127th FA Cup Final - a one-off treat?

17th May 2008. A day to remember for British football.

In all honesty, every year I feel the FA Cup gradually slipping away from my interests, every year it gets slightly more boring.

This is mainly because for the last 16 years, at least one of the current 'big four' teams of today's Premier League have taken part in the FA Cup Final. The last time, therefore, that this did not happen was back in 1991 - when the Premier League didn't even exist.

And even before then, one of the four teams of Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool had regularly featured in finals.

Now before I move on, note that I am not the glow of Kevin Keegan's comments on how the Premier League is becoming boring - it certainly is not.

But take a look at last years final, what a terrible way to get Wembley back on it's feet with it's first major domestic final since 2000.

Man Utd 0-0 Chelsea. Nothing else needs to be said.

A decent Drogba goal the only thing that separates two drastically boring sides.

After that game, I was contemplating whether I could show any decent interest in the FA Cup much longer.

Of course I could, it is an annual event that takes place in one of the world's greatest stadiums - but it is getting ruined by the sheer amount of predictability.

That is why this year's final is one to savour. This final has immediately taken us back to the finals of the 1980s, when teams such as Brighton made it to Wembley.

The amount of incredible 'cupsets' this season's campaign has produced is the reason why we all love the FA Cup.

This is why many stay inside on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May, when we ought to be getting some sunshine.

Portsmouth knocked out runners-up Man Utd on their own back yard. That victory made my day.

When Barnsley knocked out Liverpool, I was amazed - but when they repeated such incredible success in the next round against the holders, Chelsea, I was truly astounded.

In a way, it is a shame Barnsley never made it to the final, since they are the team who produced the most astonishing results.

But their triumphant opponents, Cardiff, played their part in destroying 95% of the giant brick wall that is known as the Premier League, beating Middlesbrough 2-0 - also on their own turf.

Those who make their way to the final always deserve to be there - but those who emerge victorious over those who have been successful previously, and appear as a much stronger opponent, deserve it so much more.

The only problem is that I fear that this may be a one-off treat for FA Cup fans.

I so desperately hope that I am wrong, since this cup deserves a change more frequently then it has been doing so.

For now though, let's sit back and enjoy the most enthralling FA Cup Final clash in years.