My first memory of the FA Cup was Leeds - Sunderland in 1973. Coverage started the day before with an item on Nationwide and a special Leeds versus Sunderland "It's a Knockout".
The first final I really remember properly was the 1974 one Liverpool vs Newcastle (as a Liverpool supporting kid it was a big deal and the first of very, very many trophies I celebrated over the next 16 years or so). In fact I used to be able to remember their entire team that day by heart!
That said Charlie George ruined my 5th Birthday. Whether this is strictly accurate or not I cannot say but my memory is that I had a birthday party on FA Cup final day (my birthday was a couple of days earlier) - the kids playing ion one room, the Dads watching the final in another. I didn't see the match but found out that Liverpool had lost - I was gutted!
I think I clearly remember every final from then until abut 1990 - after that they all seem to blur, with a couple of exceptions same old teams winning year after year.
Doesn't mean it isn't sad though.
Not sure it is sad - things move on. You cannot live your life through nostalgia.
