My first Wembley visit - I was 9 at the time and remember it like it was yesterday.

The drive down waving at Saints fans and thumbs down to Wigan fans (all good natured).
Arriving at Wembley and seeing the twin towers for the first time.
Walking up Wembley way.
Being asked by and afro-caribean guy who we were supporting and watching (first time I'd met somebody from an ethnic minority)
The excitement of being at a stadium where legends had been created and stories that you'd been told a thousand times at last seemd real and true.
Taking our seats in the ground.
Watching the teams do their pre-game lap.
The atmosphere.
The teams coming out and then.....

I don't remember much of the match. It all seemed to go really quick and from time to time I watch the Youtube clips of the game to make sure it was real. I remember my Mum who didn't make the final saying the next day how it all goes really quickly when you get beat. I fell asleep on the drive home.

The next day me and my mates played tick rugby in the back garden. We re-enacted the massacre and laughed and joked about how bad we had been and copied what we heard some of our Dads saying about the players lol Being a Saints fan it wasn't the best day results wise. I was 9 and despite the result my old man still says to this day that I didn't stop for weeks after talking about Wembley when everyone else was trying to forget about it such was my awe at the Grand Old Stadium - somehow to me the result didn't matter and despite that longing dissapointment at being beaten it was my day and I'd still go now even if I knew the result before hand.

Memories - even in defeat.

The optimism if youth. Kids are far better at handling things like that than their parents! None of the over analyzing we all indulge in on here.

Mind you I am reminded of when me any my son were leaving Old Trafford after beating Saints in the GF last time. There was a kid in with a Saints flag, must have been about 11 or 12 as we walked back to the car and as we passed he muttered 75-0, 75-0 repeatedly.

Seeing the twin towers at the old Wembley for the first time (for me 1963) is an image that I'll never forget, the new 'arch' just isn't the same. Just thinking about it now makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

Agree. 1959 v Hull was my first Wembley visit and the walk up Wembley Way was magical for a then young lad. In fact it was always magical, but like you the Arch doesn't do it at all for me. Maybe we're just GOGs?

True, I always used to love seeing the towers and the stadium in the distance from the train window as you approached London on the way down, it was then the 'butterflies' kicked in.