The Cup final was unusual only on the surface – second division teams reaching cup finals were normal at that time, everybody was quite accustomed to that. Helmond Sport was the one finalist and FC Utrecht the other. A battle of underdogs, which favored Utrecht not just because they were top league team, but mostly because Helmond Sport had a weak season. But final is a final, so it was contested hotly.
May be not a great show, but tough match – especially tough, because the final was played in Utrecht, a big disadvantage to Helmond Sport. But their spirit was high and they kept their ground as long as they could. Utrecht prevailed 1-0.
Nothing really can be said about anonymous team as Helmond Sport – they are to be admired, though. Tough luck they lost, but in the same time their opponents were more deserving.
Now, a good year for FC Utrecht traditionally means mid-table position. Trophies are not even dreamed of. Getting one was fantastic. Helmond Sport never won anything and FC Utrecht had only a single title in the trophy room – if we can properly credit them for the title won in the distant 1958: oficially it goes to DOS Utrecht. DOS eventually transformed into FC Utrecht, but it is DOS in the statistics. FC Utrecht played its only second final and they were utterly destroyed by AZ’67, then at its peak, in the first. This time they prevailed.
Yes, they won, and with difficulty, against lowly second division club, but it is never fair to dismiss first victory like that. Such moments are to be thoroughly enjoyed – a club like FC Utrecht could not really hope for more than occasional trophy and finally they won the Cup. Nobody had any illusions and wild expectations of building on this victory – the club had only one real talent, Jan Wouters, and it was crystal clear to the last fan that there were not going to be two stars, but zero. Trophy or no trophy, Wouters would be snatched by one of the big clubs. The Cup was happy incident, only to be enjoyed in full and remembered fondly. Nice to see FC Utrecht with a cup in their hands.
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