ITS ALMOST SUMMER

FA Cup Final tomorrow. I wonder if Liverpool had qualified for the FA Cup Final, whether they would have had to play so soon after the Europa Final? It is a well published date and not to be tampered with.
FA Cup Final dates are now more likely at the end of May and I guess they and UEFA have to juggle numbers in years previously to avoid clashes.
The Cup Final date used to be set in the first week of May (and in early years even further back in March/April).
More recently a number of finals have been held in the second half of May and the trend continues.

Reasons for the "jump" to the latter May Saturdays reflect the readjustment in the calendar  (i.e. jumping back a week etc), longer league seasons, timing of international tournaments, the availability of the stadium (when Wembley was being renovated), whenever there is a full moon....only kidding.

This season's final is not being held on the latest date ever, but the Premier League has only just concluded and the play offs are in full swing, European tourneys are still being held, Euro16 is not a mile away, so the timing is about right-just.

The late May date seemed to come into use in 1963.

In 1963: Manchester Utd v Leicester was held on 25th May.
1967: Tottenham v Chelsea 20th May
In the 1970s the referee was rewarded with the Cup Final "gig" by being offered either the fee (15 guineas-a guinea = £1 and 1 shilling) or the medal! That eventually changed.
Here are the late May dates, you might remember the scores?
1977: Manchester Utd v Liverpool 21st May

1982: Tottenham v QPR 22nd
1983: Manchester Utd v Brighton 21st and replayed on 26th
1989: Liverpool v Everton 20th
1995: Everton v Manchester United 20th
1999: Manchester United v Newcastle 22nd
2000: Chelsea v Aston Villa 20th
2004: Man Utd v Millwall at Cardiff 22nd
2005: Man Utd v Arsenal 21st
2009: Chelsea v Everton 30th
2015: Arsenal v Aston Villa 30th

And to cheer you up here are some of the "most memorable" cup final songs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32918539