Extract taken from the just published book ‘Wembley : Stadium of Legends’ by Tomsett & Brand, Dewi Lewis Media 2007
Coventry City reached their first ever FA Cup Final in 1987. For a team that had spent decades in the top flight it was a long time coming. Up against seasoned cup specialists Tottenham, they were going to have their work cut out.
It was one of the most open and exhilarating finals for many a year.
Read more: Wembley : Cotton Legends 5 - Spurs F.A. Cup Final 1987
Both sides had last visited Wembley in 1974, Newcastle losing to Liverpool in the FA Cup Final and Manchester City losing to Wolves in the League Cup Final.
Manchester City were managed by Tony Book, who had been captain of the victorious 1969 FA Cup and 1970 League Cup winning teams. City’s run to the final had seen some stunning performances from a quality squad which included Colin Bell, Rodney Marsh and Asa Hartford. They put six past Norwich City and enjoyed a 4-0 thumping of Manchester United en route to Wembley.
Read more: Wembley : Cotton Legends 4 - Man City League Cup Final 1976
May 6th 1972 saw the centenary FA Cup Final take place beneath the twin towers of Wembley. This was celebrating 100 years since the Football Association’s inception rather than it being the 100th FA Cup Final. (It was actually the 91st).
Don Revie’s mighty and hard Leeds United were back at Wembley. They had drawn in their last visit for the 1970 FA Cup Final, Their opponents in 1972 were the previous season’s cup and league double winners Arsenal; back to defend their crown.
Geoff Barnet deputised for the injured Scottish international keeper Bob Wilson in the Arsenal goal and Leeds too had a deputy goalie, with their Scottish international David Harvey replacing Welsh international Gary Sprake.
Read more: Wembley : Cotton Legends 3 - Arsenal F.A. Cup Final 1972
Extract taken from the just published book : wembley: stadium of legends by Tomsett & Brand, Dewi Lewis Media 2007
The last FA Cup final of the decade was particularly poignant, coming as it did after the semi final disaster at Hillsborough in Sheffield, when many Liverpool fans lost their lives in a crush at the Leppings Lane end.
Read more: Wembley : Cotton Legends 2- Liverpool F.A. Cup Final 1989
This years UEFA cup winners shirt is made by Joma. Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop saved three penalty kicks in a 3-1 shootout win over Espanyol after a 2-2 draw in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday.
The teams were 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 following 30 minutes of extra time before Palop saved penalties from Luis Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon at Hampden Park.
Sevilla came close to winning in extra time when Frederic Kanoute scored to make it 2-1, but substitute Jonatas hit a swerving shot with five minutes left to send the game to a shootout.
Extract taken from the just published book : wembley: stadium of legends by Tomsett & Brand, Dewi Lewis Media 2007
The Liverpool v Arsenal FA Cup Final of 1950 was significant in being the first post war match at Wembley with a crowd of 100,000. Of course, the record breaking crowd of the 1923 FA Cup Final would never be beaten, but this was the new maximum for the nation’s top sporting venue, with crowds having been limited to the low ninety thousands for some time.
Read more: Wembley : Cotton Legends - Arsenal F.A. Cup Final 1950
The KNVB, the Royal Dutch Football Association and the ECV, the Association of Eredivisie clubs, have approved of the suggestion from PSV to introduce championship stars on the shirts of clubs that have won the national title at least a multiple of 10.
Each star represents ten titles, a tradition that has been applied in the Serie A in Italy and the Bundesliga in Germany for some time.
