As the years march on, relentless and unforgiving, it is quite natural for people, attitudes and even football to change and transform themselves in order to re-adapt and survive within it’s modern framework. Everything changes, but is it always for the better?
If you are of a certain age then items, people, sounds and even memories are of the utmost importance to you. Of course, those things that are of importance to us individually, are defined by age, culture, upbringing and beliefs.
Being a male, and in my 30’s, my life and mental state have been defined and shaped (misshapen) by 1970’s/1980’s television, the joy and excitement of the Star Wars trilogy (including the revelation that Darth Vader was indeed Luke Skywalkers father – did any of us ever recover from that one?), the "chopper" bicycle, Stephen King novels, 1970’s toys including the Evil Knievel wind up motorbike and the Six Million Dollar Man doll that allowed the excited boy to peer through the back of his head in order to utilise Steve Austen’s bionic eye (wow), and last but not least….football.
Are you with me so far? Okay, you got me. I may be in my thirties and have four children and yes I should be a man of responsibility, but yes my passions and obsessions are no different since when I was nine – great toys, great television, football in the park with my mates and of course, Chelsea.
For me, and my mates, the battles that took place on the hallowed ground of our local park are still remembered with the same degree of fondness and passion as that of any great Chelsea victory. Osgood was the King of Stamford Bridge but we were the kings of Pierremont Park, and we swore and struggled and fought just as hard as any of our heroes. Of course today, twenty-two years on, we do exactly the same.
Such footy battles, have been played out in our memories, and in our hearts (and down the pub) on many, many occasions. Each of us recalling the countless times we fretted over new and deeper grass stains on our "bestest" trousers, dreading the encounter with the washing lady upon our return home (i.e., Mum), and the endless arguments over supposed off-sides and "did the ball really hit the post and go in" type decisions.
Of course such things became over complicated and required "the third eye" due to the goals themselves simply being "constructed" by someone’s jumper (the ball simply "bobbles" over a f**king jumper and it never, ever, comes off at an angle and "goes in"!) However, such things are important and need clarification.
Needless to say, I spent many hours of my youth, in the park, developing my passion for football, for Chelsea and for the taste of victory! Such football encounters in the park (as a child) are never, ever, simple games of football. We were kids. Children never simply play out a game as themselves.
Do you really think it was Steve furlong out there, working his bollocks off in order to prop up the new kid next to him (his first stint and attempt at pro kid park football)… get real! I was Peter "bloody" Osgood, and my mate Andrew had transformed himself into Malcolm MacDonald or Alan Sunderland or some other Arsenal hero. Kids are never themselves and the games we played were never ordinary.
For you see, the thing is, the games we played were always, and I mean always, FA Cup finals. In 1979, when Arsenal were coasting Man United 2-0, and Man U pulled themselves back to 2-2 until Sunderland scored the winner in the last moments of the game, we relived that game every day for the entire summer holidays. Each day (twice), we replayed that game, relived every kick and every tackle and every goal. You see, the thing is, for kids like us, the FA Cup was everything. Not the league, not even Internationals. We lived and played and fought and scrapped for the FA Cup.
Nothing else was more important.
Today, myself and my close friends re-enact the same FA Cup battles. Nothing changes for us. We love the same things.
When I consider the great, recent, Chelsea victories, which stand out most in my mind? Which, to me, do I consider to be the most important? If I’m honest, it is still the great FA Cup victories. The 2-0 down at half time against Liverpool, when we came back in the second half to demolish them 4-2 (for me the turning point in Chelsea’s modern history), and of course that magnificent day in May 1997 when Robbie DiMatteo scribed his name into the history books. Of course there are countless others, but such great moments must never be taken for granted.
The importance of the FA Cup can also be defined simply by those moments of hurt. 1994 (Manchester United), 1998 (Manchester United, 5-0 down at one point pulling back to 5-3) and of course 2002 (Arsenal). Have any such games in the league caused as much pain as these?
As kids we recognised the FA Cups importance, purity and beauty. It’s sad that it’s greatness has become lost in the big money and appeal of the European Champions League. I’m saddened by many clubs financial predicaments, that in itself is defining a clubs ambition and priorities. This of course brings me back to my original question: Everything changes but is it always for the better?
Ask Chelsea Football Club which is more important: qualification for the Champions League or FA Cup victory?
For me I have no doubt as to which is greater. Let me ask you this, how much history and great, defining moments come from finishing third or fourth in the table? Do you get a Robbie DiMatteo moment from finishing fourth? Answer…NO!
As a child and as an adult, the FA Cup has given us many moments to re-enact and play out time and time again in our football nirvana. We have witnessed and experienced so many joyous moments from both the real players we watched and adored on the television and those we acted out in the local park.
The FA Cup, with it’s history and tradition means everything to me, my friends and many like us. I just hope and pray, that people and especially children rediscover and realise this cups extraordinary individuality and greatness and that all those great moments will not be lost.......like tears in rain.
stevefurlong@chelsea-mad.co.uk