Lineker's FA Cup memories

BBC Sport's Gary Lineker, who introduces the drama of the FA Cup on Match of the Day, shares his memories of playing in the famous old competition.

Winning the FA Cup in 1991 was undoubtedly the highlight of my playing career.

It might surprise you to hear that, but it was better than getting to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and better than winning the 1989 Cup Winners' Cup with Barcelona.

Every kid dreams of playing in the FA Cup final. They don't dream about playing in a Champions League final.

I was desperate to win the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1991. I was coming to the end of my career and knew it could be my last chance to lift the FA Cup.

Lineker scored in the 1986 FA Cup final

I'd played in one final, in 1986 for Everton against Liverpool, and had lost 3-1.

The FA Cup final is a fantastic occasion, but it's horrible when you lose.

I'd played well in 1986 and scored, but I still felt awful when we lost.

Your first FA Cup final can pass you by a bit. The occasion takes over.

So I made sure I savoured the 1991 showpiece against Nottingham Forest.

Everyone talks about Gazza's flying tackle on Gary Charles in that game and his resulting knee injury.

He was never really the same player after that. He was hyped up before the game, but then he was hyped up before every match.

Lineker holds the FA Cup aloft in 1991

He needed a way to release all that energy. In the semi-final against Arsenal he had done it by sending an amazing free-kick past David Seaman.

Unfortunately, in the final he got his release with that crazy tackle.

Other than that, it was a good game.

I had a penalty saved by Mark Crossley, who was a bit of a spot-kick specialist, but we still won 2-1 in extra-time when Des Walker put the ball into his own net.

The cup competitions in other countries just aren't the same as ours. When I was at Barcelona, I played in a Spanish cup final in Madrid.

The stadium was half-full. That just wouldn't happen over here.

And of course, the FA Cup is renowned for its shocks.

I was involved in one of the biggest Cup upsets when I was a youngster at Leicester and we were beaten 1-0 by non-league Harlow in a third round replay.

They'd held us 1-1 at Filbert Street and then beat us 1-0 on a Wednesday night at their place.

Nothing compares to the buzz you get from playing in the FA Cup, but I'm really looking forward to presenting the competition

Gary Lineker

Those David v Goliath matches are great for the spectators, but I used to hate them as a player. They are no-win situations.

You win and everyone says you should have won by more and you lose and you get slaughtered.

Nothing compares to the buzz you get from playing in the FA Cup, but I'm really looking forward to presenting the competition this year.

The FA Cup is back where it belongs, on the BBC. We hope to convey the magic of the competition to the viewers.

We also aim to bring the big FA Cup final day to television.

After all, the FA Cup has got so much tradition and is the world's finest cup competition.