**Today, we get to witness the pinnacle of domestic cup competitions, the FA Cup Final.**
A packed Wembley Stadium will witness Crystal Palace take on Manchester City, with the glittering trophy awaiting the winner.
Now I’ve never had the opportunity to go to an FA Cup Final, I wasn’t born back in 1959, the only occasion Luton Town have appeared in the hugely anticipated final with Nottingham Forest being the opposition that day.
But my love for the competition remains at a peak, there’s something magical about the draws for each of the rounds and believing that, when you enter the competition, this could be your year, even if, on many an occasion, those dreams are shattered in the early rounds and often against teams you really should be beating.
Sadly, television coverage, over the years, of this show-piece final has been diluted. Instead of a whole day devoted to the final, by the BBC and ITV, these days we have to be content with just the game, a brief introduction and the inquest afterwards.
Personally, I blame the dilution of the coverage on the abundance of live football available amid the financial clout of the Premier League and its Sky Sports backing.
But, I’ll be sat there, this afternoon, at the strange kick-off time of 1630 waiting for the shrill blow off the whistle to signal the start of the game.
It really is a David v Goliath final though, with the underdogs of Crystal Palace taking on the giant of the game that is Manchester City.
When it comes to my allegiance, for the day, I’m going for the underdog, Crystal Palace.
The South London side have never won a major trophy, only the Simod Cup. To win at Wembley would be a major achievement and earn them a place in Europe next season, something we can, in our current predicament, only dream of.
But who are you backing this afternoon, Palace or City?
Simply drop your choice into the comment facility beneath this article.
COYH