Thursday, 15 May 2008.
Cardiff City v Portsmouth
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
The Final
3pm, Saturday 17 May 2008
Wembley Stadium
Winning clubs will receive £1,000,000 from The FA
Seating plan - click here
Ticketing information - click here
To buy your FA Cup Final programme - click here
This weekend's FA Cup Final at Wembley represents a career highlight for referee Mike Dean.
It's 1985. 17-year-old Norman Whiteside scores for United in The Cup Final, Bob Geldof and friends raise £150m through Live Aid and Marty McFly goes Back to the Future.
Meanwhile, in Heswall on the Wirral, Mike Dean reaches into his pocket and pulls out his shiny new whistle and gives an enthusiastic 'toot' to get his first ever game underway.
A local park and an under-11s encounter is where many referees will start out on their own paths, but not many lead them all the way to Wembley. This weekend, the 39-year-old will take charge of the biggest game of his career. The FA Cup Final. Not that Wembley was his plan from day one, far from it.
"I thought that I'd give refereeing a go to try and lose a little bit of weight," admits Dean, who has already been involved in high-profile matches at the new Stadium.
He adds: "I've come a long way but I still do the odd kids game now and again. I don't want to turn my back on where I started as a referee."
Dean's first game at Wembley was actually under the gaze of the Twin Towers eleven years ago. He ran the line for the Second Division play-off final between Crewe and Brentford. Then, three years later, he returned for another play-off match, this time as referee as Peterborough and Darlington battled for a route out of the Third Division.
He was also in the middle for the 2006 Championship play-off final at The Millennium Stadium as Watford beat Leeds United, and fourth official at Wembley when England played Germany in August 2007. But this weekend's Final goes down as his most exciting appointment yet.
"I'm chuffed to pieces. It's the highlight of any referee's career to be in the middle for an FA Cup Final at Wembley. It's a dream come true.
"I've been to Wembley a few times now, as both spectator and official. The atmosphere at Wembley is amazing and I think it'll be like that on Saturday; the Cardiff and Portsmouth fans are very vocal.
"I've refereed them both in The FA Cup this season, Cardiff away at Middlesbrough and Portsmouth away at Preston. It's good for the game that the big four aren't involved for a change. Both teams will think they can beat each other and it'll be a great occasion.
"And from my point of view, in every game I officiate, I don't care who wins. Just as long as when everyone comes off the pitch, they aren't talking about the referee, I'll be happy."
For someone who just wanted to get fit, it hasn't been a bad career. And he'd recommend anyone with even a slight curiosity in refereeing to take the initiative and give it a go.
"It can be a career for some now. It used to be a hobby and guys would have other jobs, but you can really make a career in the game if you focus on it. You've got to put in hard work and commitment, but if you continue to focus there really are some great rewards to be had.
"With The FA's work on the Respect campaign aiming to stop the abuse that can be seen around the country, hopefully it will encourage more and more people to take up refereeing. It's certainly something I'd recommend."