The Magic of the FA cup

[BLUENUT]

You only know what it is once you've experienced it.

My first taste of FA cup magic was in 97 when Chelsea reached their 2nd FA cup final during my lifetime. I wasn't fortunate enough to get a ticket 3 years before against Manu when they trounced us 4-0 so this was it for me. The buzz of coming from behind against Liverpool, something Chelsea never did, beating Wimbledon in the semi at Highbury, and that goal from Zola to seal our fate in the final, magic!!

On the way to Wembley I knew it was our day, I just couldn't see us losing. The atmosphere that day will live with me forever and was my finest moment as a Chelsea supporter! The quickest ever goal in a final and that was it, we were on our way. When Newton wrapped it up with about 10 mins to go, we'd done it, party time in the Chelsea end. Grown men crying, players stunned at the celebrations on the final whistle. Mark Hughe's who'd won it 4 times previously looked blown away by the magnitude of the Chelsea support that day, he couldn't believe his eyes. Zola could just about talk in the post match interview, the emotions got to him, LeBouf sitting on the half way line stunned, just looking at the Chelsea end, taking it all in.

The celebrations inside the stadium that day lasted almost a hour after the final whistle, players didn't want to leave the pitch, fans didn't want to leave the stadium. We waited years for this moment and the players and fans alike wanted to share it together, and we did! The pouring of emotional relief down to the fact that we'd finally won something is hard to explain. It was quite simply Magic!

I've been lucky enough to experience the feeling several times over the past few years, not necessarily with us going onto win it either. Last year coming from behind against Spurs then beating them at the lane was another magical feeling. As good as the final perhaps.

The FA cup, some say, has lost some of its prestige as several premiership clubs fielded weakened team, ie. Everton and Blackburn this year and Manu opted out a few years ago, but I experienced the magic of it again this weekend - believe it or not!

I sat with my brother watching the Manu - Pompey game and it was just as nerve wrecking as watching Chelsea sometimes. When Baros went down for the penalty we were out of our seats claiming for it and shouting 'off, off, off' at the TV screen with regards to the Manu keeper. 'Cmon, C'mon....bury it we then shouted to the penalty taker, who duely obliged!

We're gonna win it again, there's no-one left we thought, imagine if we win it next year aswell, that'd be 3 years on the trot we thought. We wasn't even watching Chelsea! Little did we know.........

Now I'm not sure if, as Chelsea fans, we have been spoilt over the past few years but we were both (me and bruv) guilty of taking Barnsley for granted, perhaps the players were too. The sceens at the final whistle with their supporter running on the pitch, were not met with malice by me, although I was gutted, good luck to them I thought. They wanted it more and probably deserved it, every dog has it's day. My day was in 97 and not even us winning the league could match the feeling or day I had out in 97, it was the first thing I'd ever seen us win, it was magical.

There was a great chance to bag another FA cup this year but it for whatever reason (argued in other threads) it wasn't to be. There is NO top four club left, which is only good for the competition, and a club outside of the premier league is guaranteed to make the final, it can only be good for football in general can't it ? Say what you like about the competiton, but there are 4 set of fans counting the days until they walk up Wembley way. Let them have their day, let them enjoy it, and I hope they appreciate it a bit more than we did against Spurs. We didn't deserve to be there and Barnsley do, they've beat Liverpool aswell remember.

We'reno longer involved in the competition and there is a club out there who never dreamed of making this years final, let alone having a decent chance of winning it. Redknapp could have left earlier this year to take the Newcastle job, he now finds his side favourites to win the FA cup. It's a funny old game they say, and this years competition has gone some way to prove it's still the case, it also proves that the cup hasn't lost any of it's magic.

Yes I know it hurt to go out at the weekend but I'd rather go out to Barnsley than Liverpool!!. Like I mentioned above, every dog has its day, and this year, sadly, it won't be our's. After the way our supporters failed to get behind the team in the League cup final perhaps they didn't deserve to go to another final this year, perhaps it's time for a reality check as Chelsea fans. We've have been to 'New' Wembley more than ANY other premier club and have lost their twice already this season!

Let them enjoy it and have a day out like I did in 97, the first one is always the best!

I bet Blackburn and Everton wished they put decent sides out now!

[bonetti]

My sentiments too Mr Bluenut

I dont mind any of the last four winning it although I think if Cardiff (JFH) win they cannot take the Uefa place that goes with it ie affiliated to the Welsh league. Good luck to 'arry though - hes worked wonders at Portsmouth, I also respect their support.

The bit that amuses me is the thought of the tossers at Wembley trying to fill the Corporate seats, let alone trying to get the Prawn Sandwich brigade to come back out after half time - what better year to have the semis and the final at Wembley!

May the best side win - c'mon Pompey if only for knocking out the Mankers

[Barn]

Great post, I hope the Chelsea fans use the loss as a wake up call, god knows we needed one!

[geezer]

Great post Bluenut. Brought back a lot of memories for me too from the 1970 win where I experienced the same emotions you did in '97 which stirred the emotions for me yet again.

We probably won't win anything this season but believe me it will make winning our next trophy all the sweeter when the moment arrives.

[Backbiter]

Spot on Bluenut and geezer.

[Chippy]

Spot on Bluenut and geezer.

spot on

[MURDOCH_(8)]

We probably won't win anything this season but believe me it will make winning our next trophy all the sweeter when the moment arrives.

Hopefully by that time we will have weeded out all the glory hunting scum that we have among us and the true fans can savour the sucess of the club that we turely love.

[geezer]

We probably won't win anything this season but believe me it will make winning our next trophy all the sweeter when the moment arrives.

Hopefully by that time we will have weeded out all the glory hunting scum that we have among us and the true fans can savour the sucess of the club that we turely love.

I'm not sure I want to wait two seasons

[Jesus]

Hopefully by that time we will have weeded out all the glory hunting scum that we have among us and the true fans can savour the sucess of the club that we turely love.

Scum? Whether you come to the Church to make yourself feel better, for a true experience of being close to my Dad, or for the chicks, we accept you all the same. Man will do the same things for different reasons; some find its true meaning along the way and others while only wanting to achieve their own ends may become better people in the process. Do not be so quick to set a label.

Go now my child, and be at peace.

[glory55]

JESUS SAVE THE BRIDGE.......

.....JESUS..........JESUS..........SAVE THE BRIDGE!!