FA Cup Final: Kanu Makes Portsmouth History

The stage was set this afternoon for what has been the end of decades of struggle for Portsmouth football club, as Nwankwo Kanu's 37th minute goal sealed victory in the FA Cup final against Cardiff City.

Not only does it represent the first piece of major silverware the club has won since the 1950, but also the first time ever that Portsmouth has qualified for European competition.

The last FA Cup final that Portsmouth had been to was in 1939, with victory coming over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley on that occasion.

Post World War II, Portsmouth would go on to become a force within English football. But by the end of the 1950's, it had been a fall from grace for the club, which remains one of only five clubs to win back-to-back English League titles in the post-WWII era.

The club has experienced it's ups and downs in the decades since that 1939 win, having been forced to play football in all four of the tiers of English football during that time period, almost being forced into administration on more than one occasion and with little prospect of returning to the heights of English football.

With today's FA Cup Final win, that has all changed.

But today is just confirmation of the great change that has occurred since the club's return to the English Premier League in 2003.Today, however, is not only recognition for the 11 men and substitutes that took part in the final match today.

It is recognition of the hard work that plenty of others have put in over the decades of frustration; it is recognition for former players such as Alan Knight, who played with Pompey in every division of English football during his time with the club.

It's recognition of players that have brought magic to Fratton Park for however short it may have been, including Paul Merson, Robert Prosinecki, and Svetoslav Todorov. And it is recognition of the work of the club's administration and management; Milan Mandaric, Sacha Gaydamak, Tony Adams, and most certainly, Harry Redknapp.

Kanu's goal today has brought joy to supporters of Portsmouth who have seen all of the highs and lows that come along with supporting a football club.

And in the end, victory is oh-so-sweet.