Amid all the hype and hoopla about the royal wedding, it should not be forgotten that another great event takes place on Saturday. The FA Cup is the world’s oldest football tournament, dating back to 1872, with an unmatched record of enthralling matches, shock upheavals and intense drama. This comprehensive history covers the cup’s history in encyclopedic detail, from the early amateur days to the multibillion-pound business era of today.
The book offers a wealth of remarkable stories, such as Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann playing on with a broken neck in the 1956 final (the extent of his injury was only revealed three days later). Here, too, are stories of the “giant-killers,” the tiny clubs that knocked out football’s big guns, epitomising the unique appeal of the FA Cup. Matching lively narrative with results tables and statistics up to 2005, this book is an essential companion for every armchair spectator.
Prince William, the FA president, will not be at Wembley Stadium to hand out the trophy at this year’s final — he is on duty as best man at his brother’s wedding. What are the chances of the prince arranging for a discreetly placed television set during the reception? Probably high.
