Gavin Peacock

Chelsea striker

As a team we felt confident going into the game because we had done the double over United that season, both 1-0 victories. On a personal level I was full of confidence, not only after scoring both goals in those games, but because I think I had scored in every round including two in the semi-final against Luton, which was also at Wembley.

Paul Parker

Manchester United right-back

If you look at the two games we played against Chelsea that season they scored against the run of play at Stamford Bridge and the game at Old Trafford was very similar. We still believed we could go and beat them at Wembley because we had just won the Premiership for the second time on the bounce and there was a lot of belief among the players.

Craig Burley

Chelsea midfielder

Driving up to Wembley was unbelievable but what I remember most was the pouring rain. When I was growing up I would watch FA Cup finals in Scotland and it always seemed to be sunny. We could see Wembley from miles away and the crowds we getting bigger and bigger the closer we got. That's when you realise exactly what you are involved in.

David Elleray

The referee

The officials are among the earliest to arrive, at about 12 noon, and virtually no one else was in the stadium. I likened it to a vast, empty cathedral and remember what a huge contrast it was when we walked out for the match just before 3pm. I stood on the balcony looking over Wembley and Graham Kelly, the Football Association's chief executive at the time, came up and gave me a box of Earl Grey tea bags. He knew I drank Earl Grey rather than normal tea and was keen that I should have a cup at half-time.

Paul Parker

I'll never forget Chelsea's suits, they looked like Parma Violets. Then it started raining and they went from a light purple to really dark purple. Nigel Spackman came over to say hello and we looked over at his team-mates getting ready to have their picture taken in front of the Chelsea supporters and thought they looked like a big Welsh choir. They were getting drenched and we had a good chuckle.

Craig Burley

The suits were Mr Hoddle's choice and looking back at his dress sense he should never have been allowed to be in a position to decide. They weren't quite as bad as the creamy, white suits Liverpool wore in 1996 but are still not a fond memory.

Gavin Peacock

About 20 minutes into the game Paul Ince jumped up for the ball in midfield and when it came down I flicked it from my right foot to my left before hitting it in one movement on the volley. I didn't feel the shot because I hit it so sweetly and I looked up to see it sailing over Peter Schmeichel's head. It was almost like time stood still. I saw him back- pedalling, it was like slow motion. I thought to myself "This is going in, 1-0 again, I've scored, it's just not United's year" but it came back off the crossbar. We went in at half-time 0-0 and playing well. The dressing room was bubbly because we felt we had one hand on the Cup. We felt we had a really good chance.

Paul Parker

We came in at half-time lucky to be in the game and knew we were walking straight into a roasting from the boss. We weren't good at all in the first half - the rain was coming down heavy and we hadn't got going. In the second half we were a completely different unit.

Gavin Peacock

It was around the hour mark when Eddie Newton dived in on Denis Irwin and that was definitely a penalty. Six minutes later the referee gave another for Frank Sinclair's challenge on Andrei Kanchelskis but there is no way it was a penalty.

Frank Sinclair

Chelsea left-back

I remember running for the ball but it was skidding away from both of us and we were never going to get to it. I've put my body across him just to shield the ball for Dmitri Kharin. As far as I was concerned, one, the contact was made outside of the box and, two, it wasn't a foul anyway. I just couldn't believe it had been given because going 2-0 down against the champions meant it was game, set and match Man United.

David Elleray

It was probably the decision in my career I remember with least happiness. It was a very proud game for me because as a referee you can only officiate one FA Cup final, and it's a great domestic accolade, but if I was able to rewrite history I would probably remove the second penalty and then I would look back on it with very fond memories.

Dmitri Kharin

Chelsea goalkeeper

I don't know of any goalkeeper who has saved a penalty from Eric Cantona , he was unbelievable. I was trying my best, moved around, attempted to put him off, dived but he was never going to miss. He was better than me. For the second penalty I thought to myself "No way can he put it in the same place, he must surely change direction" but unfortunately he didn't.

Paul Parker

Goals from Mark Hughes and Brian McClair wrapped up the win and that evening was absolutely incredible. You don't ever forget winning any cup final, let alone at Wembley, but doing the Double [United's first] was something none of us will ever forget. We went back to our hotel where the club had arranged a big dinner with family, staff, officials and players. There was the Premiership trophy on one side, FA Cup on the other and balloons making a big arch through to the dining area. It was a mad night and a very quiet train journey back to Manchester the next day.

Frank Sinclair

I didn't feel personally responsible but was terribly disappointed because one thing I wasn't told was that if you lose an FA Cup final it turns into a nightmare of a day. You go from being on cloud nine to wanting to dig a hole for yourself. That was definitely one of the lowest points of my career.