Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFor a time, it wasn't that uncommon for sides outside the top flight to reach the FA Cup final: half of the finals between 1973 and 1982 featured a second-tier side, with Sunderland, Southampton and West Ham United even managing to win it.But since the Premier League was founded in 1992, it has happened on just two occasions, with Millwall becoming the first club to break that run when they made it to their first-ever FA Cup final in 2004.Former Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis was the club's chairman at the time, with player-manager Dennis Wise inspiring the side to a showdown with Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium.Pick the ultimate 4-4-2 line-up from players in FourFourTwo's definitive Top 100 ListIm sure the FA hated it. You lot in the media definitely hated it!"United ultimately ran out 3-0 winners on the day - but Paphitis told FourFourTwo: It was unbelievable that Millwall were even in the cup final, absolutely unbelievable.Im sure the FA hated it. You lot in the media definitely hated it! The FA wanted a showcase of two big teams, right? Well, they got Manchester United, then they had to deal with an underdog. You all had to accept a minnow. A good story for a day, I suppose. You may like Youri Djorkaeff reflects on Bolton's 2004 League Cup final defeat "Sir Alex Ferguson crossed a line, and therein lies the difference between me and him, thats how he won 13 league titles and I won none" Kevin Keegan on Newcastle United's 1995/96 Premier League challenge 30 years on from the 'Love it' rant Youd get in your car to leave and someone's nicked your keys Neil Sullivan on breaking through at Wimbledon during the clubs infamous Crazy gang era I never really had much time for the Football Association stuffiness, even though I was on the FA committee because I was on the Football League board, I automatically got into it."But I wasnt part of the blazer brigade, I wasnt really interested in the pomp and ceremony, even though Id already changed the outlook of the Football League by creating the new Championship, and renaming the others to League One and League Two.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."I instigated the revamping of the Football League, I was damned if I was going to let the Premier League run away with everything.We broke every protocol going. I certainly wasnt going to the cup final dinner beforehand or anything like that, either."To me, Millwall were the peoples club. I had 99 little gold lion lapel badges cast, as souvenirs of the day I had one for every member of the club staff, so they could remember the moment. What to read next Elton John: The Watford Years Sir Alf Ramsey: England's silent knight Sixty years on: Was England's 1966 winning XI destiny, fate, or a chance affair? The cup final was [referee] Jeff Winters last game, he was retiring, and someone told me he collected badges."So I managed to charm a lovely Welsh lady who believed everything I said to her and who took me all the way into the bowels of the stadium, all the way down to the referees room.I knocked on the door, it opened and I introduced myself, but they knew who I was."I said Right Jeff, its your last game, I know youre retiring. I shook his hand and wished him a happy retirement."Then I said I've cast these 18-carat gold lion lapel pins for all of my team and the Millwall backroom staff everyone, including the groundsman. I said, tongue in cheek, Theyre 18-carat gold, theyve got a little bit of value, so you can of course turn them down or declare them to the FA, as you wish.But I dont think anybody in their wildest dreams was going to think that a little lapel pin badge was going to influence the decision-making of the FAs top officials in an FA Cup final. "I turned to Jeff cheekily and said You wont care a monkey, because youre retiring. Then to his assistants You guys have got a career ahead of you. They looked at me as if to say So is this guy totally nuts?Jeff said Well, thats very kind of you, Theo, and he graciously accepted the gift, as did the others."So, I presented them with the pins, which Im sure they still possess to this day, as a memento of that unbelievable day for Millwall Football Club."And I still think it was one of the best displays of refereeing Ive ever seen. Jeff let it flow.TOPICSMillwallManchester UnitedFA CupSteven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
