Why the FA Cup is always special for United

The club withdrew, as holders, from the competition in 2000 due to involvement in the FIFA Club World Championship, under pressure from the Football Association to give full support to the event in order to not hinder their bid to stage the World Cup in 2006.

"We realise that many of our supporters will be as disappointed as we are with our decision not to compete in the FA Cup," said the club in a statement, yet it enraged people at the time, to ludicrous degrees, and was used as a way to criticise the all-conquering Reds, who had just completed an unprecedented Treble.

A chance to knock Sir Alex Ferguson's thrilling but dominant side was not going to be passed up.

So, for those who feel the famous old competition has lost some of its allure, which is for a myriad of reasons, none more so than the obvious point that it used to be one of the only games televised live back in the day, United remain an easy target for starting its supposed decline in importance.

However, I would contest that most Reds fans give the FA Cup more stock than many of our counterparts. How can those in love with the club not revel in the fact that we have reached the final more than any other club (22) and are one away from Arsenal's record number of wins?

No matter what era you grew up in, most can probably recall the thrill of lifting the trophy. 

1948 saw Sir Matt Busby's first silverware, before a long wait until 1963. The 1977 success against Liverpool was glorious, the 1983 and 1985 triumphs bringing untold joy, despite the lack of a league title.

Entering the 1990s , there was a golden spell, with Ferguson crucially buying time by landing the spoils, in a replay against Crystal Palace, before going on to do the Double four and six years later. That Treble will never, ever be forgotten at the end of the decade.

In 2004, maybe the hardest job was done in beating Arsenal in the semi-final, but the 3-0 victory over Millwall in Cardiff allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to start to show his stratospheric potential on the big stage and Ruud van Nistelrooy to do what he did best by scoring goals. Starting in midfield against the Lions, alongside Roy Keane, was a certain Darren Fletcher. More on him later.

Younger fans will smile in recollection of Jesse Lingard's volley, against the odds, earning Louis van Gaal's 10 men a priceless win over Palace in 2016, and what a special day out it was at Wembley in 2024, when Manchester City were overcome, with a rousing performance few predicted, courtesy of goals from Academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

If anybody needed reminding what the FA Cup means to Manchester United, check out the scenes of celebration that day.

Yet it's not just the finals and the glory that gets the pulse racing. The anticipation around the draws is palpable, our away followings legendary and a buzz around the ties that marks them out as being different to league matches. They are just special.

For supporters of my age, Norman Whiteside enjoys almost god-like status. Not only does he remain the youngest-ever final scorer for his strike in the replay against Sunday's opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion, but his winner for the 10-man Reds two years later, against champions Everton, is a moment that defined childhoods.

The Northern Irishman will forever be associated with the competition and he is fully aware of its importance to United in 2026, following the early exit from the Carabao Cup and the lack of European involvement.

"Certainly, as a kid, you looked out for the FA Cup," Norman told us. "It's the oldest competition in the world and, when you were in the street, you used to bang up a bit of chalk on the wall and pretend you were scoring the winning goal in the cup final. That's the way we used to look at it.

"It's just a massive trophy but, since then, with more European games, it's taken a little bit more of a backseat these days. But it's always a nice trophy to look back on and I've got very fond memories of it.

"I think it always crops up in United's history, even going back to Matt Busby's team, Denis Law and everybody else. The FA Cup always crops up and I was lucky to be part of two winning teams. The FA Cup does stand in people's minds, not just here but wherever you travel in the world, someone mentions the FA Cup. The good thing about it is we all know you can get shocks and big teams get knocked out by smaller teams. 

"It's interesting. I live in Altrincham and they have the chance to qualify through the rounds. A few years ago, it lost some of its attention maybe, we didn't play in it in 2000, but I think it's found its way back. I know the FA Cup is known throughout the world.

"We've had a lot of home draws recently and it gives you something different to look forward to. I feel we're getting the gist of what it means to play at Old Trafford and we are Manchester United and can put in a good performance."

So, for all the nostalgia, what about the here and now?

As Whiteside noted, it was over 40 years ago when he was scoring against the Seagulls and those "good times" will count for nothing when Fabian Hurzeler brings his Albion team to the Theatre of Dreams, on the back of a hugely creditable 1-1 draw away to Manchester City in midweek.

There has been big change at United and interim head coach Fletcher has been handed the responsibility of leading the team again for the 16:30 GMT kick-off.

You just know it will be one he relishes, given his association with the club and deep understanding of what this competition means to us.

Beyond that, if you want to take a more pragmatic approach, it feels essential United avoid a 40-game season by falling at the first hurdle, like we did in the Carabao Cup at Grimsby Town earlier in the season.

And do not forget the prize on offer for the victors at Wembley on 16 May. In addition to the trophy and those unforgettable memories, an automatic place in next season's UEFA Europa League is guaranteed.

With obtaining European football a priority target for this term, this should not be underestimated.

The away fans were great at Burnley in midweek and the giddiness of having Fletch at the helm in combination with an FA Cup third-round tie should make Old Trafford the place to be this weekend. 

Don't believe what people say about 2000 - the FA Cup will always have a special place in our supporters' hearts.

The opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Manchester United Football Club.