As part of its marketing push for its famous old trophy the Football Association launched a campaign called FA Cup Dreams last season.

It probably wouldn’t be as catchy but perhaps it should consider FA Cup Nightmares after the experience that befell Adam Federici on Saturday.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper had been one of the heroes for Championship strugglers Reading as they pushed Arsenal deep into extra-time in their semi-final at Wembley.

For a man who spent half a season on loan at Carshalton Athletic nearly a decade ago this was the reward for years of dedication, which have seen the Australian become one of the most consistent goalkeepers outside the top flight.

But as Alexis Sanchez’s shot squirmed through his legs the awful realisation emerged – this particular cup tie, the closest Reading have ever come to reaching a cup final, would be remembered for a goalkeeping howler.

Judging by the outpouring on social media from Royals fans after the match, the legendary status in which Federici is held will not be altered by the incident.

And rightly not. Mistakes are part and parcel of football. Des Walker and Gary Mabbutt scored own goals that decided FA Cup finals, but are still revered decades on by supporters of Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.

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Tough times: Gary Mabbutt, second right, puts into his own net during Tottenham Hotspur's 3-2 FA Cup final defeat to Coventry City in 1987

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was spot on in highlighting the saves Federici made to keep Reading in the game up until that point.

It was hard not to feel sympathy for a team that have largely come up the hard way. Sutton United fans will remember a younger, less tattooed Jamie Mackie up front in that same 2005-06 season in which Federici appeared for the Robins.

For them, though, one mistake was never going to be as unforgiving as for the man in goal. You wonder what will be going through Federici’s mind on FA Cup final day.

Hopefully just how far he has come since impressing so much as a young goalkeeper at Colston Avenue will provide cause for comfort.