Has the magic of the FA Cup disappeared?

Wembley Stadium was a swathe of red and light blue on Saturday as supporters of Stoke City and Manchester City watched their footballing idols do battle in the oldest and most prestigious domestic cup competition in the world – the English FA Cup. The match was beamed to millions around the globe who witnessed a Man City victory by a single goal sending their supporters into frenzied raptures of their adopted ballad 'Blue Moon'.

However, apart from the teams involved on the day, for me the magic of the FA Cup has disappeared.

Now, I am not old enough to remember the first FA Cup final held during the 1871-72 season, won again by a single goal by 'Wanderers'. Nor can I remember the first FA Cup final held at Wembley Stadium in 1923, attended by 200,000 people, and won by Bolton Wanderers. But I do remember the cup final of the 1970-71 season between Arsenal and Liverpool. In fact I remember most of the finals up until the mid 90's – but then the memory goes a bit blank. Most people say you never remember the losers – well post the mid 90's I'm struggling to even recall any of the winners.

The '71 final is my first memory of this magical cup competition and what a memory it was. A large group of us with eager anticipation crowded into the small room of the house which had the only colour TV in our street. After the game, (which Arsenal won 2-1), we piled into the street and using jumpers as goal posts, re-enacted the final, albeit the score was somewhat different.

My overriding memories of the FA Cup in the 70's and 80's was that it was a full day event, and something to look forward to and get excited about. It was the only day of the year I would get away with sitting in front of the television glued to every programme which had a footballing theme – as a 10 year-old, life didn't get any better than that; wall to wall football. In the morning the usual kids TV programmes all had footballing themes. This was followed by the lunacy of 'It's a Knock-out' featuring supporters from the two finalists, and then the build up began. There were full run downs of how the teams got to the final, profiles of the players and live TV coverage of the team coaches leaving their hotels and travelling to Wembley. And a choice – the game was always shown live on both the BBC and ITV; of course David Coleman on the BBC got my vote every time.

This year, as a grumpy forty-something, although a session of 'It's a Knock-out' hosted by the Man City celebrity supporter, Stuart Hall, would have caused a stir, as well as missiles being thrown at the TV, the pitiful two hour build up using safe commentators that no ones ever heard of, has seriously devalued the magic that was the FA Cup. Even a bit of swearing by the overpaid players during post match interviews and the Man City fans doing 'The Poznan', could not re-kindle even a spark of the old cup magic.

Wembley itself has contributed to the cup finals demise. During the magical years, the teams would be led out together by the managers and walk half the length of the pitch from the old tunnel to the area in front of the Royal Box before being presented to a Royal VIP. The TV coverage would capture the frenzy of both sets of supporters hunting out the best and most humorous home made flags and banners.

No such carnival atmosphere nowadays. The teams arrive on the pitch and are presented to the VIP; the banners being waived all look the same having been purchased from vendors outside the stadium, the empty corporate seats and the official singer cannot coordinate the National Anthem with the 80,000 supporters. Top all this with the commentators drivel and you have an uninspiring non-magical cup final day – well for the neutral anyway.

Gone also are the days of watching the game in a room crammed full of youngsters eager to see their idols playing the beautiful game – this year it was just me and my son. Then the final nail in the coffin of the most prestigious cup final in the world. Just before half time, my son left the room, not to put the kettle on or to prepare a half time bite to eat – no......wait for it.....he decided to go and tidy his bedroom. Tidy his bedroom!! When I was his age (13), tidying my bedroom was a punishment! Surely the FA Cup hasn't become something worse than a punishment. Does he not know the FA Cup itself was recently nominated as an 'icon of England', a project designed to identify what makes England what it is – something to be proud of!

I suppose deciding to tidy his bedroom in favour of watching the best domestic cup competition in the world may have been a blessing in disguise – at least he didn't want to go into our street to re-enact the game – such exertions would undoubtedly have finished me off.

The magic of the FA Cup has not just faded, it has completely disappeared – still I suppose that's what magic does eventually – it makes things disappear!

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