My Foxes mate was (possibly still is) in the ground, but his wife was round here chatting to my wife (their interest in football revolves around the mood it puts their partners in) but they followed the game through the noise me and the boy were making. Which was, like you, unprecedented for a non QPR/England match. My mate is planning to get the last train back from Euston. I told his wife not to worry if that changes to tomorrow morning. Or some bizarre homing instinct kicks in and he ends up back in Leicester, or Melton Mowbray. I have a soft spot for Leicester because of these connections, but also because they are just a really well run and honest outfit, brilliantly well connected with their community, and there is nothing flakey or odd about them doing well, it is earned. They got the stadium built, they got the training centre set up. We have the community base and similarly well intentioned owners - but our shareholders were mugged off by ‘football people’ in a year or so of insanity, meaning our paths diverged horribly and dramatically. Doesn’t mean we can’t emulate them. One day. We are creeping in the right direction.
Great post. We absolutely could emulate Leicester. Breaks my heart how close we were to doing just that.
We could see Chelsea lose the FA cup final, CL final, and drop out the top four all in the space of a few weeks.
It's funny how your memory works isn't it? When it was mentioned before today's game that Leicester had lost three FA Cup finals, I was able to tell my son each of the years, who they lost to and the scores. I wouldn't, however, have been able to tell him who won the Cup the year before last.
Great to see the Foxes beat the entitled. A win for masses. Fantastic goal to match. Well done Leicester.
Up until around 1999 - 2000, I could recall every FA Cup Final result, the teams and describe every goal from the first final I can remember watching, which was Leeds v Sunderland 1973. For the last twenty years or so, I've not even bothered to try this feat. I try and pinpoint why this may be the case, and I think it has a lot to do when Man U couldn't be bothered to enter the competition. I think that was the beginning of 'The magic of the cup' dissipating, along with it moving to Cardiff and clubs fielding weakened sides etc. Today was a good one though. Well done Leicester, a cracking goal and a team that were really up for the cup, I don't think I've seen a side so pleased to win the trophy as I did today.
Same as Nines... when I was younger I could name all the FA cup teams/winners/scores from 1970 but it all went down hill from 1990. I think back then it was the big event without all the social media unlike later with teams fielding reserves. It seemed to be devalued. Sadly I know that Chelsea won the last cup at the old and first at the new Wembley... hopefully I will forget that.
Sadly, I can remember the details for both of those finals at the old and new Wembley, and the same with the England games.
Wow, it’s really odd. I’ve just looked up the results of cup finals for the last few decades. From 1970 (Chelsea beat Leeds) I can recall them all really clearly, even those in the 80s when I was living abroad for most of the time. Then from 91/92 (Liverpool v Sunderland) most of them are complete blanks. The more recent the less recall I have. Zero recollection that City beat Watford 6-0 just two seasons ago. Ageing must be taking its toll, but lack of interest is at least equally to blame alongside the blatant downgrading of the status of the competition. I’m sure that in the old days winning the cup was very nearly as prestigious as winning the league.
There is no "Magic" in the FA Cup anymore, but Leicester have mamaged to sprinkle a bit of fairy dust on the old bitch and give us all a bit of hope in toppling these ESL money grabbing ****s - time for the underdog to rise.....
A big "Blooody Well Done' to Barnsley going from a 1st division to the Championship yo-yo club, to now be on the brink of the PL. Hope they go all the way against Swansea. Red & White, all night!
Maybe the top 6 ( the so called big clubs) should be banned from the FA cup, so clubs with passion and genuine fans can enjoy the competition. Remember they were the ones who put out reserve teams and devalued it.