The FA Cup on the bar at Nevada Smiths. Saturday morning at 10am Cardiff City will take on Portsmouth to see who takes it home.

Glory Day's
Manchester United retained their title and notched up their 10th EPL Championship at the JJB but while their was plenty of singing in the rain spare a thought for a United legend of yesteryear, Steve Coppell who watched in vain as his Reading side joined Birmingham City on the way down. Glory days however for all associated with Fulham Football Club, their escape was a testament to belief against seemingly hopeless odds.

The week ahead however is all about the power and the glory. Can Rangers overcome a technically excellent Zenit team in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final, can Neill Warnock's Crystal Palace overturn the deficit against Bristol City and can once mighty Leeds United claw their way back into the Championship, all these scenarios to play out before us over the next 2 weeks.

Football Saturday is dominated by the FA Cup Final a competition like no other. For the best part of a year over 700 clubs the length and breath of England battled it out along the long and winding road to Wembley, no one could have forseen the final pairing, Cardiff City the 1st non English club to win the Cup back in 1912 and Portsmouth who last held the famous trophy aloft in the 1930's, there was a time when Cup Final Saturday was the showpiece day of English Football, for some of us it still is, a day to reminisce and remember the way we were. For the supporters of Portsmouth and Cardiff City it will be a day in the sun they will never forget because chances are neither will see another cup final for 100 years and that is the magic of the FA Cup.

But before we get all misty eyed lets not forget the thrilling climax to the season in Ligue 1. Champions elect Oly. Lyon are but a victory away from their 7th consecutive French title while magnificent Bordeaux are fighting all the way both matches Saturday 2 .45pm. In Germany the final round of Bundesliga action will determine the European placing's while Juventus bid farewell to a great season back in the top flight assured of Champions League action next season.

Football Sunday is dominated by the race for the Scudetto. Internazionale lead by a solitary point and travel to Parma while Roma are away to Catania, the champagne on display at the San Siro this past Sunday is definitely on Ice. La Liga also winds down this Sunday an utterly forgettable campaign for Barcelona a defining one for Real Madrid while Villarreal and At. Madrid will also be delighted with their efforts suffice to say all eyes will be on the revolving door at the Camp Nou this Summer.

The Brazilian National Championship is back and the action from the clasura is as always raw and passionate, remember all the Football League playoff matches are live at Nevada Smiths as are all New York Red Bulls and MLS Direct Kick games.

Plenty Football for the purists but if I may I'll leave you with the words of a hymn which was written in 1847 by Henry Lyte, a Devon Vicar, it was first sung at the 1927 FA Cup Final and has in every subsequent year, it is part of the culture of Cup Final day, a Footballing day unlike any other .        


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The Hand of God
On June 22 1986 England played Argentina in the quarter final of the 1986 World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in front of 114,000 football fans. What transpired, while not being one of the greatest games of all time, was one of the most memorable. If one game ever summed up the personality of a player it was this game. Maradona showed us all the aspects of his game - the diving, the cheating, the comedy, the breathtaking skill and control of course his absolute brilliance. Check out Diego falling head first into Terry Fenwick and his interlude with the corner flag. The two goals are probably some of the most recognizable sports images on this planet. Love him or hate him you cannot ignore him. As England legend Terry Butcher said on a visit to Nevada Smiths - "cheating bast@$d was the greatest player I ever played against"

VIDEO - " FIFA World Cup 1978 to 1986 "
Available online at www.reedswain.com
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First Touch
Don't forget to visit our friends at First Touch to get all the latest Football news. Paper available at Nevada Smiths
www.firsttouchonline.com

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Nevada Smiths is an Official US Soccer Bar and will host viewing parties for U.S.A. football matches aswell as other official US Soccer Federation events.









ABIDE WITH ME

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the Helpless, O obide with me

Hold now your cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven's morning breaks and Earth's vain shadow flee
In Life, In Death, O Lord abide with me