Valentine's Day brought out the love and romance for most people.

I was one of those people who was hit by Cupid’s arrow and it was my first true love that once again stole my heart on Saturday evening.

They say you never forget the first one and, at nearly 40, it’s still lost none of its magic.

I have to confess, that my first true love was the FA Cup.

I loved it as a kid and have great childhood memories of growing up with the competition in the 1980s.

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Watching the Cup was what first attracted me to football in the first place.

Nowadays the kids grow up on a diet of glamorous Champions League football and, of course, the Premier League.

When I was growing up, there was a limited amount of football on TV.

Coverage then was usually limited to one live FA Cup game on television every now and again, with Match of the Day mainly showing highlights from the league programme.

My eyes would be fixed on the screen until the end of the game when I would then go and ask my mum for permission to go out and play football.

In those days we would play a game which we called ‘Wembley’ with all my friends.

The format was a knockout game which was supposed to represent the great competition.

You would always pretend to be one of the players you just saw in action.

You would score the winning goal and play until it was dark or until I heard my mum shout at me to come in.

Just lately, the Cup seems to have got back that magic which made it so easy for me and so many others to fall in love with.

It was starting to become irrelevant and losing out to the financially-rewarding competitions like the Premier League and Champions League which I felt was a great shame.

Some clubs didn’t seem to be taking it seriously which was reflected by the attitude of the new generation of fans to the Cup.

There were very few cup shocks or giant-killings, with the final usually featuring two of the Premier League’s elite teams.

But now it seems that the magic has returned.

Once again we are seeing the games and results that shocked and hooked us back then.

Last weekend’s results just restored my belief and love for the competition and why I believe it is like no other.

A competition where there is a sense of belief from players and teams that the Cup dust will sprinkle on them, regardless of who they are playing.

That famous story of David and Goliath can be used by a manager in his team-talk to inspire belief into his players – not fear.

League One underdogs Bradford City got the headlines and upset the formbook again.

They followed up their stunning 4-2 victory against Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, by beating Sunderland 2-0, that man Jon Stead adding to his goals collection.

That sets up a sixth-round meeting with another of my old clubs Reading.

The Royals pulled off a surprise win at Championship high-fliers Derby County, with Yakubu Aiyegbeni rolling back the years when he charged upfield to lash in a late winner.

Meanwhile, another former team of mine, Premier League Stoke City, were left with red faces as Championship side Blackburn Rovers sent them packing with a resounding 4-1 defeat at a packed Ewood Park.

Joshua King had a day he will never forget, helping himself to a much-cherished Cup hat-trick.

Now can anyone tell me what other competition in the world throws up results and excitement like that?

You certainly don’t get that sort of magic in the Champions League or for that matter, the World Cup.

The FA Cup has that special appeal, a certain magic that makes it attractive and easy to fall for.

I fell in love with the Cup years ago and I am so glad that the magic shows little sign of flagging.

For Michael Duberry’s latest views see the Oxford Mail every Wednesday.