Like a lot of the people who took part last Saturday, my memories are of family get-togethers on Cup final day.

It was not necessarily meals on wheels we weren't that poor although my first viewings as a child were on the neighbour's television with the rest of the kids in the street.

I remember more my own family gathered round watching the lead-up to the great event, which used to start at about 11am with both sides vying with each other for the best and most original interviews on the television .

My wife, Anne, used to prepare snacks and drinks to be brought in on a trolley so that none of the build-up was missed.

I remember that, on our own Cup final day in '76, cameras were never far away.

Dear old Dick, our bus driver, was even interviewed before the game it was certainly the highlight of his career.

He got a little bit nervous when we left our hotel. He had a police motorcyclist leading him and must have thought he had to stay as close to him as possible.

Because of this, the motorcyclist speeded on a bit, with Dick frantically trying to keep up.

After a few miles I had to tell him to stop because it was becoming a little like the Keystone Cops.

It certainly relieved the tension.

Over the last few years, mainly because most professionals are bad watchers if the truth be known, my concentration tends not to last for a full 90 minutes of any particular game.

But I have to say that this year's final kept everyone glued to their seats.

As it happens, Anne and I were at my daughter's house. I was surrounded by her four children and it took me back to when my own children were their age.

The longer the game went on, I tended to lean towards West Ham, mainly because they were the underdogs, as we were in '76.

I identified so much with Alan Pardew and I couldn't believe it when Gerrard, a world class player by any standards, crashed in the equaliser in injury time.

The trouble was my grandchildren were all rooting for Liverpool as their father is a died-in-the-wool supporter for some unknown reason.

Even then the emotions, the tensions and the passion came through.

When multiplied by those many thousands at the game, you can only start to admire how the players, so many of them out of breath and suffering with cramp, kept going.

They are strong, fit and obviously paid fortunes to do a professional job, but, had it been an ordinary league game, I'm sure they would have got through it much easier.

Often the game itself can be a bit of a let down, but not on this occasion.

I remember from 30 years ago realising in the aftermath just how many people had witnessed the game on television around the world.

I still have in my collection such things as a boomerang from Australia why it didn't go straight back I can't tell you a six-foot wooden spear with markings from New Zealand and an Arab head-dress from somewhere in the desert.

While the game itself is viewed live in most countries, those that do not take it on the day eventually show it in the weeks afterwards.

It is one of the biggest viewing audiences of any sporting event in the world.

We, for instance, don't turn out in force to watch the cup finals of any of the great European nations such as Germany, Italy and Spain.

So full marks to both sets of players and managers for such a wonderful show.

It really had everything and, with the glory and ecstasy for the Liverpool lads, there was also a real personal pain for the likes of Marlon Harewood who just couldn't manage to score from two yards after the Liverpool goalkeeper had gone from villain to hero with the most wonderful last-gasp save.

And didn't Alan Pardew come out of it with such credit? After starting a season with people calling for his head, he took a cruel defeat so well.

He has without a doubt won over not just the West Ham supporters but has gained the respect of football lovers the world over.

The bonus for Alan and his club is they will have the opportunity to play in the UEFA Cup next season, and I am sure their players will benefit from last week's experience.