Liverpool won Saturday's FA Cup final to claims its second trophy of the season.
Insider/Barnaby Lane
The "Magic of the Cup" returned at the first sell out FA Cup final since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
I was in attendance to see the great annual celebratory pageant of English soccer.
The atmosphere was unlike any sporting event I'd ever attended, but the food and drink was disappointing.
When people speak of the FA Cup, you'll often hear them talk about its "magic."
Typically when that phrase is used, it's referring to a lower league team pulling off an extraordinary and knocking out a team from the English Premier League, which happens on an almost yearly basis.
But the "magic" of the oldest national football competition in the world extends far beyond producing amazing underdog stories.
It is also known for its unique history; its ability to captivate fans from every corner of the world; its highlight reel moments on-and-off the pitch; and lastly, the truly glorious spectacle that is cup final day at London's Wembley Stadium.
Sadly the latter has been a distant memory for the past three years, with the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in the 2019/20 final being played behind closed doors and the 2020/21 final being limited to a capacity of just 20,000.
While those two finals were still thrilling in their own right, it just wasn't the same without the stands full, flags flying, and fans chanting.
Fortunately, however, this year saw the FA Cup final return to its former glory as 85,000 people packed into Wembley to see Liverpool take on Chelsea in a repeat of February's Carabao Cup final.
Even more fortunately, I was there to see the magic of the FA Cup return.
As is tradition, fans crammed onto the London Underground to get to Wembley.Wembley Stadium is only accessible through one tube station.
Insider/Barnaby Lane
Unless you drive into Wembley Stadium, which is almost certainly not a good idea on a match day, there is only one way in: the London Underground.
There are a couple of stops to choose from, the most noteworthy is Wembley Park, which brings you out to one of soccer's most famous views.
With public transport being pretty much the only option to get to the stadium, it can be a tight fit on the tube when 85,000 fans are trying to make their way to the ground.
I made my way to the ground at around 1:30 p.m. — over three hours before kick off — and the tubes were still packed full. And with the heat at nearly 20°C, let's just say it wasn't the most comfortable of journeys.
Fortunately, the view is worth it at the other end.Wembley Way.
Insider/Barnaby Lane
Upon exiting Wembley Park you'll be greeted with a view that soccer fans from all over the globe flock to see.
Seeing the iconic stadium basking in the sun as thousands of fans funnel down the half-mile stretch of Wembley Way, officially called Olympic Way, truly is a sight to behold.
It was a little early to head into the ground, so naturally, I went to a bar.Box Park was reserved for Liverpool fans only.
Insider/Barnaby Lane
Just on the right as you walk down Wembley Way is Box Park — a trendy street food and drink venue set inside a big warehouse.
It was reserved for Liverpool fans only on the day, however as a member of the media and definitely, definitely not a Chelsea supporter, I managed to sweet talk my way in.
Inside, Box Park was crammed with Liverpool supporters.
A DJ played some classic singalong anthems, The Killers' "Mr. Brightside" of course being one, before a live singer took to the stage.
As the singer belted out some famous Liverpool chants, the thousands of fans joined in, singing, or in most cases shouting, along at the top of their lungs.
The only negative was that a pint of lager cost around £7 ($8.50), while I was also waiting in the queue for the bar for about 30 minutes.
I got myself some food before heading into the stadium.Tasty.
Insider/Barnaby Lane
This beauty of a burger cost me a whopping £9 ($11).
Combine that with the £7 ($9) pint and I'd just spent £16 ($20) on a beer and a very lackluster burger.
Eating bad food and drinking warm lager at the soccer is almost gospel, but I did feel a little shortchanged.
There was a DJ, a choir performing a rendition of the Christian hymn Abide With Me, which has been sung at the FA Cup final since 1927, and a singer who performed the national anthem.
Giant club badges from both sides were laid down on the pitch, while huge club banners also dropped from the east and west stands.
As the teams lined up, fireworks and flames then exploded from the ground.
The match lived up to expectations.Kostas Tsimikas scored the winner in the shootout.
Liverpool could have gone 3-0 up within 10 minutes had winger Luis Diaz had his finishing boots on, before Chelsea fired back with a number of chances of its own, American star Christian Pulisic missing two and Marcos Alonso another.
The second half was similar, with both teams exchanging chances, but unable to find the net.
After no goals in extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout — ensuring a repeat of February's Carabao Cup final between the two sides, which also ended goalless and went to penalties.
Liverpool won in February and did the same again on Saturday, scoring five out of six penalties to Chelsea's four to claim the cup.
After the winning spot kick, red flares erupted from the West Stand.Liverpool fans let off flares after the match.
Insider/Barnaby Lane
The Reds' supporters also broke out in an impressive rendition of Dua Lipa's "One Kiss" – which has become a club anthem since she performed it ahead of the 2018 Champions League final on a backdrop of a banner depicting the former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard kissing the trophy.
The Liverpool players ran around the pitch celebrating before parading the cup in front of their fans.
The celebrations, regardless of which seem you support, were truly impressive.
The magic was definitely back.Jordan Henderson lifts Liverpool's second trophy of the season.
Getty/Eddie Keogh
The tube was hot and busy, the queues for the bar were too long, and the food and drinks were definitely too expensive.
But that really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
The atmosphere around and in the stadium was unlike any sporting event I'd ever been too before, while the drama on the pitch was straight out of the FA Cup final handbook.
The magic was back, and hopefully, it's here to stay.
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