But The FA's Director of Football Development says Saturday's Final is still a chance to make history.

Brooking will be attending The Final in a very different role to when he clinched a 1-0 victory for Second Division West Ham over Arsenal back in 1980. But the 53-year-old former England midfielder retains an unyielding enthusiasm for The FA Cup.

"The FA Cup is amazing," he says. "Twenty-four years later I can honestly say not one week has gone by without somebody mentioning the header.

"If you had told me as I walked out on the pitch that day that something would happen that would be part of my life for the next 24 years, I wouldn't have believed you. It shows how important an occasion it is and what dreams it can bring for an individual, let alone a team."

Brooking's triumph was extra special because Arsenal were strong favourites, playing in their third FA Cup Final in a row.

"I can remember quite a lot about that day," he explains. "And with videos you can replay it whenever you are fed up and give yourself a lift.

"How did we do it? Well, more than anything we had experience in our side. Billy Bonds was our captain and he had played at the top level for a long time. And there was myself and Frank Lampard - we had all been at the club for many years.

"We were't going to be overawed by the occasion and in fact we relished it. There has to be a few nerves but more than anything it's an opportunity that rarely comes around in a player's career. You need to try and grasp it if you want to have a fond memory afterwards."

Like West Ham, London neighbours Millwall go into The Final as underdogs against a Manchester United side that has challenged at the top of the Premiership for so long.

If anything, the task is even tougher because the financial difference between the Premier League and the Natiowide Football League is wider than ever.

But this is The FA Cup and Brooking insists anything can happen.

"Millwall have a chance, of course they do," he said. "History is littered with FA Cup upsets. And those who say it can never happen these days are wrong.

"There's enough there in the squad to help them - and Dennis Wise has done it before.

"I saw the Semi-Final against Sunderland and I thought Dennis was the best player on the pitch. He plays a different role these days, sitting in midfield and spraying the ball around. It's important to have players who will take responsibility and Dennis will do that."

Maybe it will be Wise who will bring back memories of Wimbledon in 1988, or could it be that one of Millwall's talented youngsters will put their career into overdrive with a match-winning display?

But whoever hits that winning goal should be prepared to relish it for a long, long time. Because 24 years into the future, when The FA Cup Final of 2028 is played, people will still be talking about it.

Just ask Trevor Brooking.