The sight of Keith Houchen's diving header to equalise for Coventry City against Tottenham Hotspur in 1987 is something that will stay with me forever - a symbol of everything beautiful about football; the meaning why it touches you so much. Lucozade-guzzling Gary Mabbutt's own goal was almost as incredible as Coventry somehow upset Spurs when there seemed no way possible.
The next year there was an even bigger upset as Wimbledon of all teams beat mighty Liverpool 1-0 thanks to Lawrie Sanchez's flicked header - another one for the ages. And in 1989; I watched in heartbreak as Stuart McCall jumped into Kevin Ratcliffe's arms after equalising again in extra-time; only for Ian Rush to once again score the winner for Liverpool.
In 1991; Paul Gascoigne; knowing the whole world was watching; was so pumped-up that he did a crazy two-footed challenge on Nottingham Forest's Gary Charles; injuring himself severely in the process and having to leave the field early. The injury was so bad that he missed the entire next season as well; before leaving for Italian club Lazio.
In 1995; tears rolled down my cheek as I witnessed Dave Watson lift the FA Cup for Everton; as the 'Dogs Of War' somehow made it past Spurs in the semi-final before beating mighty Manchester United 1-0 in the final; thanks to Paul Rideout's classic header from Graham Stuart's near-range miss.
Tonite; another classic seems to be on hand; as London giants Arsenal and Chelsea meet in the final; after both upsetting the Manchester clubs in their respective semis. The fact that both teams are on form; and Chelsea probably have the edge on paper but Arsenal have the tradition; should make this another mouth-watering classic.
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