Barcelona 1999, Istanbul 2005, Anfield 1989. Wembley 2008?

Every football fan has his or her defining ‘magical’ moment as a fan. That special moment that defines your support for your side. Barcelona ‘99, Istanbul ‘05 and Anfield ‘89 have had books written on them, focusing just on these few hours. The sacred hours those fans of the three victorious clubs will treasure forever when trophies were claimed in the most dramatic of styles.

These moments are set so high on a pedestal that as a fan you would travel across Britain and even Europe to try to recreate it. It's why you attend football matches.

'All the doubters need is a quick nudge in the direction of May 2007, when England’s two most successful teams in recent years met in an FA Cup final. Beautiful football and unforgettable moments? I think not'


For Cardiff City or Portsmouth fans, Wembley 2008 could be their ‘Istanbul 2005’. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience something genuinely exhilarating. Could you have said the same for Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal?

Would an ugly 1-0 win for Liverpool over West Brom at Wembley, for example, have beaten the five European Cups and numerous unforgettable nights at Anfield in the eyes of the fans?

If you’re an Arsenal season ticket holder who attended the title decider at Anfield in 1989, you could have seen thousands of matches since. There will have been plenty of thumping victories, cup triumphs and of course a lot of 1-0 wins - but it’s that Michael Thomas moment that will live with you forever.

As a football supporter I want as many fans as possible to experience these ‘Michael Thomas moments’ and this season’s FA Cup Final allows two fans alien to the concept of major trophies a real chance of winning one!

Before this season began, a great deal had been said about the domination of the major silverware in Britain by the elite clubs. The slow suffocation of any remote possibility that any players other than those from Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool would be cavorting around Wembley with an FA Cup to parade.

So let’s hope the media resist slating the ‘quality’ of football on show or the lack of internationals present when finally someone else gets a shot at the country's number one cup competition. All the doubters need is a quick nudge in the direction of May 2007, when England’s two most successful teams in recent years met in an FA Cup final. Beautiful football and unforgettable moments? I think not.

Instead the pundits should focus on the fact that Cardiff and Portsmouth have the chance to win a trophy of real statue and provide their fans with the ultimate of magical days. Surely no one can deny that the day will be serving up the potential for the most memorable day out.

Just think Cardiff City, mid-table in the Championship, are an astonishing 90 minutes away from being crowned FA Cup winners. A possible place in Europe, the Community Shield, an open-top bus tour and the mother of all parties which would await them back in the Princibality. Now tell me what isn’t magical about that?