Howard Kendall became the youngest player to
appear in an F.A. Cup final at Wembley, when he took to the field for Preston North End in
1964, aged 17 years 345 days, beating the record held by Arsenal's Cliff Bastin
since 1930.
This record was broken again in 1980, when Paul
Allen, aged 17 years 256 days played for West Ham when they defeated Arsenal.
Curtis Weston of Millwall came on as a substitute
against Manchester United in the 2004 final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff,
aged 17 years 119 days and so became the youngest player to play in an F.A.
Cup final.
A record previously established by James Prinsep for Clapham Rovers in the 1879 Final when they lost 1-0 to Old Etonians at Kennington Oval, he was aged 17 years and 245 days.
So Paul Allen is still the youngest Wembley finalist but Curtis Weston is the youngest ever F.A. Cup Finalist.
Incidently, the oldest ever finalist was Walter 'Billy' Hampson, who was 41 years and 257 days old when his Newcastle United side beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the 1924 Final.
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