34 seconds
I was not alone last night in staying up late to watch the FA Cup highlights, specifically to see some Tottenham action. After what felt like an hour or so of waterboarding we were finally treated to about 34 seconds which consisted of the goals and nothing more. The footage was so low quality I'm still trying to work out if it was animated by monkeys. Blink and you would have missed it all. It was akin to Tyler Durden inserting the subliminal edits into Fight Club. You know Spurs won but you're not quite sure how you know.
Do you want it?
I still remember the 1987 FA Cup final like it was yesterday. The Holsten shirts (and ones without). Clive Allen's goal and my uncle saying 'we've scored too early' (I blame him for jinxing it). Coventry never giving up. Hounchen's header. Mabbutt's own goal. Back when cup finals actually felt like something epic, something mystical and majestic as opposed to the afterthought that is bestowed on so many of them these days. This particular one, as heartbreaking as it was is still as iconic as any of our other Wembley final appearances. No third FA Cup in six years for the Spurs. The underdog beat the favourite and a brilliant season saw us empty handed at it's finale.