‘If you can get a win then the excitement builds ... that feeling never leaves you, it’s just magical’

- says Gosport Borough coach and FA Cup winner Graham Rix

It is one of the most famous winning goals in FA Cup final history.

Forty two years ago, in the 89th minute, a left-wing cross arched over Manchester United keeper Gary Bailey.

United had just netted twice in four minutes to level at 2-2 against Arsenal in front of a disbelieving capacity crowd of 100,000, almost certainly sending the final into an extra half-hour.

But the late drama wasn’t over yet - within 45 seconds of the equaliser, Gunners striker Alan Sunderland appeared on the end of the cross to poke home the goal that would earn him a place in Wembley folklore.

I can still picture it now, even though I was only 10 years old. It was the first FA Cup final I remember watching, in an era where the tournament mattered. I mean, REALLY mattered - to every club and every fan.

Those days have sadly gone; for many, money has replaced romance in the list of Premier League clubs’ priorities. But my generation, brought up on famous goals from Sunderland, Ricky Villa, Norman Whiteside, Keith Houchen and Lawrie Sanchez, the FA Cup will always be special.

I’ll be at Privett Park tomorrow for Gosport Borough’s opening FA Cup tie of 2021/22, the first qualifying round visit of Plymouth Parkway.

I won’t be the only person there who will be able to remember Sunderland’s winning goal all those years ago. Gosport coach Graham Rix, the former Pompey manager, can recall it even better. And so he should - he was the player who ran down the left wing and put in the cross!

Rix was fortunate enough to play in three FA Cup finals for Arsenal by the time he was 22. A 65th minute sub in the 1-0 loss against Ipswich in 1978, replacing Liam Brady, he returned to win the tournament 12 months on. Another year later and a third successive final the showpiece event of the English football calendar, long before the advent of satellite dishes - ended with a shock loss to West Ham (the last non top-flight club to lift the trophy).

That wasn’t the end of Rix’s love affair with the FA Cup, though; during his time as Chelsea’s assistant manager to first Ruud Gullit and then Gianluca Vialli, he twice won the cup in 1997 and 2000.

‘I’ve had a great relationship with the FA Cup, it’s a special trophy,’ he declared.

‘It’s just magical, whether you play in the final, a semifinal or the first qualifying round.

‘Every player who plays in it will remember the games for the rest of their lives.

‘For people of my era, there’s no cup like it. I know the financial rewards in the Champions League, but the FA Cup is just magical - it’s been going for 150 years.

‘I’m still excited by it - everyone at the club is excited for this weekend’s game.

‘If you can get a win the excitement then builds ahead of the draw being made. That feeling never leaves you.

‘This is a massive game for the club (against Parkway). Not just the media coverage but also financially - there’s a lot of money in each round.’

Gosport are just one of many non-league clubs hoping this is their year. It’s always someone’s year - in 2007/08 it was Havant & Waterlooville, managed by current Gosport boss Shaun Gale; last season it was Marine, who play at a level lower than Borough in the non-league pyramid; in 2014/15 it was Gosport themselves, reaching the first round proper for the first - and so far only - time since first entering the tournament in 1970.

‘It can be done,’ said Rix. ‘You need a bit of luck on the day and a bit of luck with the

I’ve had a great relationship with the FA Cup ... I feel blessed to have played in three finals Graham Rix

draw.’

Recalling the events of 42 years ago, the former England midfielder – he played in all five games at the 1982 World Cup, part of a 17-cap haul said: ‘It’s a long time ago now, but it was a very, very famous FA Cup final.

‘It’s usually the first thing Arsenal fans want to talk about when I meet them.

‘A lot tell me they missed the (winning) goal because they were still crying after the equaliser!

‘What made it all the more better for me was that the previous year (against Ipswich) I’d been a regular but was left out of the final.

‘To have played 38 of the 42 league games, and having scored in the semi-final (a 3-0 win against Orient), to be told two days before the final I wasn’t in was heart-breaking.

‘You think you’re only going togetonechanceof anFACup final and that’s been taken away …

‘It was tough to take, but I suppose it makes you a bit more resilient for the next time you get a kick in the teeth.

‘I did get on for the last 25 minutes and I ended up playing in three cup finals by the time I was 22. I do feel blessed as I know many players don’t get to play in one.’

Rix continued: ‘When we played Ipswich, when we walked out I didn’t have the