The ties were not so close from the beginning. “King George V was the first monarch to attend the FA Cup final, in 1914, and it was dubbed ‘the Royal cup final’,” says Dr Jackson.

He could yet make this FA Cup his own. He already made the semi-final his own, helping to dismantle Aston Villa 3-0 in a way few have done, albeit with Wharton supreme in behind.

Beaten by Manchester United in 1948 and Newcastle three years later, Blackpool, who meet Bolton again in the third round on Saturday, had twice been FA Cup final bridesmaids. Never the bride.