Does the F A Cup carry much excitement for you ?

[Prando]

Yes, like many, I’ve been at Wembley! Never mind 1968...what about 1970 and the League Cup?
In days gone by, I remember rushing into the school playground at break time (1960s) to read a specially set up blackboard, written by the school caretaker, of the 3rd round (and thereafter) Cup draw. Great excitement and discussion.
Sadly for me, I no longer have that enthusiasm. I struggle today to have much motivation about the FA Cup. I guess I lost it several years ago.
We (me and “she who must be obeyed”) maintain our passion for WBA. We continue with our season tickets and have got to know our baggies friends, who have sat alongside us at the Hawthorns, for many, many years. They will comment, “where were you, we missed you at the Cup match?”
Clearly, a number of Championship and Premiership clubs now play lip service to the competition. Indeed WBA are themselves certainly guilty of not playing their best side. (I fully understand why, in view of the priority of the League)
So for me, almost with regret, I’m more concerned about beating Wigan in the Championship fixture than the Cup. I suspect we will field a better starting side for the former match.
Is it possible to retrieve the excitement of yesteryear?

[Lost city albion]

For me when I was a kid the dream was to score the winner in the fa cup final in injury time but times have moved on and it's sad that none of the so called big boys can be bothered and us really. I think the last big fa cup game for atmosphere was against Everton when we were only getting around 8000 to turn up to around 32000 it was electric

[Baggiemadguern]

For me when I was a kid the dream was to score the winner in the fa cup final in injury time but times have moved on and it's sad that none of the so called big boys can be bothered and us really. I think the last big fa cup game for atmosphere was against Everton when we were only getting around 8000 to turn up to around 32000 it was electric

It has lost its appeal. There are so many reason.
Clubs, as Prando says, “pay lip service” to it.
There is much football on telly now, it is overkill.
Many of us have matured ( we’ve aged) and have other things to do

I guess there is many more reasons too. I don’t know the last time I watched the final. It is years now, actually it is decades. Football has evolved with the money thrown at it and for me, not for the better. It is not like it was when I was a kid growing up.

Oh for those Halcyon days.

[The Minn Junta]

For me when I was a kid the dream was to score the winner in the fa cup final in injury time but times have moved on and it's sad that none of the so called big boys can be bothered and us really. I think the last big fa cup game for atmosphere was against Everton when we were only getting around 8000 to turn up to around 32000 it was electric

You’re spot on with the Everton game in 89.

I remember being at the back of the Brummie that day, it was unbelievable, absolutely heaving, a real stand out atmosphere in my memory. The bloke in front of me used to bring a little wooden pop crate for his nipper to stand on, Colin Anderson scored and the place just erupted, with everybody falling forward a very small clearing opened up and all you saw was this wooden pop crate minus the kid on it! One very frantic dad eventually got his lad back through the forest of legs but what a day, shame Kevin bas tard Sheedy had to go a bleeding spoil it.

The Cup game against Villa a year or two later when Gary Robson bost his leg was a good atmosphere too, we were a poor second best that day though.

I’ll always love the FA Cup, as somebody else has said, it was more important to win the Cup than the league, that’s how I saw it aswell. I’ve seen it from the non-league angle aswell, Dudley Town played York City at home the first round proper 1976/77. The ground was transformed, a big gate, radio people doing commentary, football league opponents, what a day, we should have won aswell, ended 1-1.

Cup final day saw me getting in front of the TV as early as possible to watch every minute of the build up. You were so envious of those in the final, even those in the semi as you knew what the prize was, Cup final day at Wembley Stadium. Now it’s all been watered down, the old ground had so much history, this new stadium has sod all, just a big Eastlands or whatever it’s called, I agree with much of Micks post. They could have found some way to have kept the twin towers, even one of them!

No, sorry to say but it’s nothing like the way it was, I still love it but it’s just not the same.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

You’re spot on with the Everton game in 89.

I remember being at the back of the Brummie that day, it was unbelievable, absolutely heaving, a real stand out atmosphere in my memory. The bloke in front of me used to bring a little wooden pop crate for his nipper to stand on, Colin Anderson scored and the place just erupted, with everybody falling forward a very small clearing opened up and all you saw was this wooden pop crate minus the kid on it! One very frantic dad eventually got his lad back through the forest of legs but what a day, shame Kevin bas tard Sheedy had to go a bleeding spoil it.

The Cup game against Villa a year or two later when Gary Robson bost his leg was a good atmosphere too, we were a poor second best that day though.

I’ll always love the FA Cup, as somebody else has said, it was more important to win the Cup than the league, that’s how I saw it aswell. I’ve seen it from the non-league angle aswell, Dudley Town played York City at home the first round proper 1976/77. The ground was transformed, a big gate, radio people doing commentary, football league opponents, what a day, we should have won aswell, ended 1-1.

Cup final day saw me getting in front of the TV as early as possible to watch every minute of the build up. You were so envious of those in the final, even those in the semi as you knew what the prize was, Cup final day at Wembley Stadium. Now it’s all been watered down, the old ground had so much history, this new stadium has sod all, just a big Eastlands or whatever it’s called, I agree with much of Micks post. They could have found some way to have kept the twin towers, even one of them!

No, sorry to say but it’s nothing like the way it was, I still love it but it’s just not the same.

My memories from the Everton games.

They kicked us off the park in both games led by Peter Reid. Anderson at home (missed the reply) and Goodman away (our 2 best players) taken off injured.

Everton scored with a penalty at the Hawthorns after their players chased the ref and got him to change his decision even though the linesman 5 yards away gave nothing. Ref was Allan Gunn who lived in the next village. He died aged 60.

[talkSAFT]

Back in the 50s/60s The Cup Final was just about the only live TV you saw. We'd start watching at 12 o'clock for the full Preview build-up, and wouldn't miss a minute. It sounds incredible, but the Cup Final was more important than winning the League in those days - no exaggeration.
Since Sky, League Football has steadily evolved to be all-important, and when Ferguson gave The Cup the elbow back in 1999 The Cup quickly lost its prestige.
I couldn't tell you who won it last Year, or the last 10 years, it almost seems irrelevant now. Pity.

[billsbest]

I found my interest diminishing when we stopped picking our best side. I am not against the big teams playing weakened sides because it improves our chance of getting to Wembley for a great day out! During our premiership years it was our only chance of winning something but we had no interest, which was very frustrating.

[Leicesterbaggie]

There are a host of reasons, too many to mention, as to why th FA Cup has lost its magic. It used to be the climax of the season and also the final game of the season, kicking off at 3pm on the first Saturday in May. It's now relegated to a minor affair to be fitted in wherever possible. Until the bigger clubs stop putting out reserve sides and take it seriously, which I don't see happening, sadly it will not regain the prominence it once held.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

About the FA Cup in general no. About the Baggies Cup Ties absolutely. Love a good Cup run.

[Acido]

Well heres my view on it as a Tyke...

The FA Cup 3rd Round tie at the start of the new year, was my first ever game at Oakwell actually, all the way back in Jan '81 against the mighty Torquay.

But it really has lost its appeal for me over the years and once again I/we find that the League is more important than any one-off Cup run. Yes a run to the Qtrs for example would be ace, but its NOT our priority anymore and hasn't been for a long time now.