in the highest esteem. I grew up on story's of '65 and how we FINALLY shut the blues up when we won our first. And just what a momentous day that was. Cup Final day used to literally stop the whole Country. Grannies that had no interest in football would be glued to the TV. Regardless of who was playing. It was an all day event on the telly from early morning getting up with the teams through to after the game.
And then the worst day of any of our lives, that nobody should have to suffer through, happened in 1989. That, without wishing to dwell on the subject, completely changed ones life that lasts to this day. All of which intrinsically tied the club and City, to the competition in an indelible bond.
That was my first Cup final back in 1986. And the pure, unadulterated excitement is the same for what will be my 9th tomorrow as it was that glorious May day 36 years ago when, for the second time in 2 years we showed the rest of the Country, already beginning to become conditioned by the Thatcher government of the time to look down on Liverpool, what Scouse pride meant as we behaved impeccably with the blues and just enjoyed a great Merseyside day out in London.
A couple of favourites in between as I'm in full Cup Final mode-
My all time favourite Wembley final. Sunderland in '92 and arguably our poorest side to ever lift the famous old trophy. Not a great game by any means. But an absolutely TOP day out with another absolutely top notch fan base. Sunderland fans were superb that day and it was a really special occasion to share with them. Topped by a stunning Mickey Thomas goal.
And still my all time favourite Liverpool game, bar none .....
The Owen Cup Final in 2001.
Hottest day in Wales ever. Prohies were literally being ripped up and the pages used as sun shade on yer head. Played at what still is, maybe the San Siro aside, my favourite stadium in Europe which P all over Wembley. (You're in a boss City centre Cardiff as opposed to the middle of nowhere in London. You literally roll out of the boozer into the ground rather than drinking elsewhere (Kilburn for us this weekend) and getting the tube in. And I don't think there's a bad seat in the house.). Absolutely played off the park by Arsenal with Henchoz playing goalie. But we owed them BIG time for '89 and to do them in the cruelest way possible was beyond boss. The single best ending to a game ever with the single best celebration of all time. Just arms and limbs everywhere in absolute scenes. (Leeds in the 4th round of that run was another absolutely ***** performance that we nicked late with mad carnage in r end.). When you look back at the winner past that historical defence it just reminds you how phenomenal Michael Owen was. Real shame how he tarnished himself with many later when he should be an all time L'pool legend!
Which was all part of still the single best week of my football supporting life. Cardiff to win the Cup the Saturday. Dortmund for the best UEFA Cup final of all time the Wednesday. Then Charlton the following Sat'day to clinch third and the CL spot. Literally a week of travel, bevvy, win the Cup final, mad celebratory party bevvy, sleep; travel, bevvy, win another treble, mad celebratory party bevvy, sleep; travel, bevvy, win effectively the third Cup final of the week, mad celebratory party bevvy all the way home amid a rocking train ..... sleep for a week! If I did one shift at work all that week I did well. Utterly draining. But utterly brilliant memories money just can't buy that will last a lifetime. All started by the Owen Cup Final.
So the FA Cup, personally speaking, is a majorly important competition each season I desperately want to win as much as anything else. And here we are again. the night before our 15th FA Cup final appearance after 10 LONG years away. Hopefully set to win that glorious old trophy, the single best straight knock-out cup trophy in World football, for an 8th time.
Roll on Saturday afternoon and the 2nd leg of the quadruple.
Can
Not
WAIT!!!!!
*Sings-
Jürgen said to me yer know
We'll win the FA Cup yer know
He said so!
I'm in love with him and I feel fine .....