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



Cardiff City’s Semi-Final matchwinner, Joe Ledley, says The Bluebirds fully deserve their place in this Saturday’s FA Cup Final.

This year’s competition has produced shocks galore and Cardiff are hoping to spring a final surprise at Wembley as they look to become the first winners from outside the top flight since West Ham won The Cup back in 1980.

Despite the unpredictable nature of this year’s competition, Ledley says Cardiff are in The Final on merit.

“I think it has been a bit of a surprise, a Championship club making The Final,” said Ledley.

“We’ve surprised a lot of people but I think if you look at the games, we have deserved to win every one.”

Cardiff’s success owes much to their blend of youth and experience – and as one of the club’s younger players, Ledley says playing with the club’s experienced players has helped get the best out of him and his young team-mates.

“We’ve got a great balance of youth and experience here, and the lads have been fantastic all season,” he explained.

“For any young player, playing alongside the likes of Trevor Sinclair, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler – it’s tremendous.

“Even with the success they’ve had, they are down to earth and eager to help you.”

Cardiff-born Ledley was the Bluebirds’ Semi-Final hero, scoring the crucial goal that secured City’s berth in The Final, but despite the hero’s welcome that he has received in the city since that game, the 21-year-old is determined to stay grounded and not let the attention affect him.

“Being a Cardiff lad, it was incredibly special to score the goal that got us here,” he explained.

“The reception I’ve got in the city since that goal has been great, but I’ve kept my feet on the ground and my friends and family have been amazing.

“The Cardiff fans have always treated me brilliantly and I’m still the same old person I’ve always been.”

The FA Cup Final was held in Cardiff while the new Wembley Stadium was being constructed, and Ledley is acutely aware of the scale of this weekend’s match, having experienced the atmosphere in the city during the build-up to the matches.

“I think having The FA Cup Final in Cardiff helped me to realise just how big the competition is, and what it means to the clubs who get to The Final,” he said.

“The city was always buzzing in the build-up, and fans of both teams would pack the streets.

“I never got the chance to go to a Final in Cardiff, so having the opportunity to play in one at Wembley is a big honour.”

You can read more from Joe Ledley in the official FA Cup Final matchday programme, which is available to pre-order online now at www.thefa.com/FACupProgrammes