THE REGION'S affinity with the FA Cup Final is long-established, dating back to the glories of both Newcastle United and Sunderland in the early part of the last century. That was followed by the Magpies' superb 1950s hat-trick of wins, including back-to-back triumphs in 1951 and 1952.

A barren spell was then broken by Sunderland's memorable triumph in 1973, which was followed a year later by defeat for Joe Harvey's Newcastle United.

The 1990s saw three North-East appearances in three years but both Newcastle United and Middlesbrough failed to pick up that most famous of trophies.

However, one tradition that the North-East has maintained is for goalkeeping heroics and records, and here Northern Echo Sport looks back at three of the region's number one's who left their own mark on the famous competition.

WITHOUT doubt the greatest FA Cup final goalkeeping performance belongs to Sunderland's Jim Montgomery. His astonishing stop from Peter Lorimer at Wembley in 1973 - Monty had to pick himself off the ground after pushing away Trevor Cherry's initial header - ranks alongside the best saves caught on celluloid. Along with Gordon Banks' miraculous save from Pele in the Mexico World Cup in 1970 and more recently, David Seaman's amazing goalline denial of Paul Peschisolido in Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final victory against Sheffield United at Old Trafford, Montgomery's agility ensured Sunderland did nolt surrender their 1-0 advantage over the Yorkshiremen. Monty's Wembley heroics in Sunderland's treasured triumph over Leeds United, however, are arguably the finest ever witnessed - for two reasons.

Firstly, it was two saves in one.

The man himself remains modest about his achievements and when recently recalling the events of that May day 30 years ago, Mongomery told The Northern Echo: "The cross came in from the right, Trevor Cherry was on the far post and nodded the ball across me and I just went across and parried it out. I saw Lorimer coming in and I just dived into the path of the ball. It hit my hand, went on to the bar and came out.

"He had two-thirds of the goal to aim at and I just thought, 'to hell, I'll dive at the open space'- and it came off.''

It has gone down in North-East folklore, and remains the last time one of the region's big three lifted a major honour. The sight of a delirious Bob Stokoe literally skipping across the Wembley turf to celebrate with his goalkeeper remains etched in the memory.

For Sunderland-born Montgomery, who made a record 623 senior appearances for his home-town club between 1962-77, eclipsing Don Revie's Leeds was the highlight of his playing days.

"I would say it was the best moment of my career, with the spectacle that the final is, especially with it being Wembley as opposed to the Millennium Stadium,'' said Montgomery.

"It was a fabulous day. We all thought it was something great for the club."

Montgomery went on to have spells at Southampton (loan), Birmingham City, and at Nottingham Forest where he was on the bench when they beat SV Hamburg in the European Cup Final of 1980.

After he finished playing he became a coach with a number of clubs and left Darlington last year.

Ian Turner may not be a household name - even in his own house - but the Middlesbrough-born keeper with the dodgy haircut was a Southampton hero 27 years ago when the Lawrie McMenemy's Second Division minnows beat the mighty Manchester United 1-0.

The game itself was far from memorable, and Turner was not put under the sort of pressure that many observers had expected.

The triumph belonged to little Bobby Stokes, who emerged as the Saints hero seven minutes from the end.

Picking up Jim McCalliog's pass he cracked a left foot shot from distance that evaded the outstretched hand of Alex Stepney.

For Turner it was the highlight of a career that was confined to the lower reaches of the league after leaving Southampton.

Turner had been McMenemy's first signing for the Saints from Walsall in 1974, and became an engineer after quitting the game.

BEN ROBERTS may not be a household name, but his place in the FA Cup record books came for all the wrong reasons in 1997.

The Middlesbrough keeper conceded the fastest Cup final goal after just 43 seconds against Chelsea back in 1998.

There appeared little on as Roberto di Matteo moved forward in midfield soon after kick-off.

But a speculative 35-yard effort took the Bishop Auckland-born keeper by surprise and the Blues were on their way to breaking the hearts of thousands on Teesside.

The fact that number one Mark Schwarzer was Cup-tied ensured Roberts made his Wembley bow, but his first job was to pick the ball out of the net.

Roberts said after the game: "It was the worst possible start, a goal after 43 seconds. I just looked up to the sky and thought 'what's happening here?'

"To come into this situation as a 2l-year-old is hard,but I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's just a shame it didn't work out today.

"One day I'll look back and enjoy the occasion but now I'm just bitterly disappointed."

The former England U21 goalkeeper had a number of loan spells before heading to Charlton on a Bosman signing at the start of the 2000/01 Premiership campaign.

He made his first-team debut for the Addicks in the last game of the season against Fulham, coming on after Dean Kiely had been sent off.