PROUD TO SEE EVERTON AT WEMBLEY

We got back at about 1am and I only had the energy to watch the pens again, clock the bit on ITV where Tony kissed the camera in his Fellaini wig, listen to the relief-soaked interviews and go to bed.

Today the sun has been shining as benevolently as it did yesterday, although most of us are still suffering positive post traumatic stress disorder.

Symptoms involve an inability to stop grinning, talking about the game, picturing the scene after Jagielka's penalty went in and picturing that first glimpse of Wembley when you walked up the steps into the stadium proper.

That sea of blue, the flags everywhere......it was emotional in a way more powerful than any other footballing occasion I can recall aside from '95.

Now, I tend to be wary of concepts like fatalism, but after witnessing that at Wembley it's hard to fight the notion that our name is on the cup.

Nobody is entitled to anything in football, you have to earn glory; but it almost feels as if these players deserve a trophy.

A lot of it is about the much-eulogised sense of team David Moyes has built.

You only have to read quotes like below (Moyes on Jagielka), or secondly Cahill speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald to acknowledge the courage and spirit in this team

The Blues boss said: "I don't think Phil was entirely keen on taking one but he had scored in training and that stuck in my mind.
"I asked who wanted one and there were a few heads nodding.
"I looked at him and said 'you all right for one Jags?' and he just said 'no problem'. I think if he'd got his way he might not have taken one, but I didn't have too many takers on the day.
"Vaughany went up and he's not played for four months -- and Jags missed his last one.

Tim Cahill said: "I'm just gutted that I didn't score, but that's why we play in a team and the boys got me out of it. I wanted the ball to go in the back of the net as soon as possible and just skied it. It happens, but if I get one in the final, then I'll probably have another go."

You only had to see the injured or uninvolved; Mikel Arteta, the Yak, Jose Baxter, James Wallace and Nuno Valente getting involved during injury time break to see that spirit extends throughout the club.

Either way it's fair to say the euphoria of yesterday hasn't sunken in yet.

Still, I'm wary that was a semi-final and despite the grandness of it all, there is still one final game standig between us and the trophy we crave.

Before I start thinking about Wembley again I'm going to soak this up a wee but longer and write a more indepth blog on the weekend tomorrow.

For today though, I'm simply a very proud Evertonian.