Its sixteen years ago today and have to say, its still the best I've ever felt coming away from a game. 94 should of been it but a dodgy ref, 4 goals and the pissing rain made it not feel like a cup final. Three years later and the whole day just seemed like what a cup final should be, when watching it on the tv in 70's 80's. The sun was out, we outnumbered boro probably 2:1 and it just seemed it was our time. The cup run itself, 2 down v Liverpool to win 4-2, 2-2 at Leicester live on tv and Jimmy Hill having kittens as there was trouble in the Leicester end! lucky replay win, The misty conditions at pompey and Hughesy scoring a cracker, Semi final at Highbury and Zolas goal! Chris Perry is still out there looking for zola to this day! and then the Final, Robbies goal 43 secs, then Eddies after 80 mins, and the celebrations after lasted about half an hour on the pitch!!! The drive back through Surrey and Sussex it seemed every other house had Chelsea flags hanging out the Window, grown men crying, The day was immense, 26 years and the wait was over...Chelsea were BACK!!!!

Wow 16 years, I remember the day I watched this, my cousin was getting married but instead of going to the ceremony I stayed home with my brother and father to watch the cup final. They wanted Boro to win (both United fans) and of course I wanted my Chelsea to win. I remember the elation when Robbie scored that wonder goal in record time. After that its pretty much a blur tbh but I remember dancing round the room when we lifted the cup. Wonderful memories, and it also led to us winning the Cup Winners Cup which was always my favourite memory up until when we won the title back in 2005.

I remember my baby daughter had just learned to walk and when we all punched the air when Robbie scored, she spent the next half an hour walking around the  room with her arms in the air!  Of course, she's a young woman now (and not very interested in football unfortunately!)

What a day that was.  I was 9 at the time, and somehow my Dad managed to get tickets for the game - so when changing after school he'd put them in my drawer for me to find - absolutely brilliant (I still think he must have killed someone to get his hands on them) - only my 3rd Chelsea game in the flesh at the time, after an away trip to Wimbledon and a home game against Leicester where a young Emile Heskey looked like a star in the making.

 

I only have fleeting memories of the game - however the madness of the first goal, whilst standing on my seat singing 'One Man Went to Mow' was crazy - the bloke next to me whom we'd never met before the game lifted me up in the air after the goal went in during the pandamomeum. 

 

I remember the nerves kicking in during the second half - I'm sure time was standing still when we only had the one goal leaf - I even did a deal with the big fella upstairs, if he exists, to hold onto the lead I'd never ask him another favour - although it might have been the 5 foot 10 God on the field setting up the 2nd who might have answered the call instead.

 

Still the most special day of being a Chelsea fan I can remember.

Still my favourite Chelsea success. Loved the team, loved the whole cup run and looking back it had a written in the stars feel like Munich. We were finally going to do it that year. And how fitting it was that Di Matteo and Newton were the ones in charge when we won in Munich all those years later.

 

Just think if you'd told anyone back then what we were going to win over the next 16 years you'd have been laughed at (or sectioned). How lucky we are to have lived through it.

Remember it well. Breakfast at Victoria (now a pre Wembley ritual) followed by a lengthy session at the Fat Controller in Harrow-on-the-Hill, A bit to much time in the pub resulted in me and my brother getting into our seats just as the ref blew to start the match. 43 seconds later and we were leaping in the air as RDM laced one into the 'boro onion bag. Our two opened bottles of water went spinning up in the air bringing a light shower to those around us, no one seemed to mind. After that it became a rather dull affair until the final whistle and then the near hour of on pitch celebrations. '97 only second to our 2012 CL victory as it set us on our way.

 

To this day I have a large all weather blue/yellow flag flying in my back garden - FA CUP FINAL 1997 CHELSEA FC - it say's and reminds me of that historic May day and a great team.

 

A happy day which spawned many more....................................

Just think if you'd told anyone back then what we were going to win over the next 16 years you'd have been laughed at (or sectioned). How lucky we are to have lived through it.

I know crazy eh? It's amazing what we've achieved since, for me the 97-2000 period is what I consider my favourite Chelsea

I know crazy eh? It's amazing what we've achieved since, for me the 97-2000 period is what I consider my favourite Chelsea

Yeah, mine too. Except for April 99, f**k you Steve Guppy.

Yeah, mine too. Except for April 99, f**k you Steve Guppy.

Don't remind me!

That is scary to think that this was 16 years ago. I remember running around the house when Robbie smashed that in! still the most crazy I think I've ever gone over a goal I think.

The Champions League was amazing but for some reason this felt even more special.

The Liverpool game leading up to it was unreal, Collymore and Petrescu going at. I remember Collymore holding up 2 fingers to Petrescu to say 2-0 then Petrescu giving it the same at 4-2, brilliant. I watched that with my step dad who is a Liverpool fan and went to my room in a huff at half time.

I loved this Chelsea team, loads of flair!

Yeah, mine too. Except for April 99, f**k you Steve Guppy.

It would have been lovely if we won the leauge that year. I'd blame duberry before guppy

Edited May 17, 201313 yr by bluegraham

2-0 down

4-2 up

Liverpool are out of the fa cup

Bye bye bye bye bye bye

Great season.

It would have Bern lovely if we won the leauge that year. I'd blame duberry before guppy

 

I think our biggest mistake was not bringing in another forward after losing Casiraghi and Laudrup early on. We dropped a lot of points getting 0-0s and 1-1s in games we dominated.

I think our biggest mistake was not bringing in another forward after losing Casiraghi and Laudrup early on. We dropped a lot of points getting 0-0s and 1-1s in games we dominated.

Yeah your bang. I'm just on about that particular game. Casiraghi scoring against Liverpool was nice really thought he would kick.on pity he got injured at west ham.

I remember it as if it was yesterday, the semi at Highbury where everyone was queuing for a pint that they weren't allowed to sell yet as it was an early kick off, I remember standing at the bar whilst they lined them all up waiting for the word so they could start taking the money! The relief when the goals went in then walking down the road after singing whilst they sprayed champagne out of the dressing room window on to the fans below - pretty sure it was Wisey but he got hauled back in! Then the final, getting to Wembley and drinking in The Post Office pub, falling off a table as I was dancing, the bruises lasted a week but God I was proud of them! It was magic, we'd waited so long for it and it was so sweet. I've still got the t shirt with 43 seconds on the back.

I remember, oh I remember :-) Nobody in the Netherlands was all that familiar of that club called Chelsea, so not all that many people understood my elation!

FA Cup football got a lot of viewers though. Nowadays I have to watch it online, it's not on tv anymore :-(

i can remember that day, what a day and also what a year, i got married that year and my first son was born, happy days

One of the best days of my life, can't believe it was 16 years ago, when I got back from Wembley the family were having BBQ... Just drank and past out in the lawn in elation !

Thanks for starting the thread !

I think it was more memorable to me personally than Munich and Bolton but close run thing they were all great for different reasons. My mind changes daily for my greatest moment having said that.

i can remember that day, what a day and also what a year, i got married that year and my first son was born, happy days

Much belated Congratulations, I must say the birth of your first son must be more exhilarating that any cup final

Edited May 18, 201313 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

Remebmer my son jumping on my back, the way Zola did Di Matteo in the post match celebrations whilst being interviewed by the BBC (I wasn't at Wembley) - he's 21 now and about 18 stone, so I kept well out of his way on Wednesday night!

Much belated Congratulations, I must say the birth of your first son must be more exhilarating that any cup final

oh yes

Its sixteen years ago today and have to say, its still the best I've ever felt coming away from a game. 94 should of been it but a dodgy ref, 4 goals and the pissing rain made it not feel like a cup final. Three years later and the whole day just seemed like what a cup final should be, when watching it on the tv in 70's 80's. The sun was out, we outnumbered boro probably 2:1 and it just seemed it was our time. The cup run itself, 2 down v Liverpool to win 4-2, 2-2 at Leicester live on tv and Jimmy Hill having kittens as there was trouble in the Leicester end! lucky replay win, The misty conditions at pompey and Hughesy scoring a cracker, Semi final at Highbury and Zolas goal! Chris Perry is still out there looking for zola to this day! and then the Final, Robbies goal 43 secs, then Eddies after 80 mins, and the celebrations after lasted about half an hour on the pitch!!! The drive back through Surrey and Sussex it seemed every other house had Chelsea flags hanging out the Window, grown men crying, The day was immense, 26 years and the wait was over...Chelsea were BACK!!!!

Was it really 16 years ago ! I can just see Robbies goal now. I lived in Chichester back than and spent the Sunday in the Punch House celebrating. Then sleeping it off in Priory Park.

Was it really 16 years ago ! I can just see Robbies goal now. I lived in Chichester back than and spent the Sunday in the Punch House celebrating. Then sleeping it off in Priory Park.

Chichester is where I grew up.

Arguably the return of Chelsea as a force in English Football.

For nigh on 20 years we had lived in the shadows of Arsenal, Spurs and even West Ham on the trophy front.

If I'm being honest I only really remember Robbie's goal (I wasn't pissed off my face, I was only about 5). Even though I don't remember the game that well I will never forget the euphoria around where I grew up (Morden). It was carnival atmosphere, nothing like I'd ever seen (nothing in the Abramovich era even came close).

My brother got us tickets from a lottery in his work at an early stage in the competition meaning we had to go whether or not Chelsea were in the final.  Nerves completely wrecked for near on ninety minutes but what a celebration.  Went down Fulham Broadway alone after the game with a six pack, sort of lost on how to celebrate, just wandered up and down but and the nicest thing I remember is Ruth Harding's huge smile as the coach she was on pulled into the car park.  I had to leave early, as I was due to fly out to Barcelona after driving up to Luton at seven o clock on the Sunday morning so couldn't get hammered and watched Match of the Day (sh*tty sound that day I seem to remember) and that was it, day over ( and a huge smile).

 

Luton the next day, got up at five, drove up there and the flight was cancelled after checking in.  Next flight midday so had to get permission and an escort to go back to the booking hall to get some cash for the bar as there wasn't a cashpoint flight side.  Met another Chelsea fan who was there and had a good few beers, midday flight also cancelled.  Finally few out at seven on a plane with a dozen people on it and as a result missed an Espanyol match I was due to see that evening.

 

Thanks Easyjet, you ruined my f**king cup final celebrations and watching a match in a stadium which no longer exists.