With the Cup Final on Saturday, GoneDigging thought it’d be a bloody stonking idea to dig out ten of the greatest ever FA Cup Final goals. It’s by no means a comprehensive list, so please don’t take umbrage or write a snotty email deriding our selection. Instead, kick back and feast your eyes on these beauties. Enjoy!

Ricky Villa Vs Manchester City, 1981

It was 1981 and in a year when Ossie Ardiles famously sang, ‘for Tottingham’, it was left to his Argentinean compatriot to net two of Spurs’ goals in their 3-2 replay success over Manchester City. With the scores level at 2-2 and with just 14 minutes left on the clock, Villa proceeded to jink his way through the City defence before slotting home. Here’s a reminder…

Norman Whiteside Vs Everton, 1985

With Kevin Moran having become the first player to see red in an FA Cup Final, Manchester United were forced to see out the remaining 12 minutes of 1985’s final a man down. Then, 20 minutes into extra time, Everton swung the ball into United’s box. Quickly breaking the move down, United launched a counterattack, with a permed Mark Hughes releasing Whiteside down the right…

Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg Vs Chelsea, 2002

We had only planned on including Raymond’s pearler, but having been reminded of Freddie Ljungberg’s cracker, we thought we’d include that too. Think of it like a BOBOF offer. Anyway, with the score at 0-0 going into the final 20 minutes, Romford’s Pele gave Arsenal the lead – unleashing an unstoppable effort into Cuddicini’s top-left corner. Ten minutes later, Ljungberg curled another peach past the helpless Italian…

Steven Gerrard Vs West Ham, 2006

In what was probably the best Cup Final in recent memory, Liverpool went into injury time trailing the Hammers 3-2. Step up Gerrard. Unleashing an absolute piledriver from over 30 yards out, he took the match into extra time. With nothing between the two sides, it was the Scousers who finally won the shootout and with it their seventh FA Cup.

Roberto Di Matteo Vs Middlesbrough, 1997

This one’s included for three reasons. One, at the time it was the quickest goal in Cup Final history – hitting the net after just 42 seconds. Two, it’s a great goal, with Di Matteo picking the ball up inside his own half, running, running some more and then firing home from 30-odd yards. And three, I heard a story (which I can’t verify) that Di Matteo’s father and blind sister were in attendance, with the former ‘commentating’ to the latter. Imagine that for a feeling…

Lee Martin Vs Crystal Palace, 1990

It had been five years since Manchester United had last won anything and Sir Alex Ferguson was under pressure. The original tie had ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw and very little separated the two sides five days later. That was until Neil Webb picked out a marauding Lee Martin, whose 40-yard run was rewarded with the winner. Whether, as many suggest, it was the match that saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s Old Trafford career, we might never know. But if it was, the goal was certainly fitting…

Charlie George Vs Liverpool, 1971

With Liverpool having made it 1-1 in injury time, Charlie George’s smart finish after 111 minutes was enough to finally see off the Merseysiders. And what a nice goal it was. Tidy interchange between George and John Radford gave the former a glimpse from 20 yards. It was all he needed. With a swing of his right boot, the sideburned one sent half the 100,000-strong crowd into raptures…

Keith Houchen Vs Tottenham, 1987

It’s the only header to make our top ten, but what a blinder it was. With Coventry 2-1 down, Steve ‘the nose’ Ogrizovic thumped a huge clearance into the Spurs’ half. The great Cyril Regis flicked on to Houchen, who played it out wide to man-of-the-match, Dave Bennett. He swung it in and Houchen threw himself at it, connecting with an awesome diving header (see it for yourself below). After that, things only got better, with the Sky Blues upsetting the bookies (and Spurs) with a 3-2 win.

Eric Cantona Vs Liverpool, 1996

A season after kicking the head off a Palace fan, ‘Eric the King’ led Manchester United out against bitter rivals, Liverpool, in 1996’s Cup Final. Like seagulls following the trawler, over 79,000 fans turned out to see Cantona steal the show – volleying home through a crowd of players in the 85th minute. It was enough to secure United their ninth FA Cup…

Didier Drogba Vs Manchester United, 2007

It was a rubbish game, lit up by one moment of understanding, vision and delicacy. And if delicacy sounds more befitting of decorating a cake, this was very much Chelsea’s icing on theirs. Through a combination of Kalou, Mikel, Drogba and Lampard, the Blues carved open the United defence, with Lampard deftly touching the ball into Drogba’s path. He did the rest, winning Chelsea the cup in the process…