The 1980s (Volume 3) (When the FA Cup Really Mattered) - Softcover

"As with the previous two volumes, Eastley lets football fans recreate the magic of each of the 1980s finals, drawing on conversations and interviews conducted with, he beieves, around 700 supporters over the course of the series, using their vivid memories and backstories to paint evocative pictures of the show piece occasion." --Backpass

"A pleasant reminder of why the competition's heritage means so much to fans of a certain age... Those around at the time will enjoy the evocative memories but for younger fans, brought up on Sky coverage and all-seat stadiums, the sport may be unrecognisable. An enjoyable retrospective of a time when Cup finals did actually stay long in the memory." --When Saturday Comes

"Matthew Eastley's book is excellent. Really enjoyed reading it in the week leading up to the Cup final - and it helped hugely with my research too." --Guy Mowbray, BBC MOTD

"I enjoyed it very much and found it very evocative of a time the FA Cup had real importance in football, and social, circles. The stories of the fans rang true and I liked, as well, the where-are-they-now aspect of the supporters. Very well done." --Mark Pougatch

"I share Matt Eastley's passion for this great competition. I thoroughly enjoyed the book." --Martin Tyler

"I read Matthew Eastley's book and loved it. Great nostalgia for those of us no longer in the first flush of youth." --Martin Kelner

"The book gives a fascinating insight into the FA Cup final of each year. Author Matt Eastley's writing style is certainly very engaging; the book is written to encapsulate those rollercoaster of emotions that fans go through during such a momentous football occasion as the Cup final. It certainly retained my attention and I wanted to keep reading the next chapter to experience the next Cup Final. The book has been very well researched. I love the nostalgic feel of the book and it is excellently written and gives you a feeling that you are there at each Cup Final. Makes you want to go back and read the other two books in the series looking at the 1960s and 70s FA Cup finals. It is definitely worth your time to pick up a copy - especially those of you who were around at the time." --FootballPink.net

"I don't think I've read anything better on the FA Cup than these books. They really hit the spot." --David Barber, FA historian

From Ricky Villa to Dave Beasant is the third and final instalment in Matthew Eastley's Cup Final series. It tells the story of the 1980s, when it wasn't just the giants of the game who enjoyed Cup success, but also clubs such as West Ham, Coventry City and Wimbledon. It tells the stories of Wembley heroes - Houchen, Sanchez, Brooking - recounts great performances and recalls the joy of first-time finalists such as QPR and Watford. But most important are the amazing first-hand stories of the fans inside Wembley. Who were they, and how do they look back on those halcyon days? Here are gripping tales of football, social change, love and kinship - all played out against a backdrop of pop music, films and contemporary news. For this was the decade which saw an ominous increase in live televised football, and ended in tragedy at an FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough.