Portsmouth meet Cardiff City at Wembley on Saturday in a final the FA Cup has been crying out for even if the absence of familiar names may prove the competition’s lack of appeal for the big clubs.

It is the first time since 1991 that none of the current ‘big four’ have contested the final (add Everton and Tottenham Hotspur and you have to go back to 1975) and for both combatants it has been a long time coming.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones said he hoped the achievement of his Championship (second division) side in reaching the final would “stop people going on and on about 1927”.

That was the year Cardiff became the only non-English club to win the Cup in what was their last appearance in the final until this season.

“We want to make our own history,” said Jones. “Maybe, over the last few years, the FA Cup has lost that little bit of magic because it has been the same teams (in the final).”

Portsmouth must go back to 1939 for their only success and for manager Harry Redknapp. Paul Parry, Joe Ledley, who got the superb winner in the semi-final, and 17-year-old midfielder Aaron Ramsey could be the names to turn the game Cardiff’s way.

Captain Darren Purse will be extra grateful to be playing at Wembley, having had a suspension controversially overturned on appeal by the Welsh FA.

Portsmouth are a more experienced side but will hope the likes of centre back Sol Campbell and goalkeeper David James are not kept too busy.