Stoke City boss reveals his FA Cup Final memories.
Click here to hear Tony Pulis' FA Cup memories
Just days before he leads his side out at Wembley for The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 2011 Final, Stoke City manager Tony Pulis revealed how big a deal Cup Final day was in his house when he was growing up.
“I was brought up in the '60s,” he told FATV. “The live games then were few and far between and The FA Cup [Final] was such a special day in the English football calendar – although I’m Welsh I’d rush to that telly and watch [it].
“It was a special occasion for everybody in my family.”
Pulis has guided Stoke to their first-ever FA Cup Final where they face Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City. The Potters’ supremo masterminded his side’s
route past Cardiff City,
Wolverhampton Wanderers,
Brighton & Hove Albion and
West Ham United, before
a comfortable 5-0 dismissal of Bolton Wanderers in the Semi-Final.
Although he reveals his pride at this achievement, his day will be tinged with sadness as his parents will not be at Wembley to witness their son in his Cup Final splendour. His mother died in September last year while his father passed away more than a decade ago.
“It’s a dream to be involved in an FA Cup Final,” he admitted.
“The disappointment will be that mum and dad [will] not there but I’ll be really proud [that] my wife and my family and the lads from south Wales I was brought up with will be there. And everybody connected with Stoke City Football Club - that includes our fantastic supporters.
“They’ll enjoy it and they’ll embrace like they did with the Semi-Final. They’ll have a great day.”
