They, and all their younger brethren, can be proud not just of victory, but the manner of it. Portsmouth were marginally the better team in a match that was superior in entertainment to the Chelsea-Manchester United final that preceded it and quite possibly the Champions League final to follow.
Only David James's sustained excellence prevented Cardiff from taking a first-half lead that would have been merited. Sadly, Peter Enckelman's ragged handling allowed Nwankwo Kanu in for the goal that kept the Cup from the Welsh. Having smuggled Doctor Who away from England, grabbing its most famous trophy was perhaps too much to ask.
It is an odd season that concludes with more English (and more Premier League) clubs in the Champions League final than the FA Cup's. It was refreshing, too, that Portsmouth v Cardiff guaranteed a first victory for a team outside the top tier's fearsome foursome since 1995.
Portsmouth arrived at Wembley knocking back reports that this game would be Harry Redknapp's last. Had he thought of quitting? 'Never a time,' he said. 'Not at all.' Booed off at Fratton Park the previous weekend, his team were some way off form - without a point in four matches and a goal in three. Deprived of Cup-tied leading scorer Jermain Defoe, the manager culled Papa Bouba Diop, exchanging the African's height and muscle for Pedro Mendes's more studied presence and pushing Lassana Diarra further forward in the midfield. The formation remained the counter-oriented 4-1-4-1 with which Pompey had achieved their highest Premier League finish. Their Championship opponents were more adventurous, stationing Paul Parry alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The game began at a pleasing pace, Diarra slipping his marker at kick-off and sprinting forward to earn a free-kick. Sulley Muntari - supported in the stadium by compatriot and best friend Michael Essien - cannoned a long shot off a team-mate to stretch Enckelman.
Cardiff responded in kind. A long diagonal pass allowed the perpetually mobile Parry in behind the back four, drawing James into a scurried clearance the keeper just managed to execute. Better still was Parry's next assault on goal. If it began fortunately when Glenn Loovens' heavy touch fell to Joe Ledley, the left-winger's through ball was divine, releasing the striker for a low shot that James worked wonders to smother. Seconds later Ledley crossed for Peter Whittingham, whose deflected volley eluded keeper and far post.
Offered two clear chances to go ahead, Pompey spurned both. First, Enckelman pawed a Muntari free-kick across his six-yard box to Sylvain Distin, who instead of heading at an empty net tried to tee up the heavily marked Kanu. Next, Hermann Hreidarsson and Muntari combined to play in their solo striker. Gloriously, Kanu glided past one opponent and wrong-footed Enckelman. Gallingly, he planted his shot against a now unguarded post.
The game enticingly stretched, Cardiff threatened from free-kick and corner kick before succumbing to the Premier League side's first sustained period of pressure. The excellent Mendes began the onslaught with a curving 35-yard strike that Enckelman held at the second attempt; John Utaka continued it with a cross the keeper could not control.
The Nigerian's run was excellent, shifting Tony Capaldi from one foot to another to create space. Utaka crossed low and fast, the keeper palming it upwards for Kanu to return deftly beyond him. The striker danced in the goalmouth, the winger simply turned to the crowd to accept the ovation. It was Portsmouth's first goal in more than six hours of football.
Cardiff, though, might have equalised immediately. Parry, running free behind Glen Johnson every time the right-back failed to foul him (which was often), made ground in the area before seeking to set up Kevin McNaughton. The cross was rapid but the Scot should have done better than turn it into touch.
Just before half-time Whittingham again produced havoc with a left-footed free-kick. Buffeted by his own centre-back, James pushed the ball out to Loovens, who athletically hooked it into the net. Painfully for Cardiff, the Dutchman's first touch had been with arm. 'It was handball,' Dave Jones conceded. 'He's just unfortunate he didn't get away with it.'
Ill at ease with his handling, Enckelman spent half the break practising it in front of the Portsmouth support. Requiring no rehearsal of his skills, Whittingham started the half by setting up Roger Johnson's header into the side netting. The relentless Diarra then forged shooting space for Kanu with the aid of a cute Niko Kranjcar back-heel, but Loovens recovered to chest clear.
His team losing the physical battle, Jones added Aaron Ramsey's teenage energy. The midfielder's corner freed Loovens for a header that bounced down and agonisingly over, while Ramsey twice had late shooting chances he could not exploit. David Nugent came closer to the final's second goal, his wide-angled volley almost nestling in the top corner.
Kanu strolled off to a grand ovation, Pompey intoned Redknapp's name, and their manager walked up to become the first from England to receive the Cup since Joe Royle with Everton in 1995. The win was part of an excellent week for owner Alexandre Gaydamak's family, as his father Arkady's side, Beitar Jerusalem, won the Israeli Cup on Tuesday and sealed the league title yesterday.
'It's been a difficult year, but football-wise it's been fantastic,' said Redknapp. 'It was just good today - you have these things in life, you go through tough times. Today was a good day.' Not so much 'Play up, Pompey', more a case of 'Party up, Pompey'.
