Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Jamie Wilson
Guest(s)
Release Date
23 May 2024
Duration
53 min
In this nostalgic prelude to By Far The Greatest Team’s Coventry City 1986–87 episode, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by Jamie “South Coast” Wilson to relive one of football’s greatest cultural traditions — the FA Cup Final Day TV build-up of the 1980s.
Before Sky Sports, before wall-to-wall Premier League coverage, there was one day that belonged to everyone: Cup Final Day. From the moment viewers switched on BBC Grandstand at breakfast, the spectacle began. Players’ interviews, team coaches leaving their hotels, celebrity football matches, and It’s a Knockout specials filled screens across the nation. By kickoff, anticipation had built into something far greater than sport — it was national theatre.
The hosts recall the glamour, the chaos, and the kitsch of that era: the celebrity five-a-sides, the marching bands, the helicopters overhead, and the feeling that the FA Cup wasn’t just a competition, but a shared cultural heartbeat. They discuss how TV personalities, music, and even novelty shows shaped the ritual, and how Wembley itself became the sacred stage for this annual spectacle.
This episode isn’t about tactics or trophies — it’s about memory, magic, and the communal joy of football’s biggest day. For anyone who grew up in the 1980s, it’s a warm pint of nostalgia straight from the living room carpet.
Takeaways
The FA Cup is a significant part of football culture in England.
Nostalgia plays a big role in how fans remember FA Cup final days.
Celebrity involvement has evolved in football coverage over the years.
The early coverage of the FA Cup was more about entertainment than the game itself.
Trivia and fun facts about the FA Cup can enhance the viewing experience.
The podcast reflects on the evolution of football and the importance of historical moments in shaping the sport.
FA Cup Final 1980s: Breakfast to Kickoff
Before smartphones, streaming, and Super Sundays, there was Cup Final Day — and Britain stopped to watch. The 1980s FA Cup wasn’t just about football; it was a national ritual, a day of endless television build-up that began at breakfast and climaxed under the Twin Towers.
In this nostalgic deep dive, the hosts and Jamie “South Coast” Wilson relive the glorious chaos of Cup Final mornings: helicopters following team buses, celebrity charity matches, It’s a Cup Final Knockout, and even light entertainment hosted live from Wembley’s pitch minutes before kickoff. It was overblown, often ridiculous, and utterly magical.
The episode captures the rhythm of the era — from the comforting hum of BBC Grandstand to the sense that every home, pub, and street party was part of the same national heartbeat. It also sets the stage for Coventry City’s 1987 triumph, linking the cultural theatre of the day to the sporting magic that followed.
For fans of a certain age, this is time travel through television — a reminder that football’s greatest moments often begin long before the first whistle.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
FA Cup Final Day as a cultural and TV phenomenon
Celebrity It’s a Knockout and charity matches before kickoff
BBC vs ITV and the dawn-to-dusk Cup coverage battle
Childhood memories and national rituals of the 1980s
The lead-up to Coventry City’s 1987 triumph
Team coaches filmed leaving hotels at dawn
It’s a Cup Final Knockout celebrity chaos
Cup Final Grandstand countdown from breakfast time
Pitch-side celebrity football just before kickoff
The roar of the crowd as the teams emerge at Wembley
Notable Manager
Jimmy Hill (contextually, Coventry build-up reference)
Notable Players
Multiple
Style of Play
Free-Flowing Discussion, 1980s Nostalgia, Cultural Commentary, Humour, Storytelling, Football Ritual
N/AThis episode plays out like the Cup Final build-up itself — colourful, unpredictable, and full of charm. The conversation flows through a classic 4-2-2 of nostalgia, humour, and memory: playful one-touch recollections, cross-field stories from TV history, and bursts of emotional commentary about what the day meant to fans.
The “play” here isn’t tactical but emotional. The hosts switch tempo between laughter and reflection, moving from light-hearted trivia to cultural significance. Each segment builds anticipation toward the grand finale — the 1987 Coventry vs Spurs match — while celebrating the lost art of shared football rituals.
Like the TV marathon it honours, this episode is an ensemble performance — equal parts nostalgia, curiosity, and pure football romance.
Related Content
If you liked this one, you’ll love these classic episodes. Keep the nostalgia going — explore more from the By Far The Greatest Team Football Podcast archive.
