We can confirm the entertainment schedule for The Emirates FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 27 May.
At the heart of the plans will be a celebration of clubs across the football pyramid who have contributed to a memorable season in the Emirates FA Cup.
The singing of the traditional Cup Final hymn ‘Abide with Me’ will be led by representatives from eight clubs who provided standout moments in the competition.
The clubs represented are Lincoln City, Guernsey FC, Millwall, Sutton United, Westfields, Stourbridge and both finalists, Arsenal and Chelsea. Sporting their club colours, the nominated individuals will be backed by a 25-strong choir from Chant Productions.
Participants include:-
• Sam Cochrane, Guernsey FC – The club’s first ever signing in 2011, involved in this season’s Emirates FA Cup fixture that saw the Cup leave the mainland for a match day for the first time in its history.
• Sarah Ward, Lincoln City – The Imps’ club chef for the last five years, who fuelled the team to become the first non-league team to make the quarter finals for 103 years.
• Pru Buckley, Millwall – Appeared over 500 times for Millwall’s women’s team, lifting the Women’s FA Cup in 1997. Now the club’s head of ticketing, playing a key role behind the scenes as the Lions reached the quarter finals.
• Steve King, Sutton United – Lifelong Sutton fan who was instrumental in setting up the club’s community programme. Watched on as his club made it through to the fifth round.
• Andy Bullingham, Stourbridge – The club’s vice-chairman in a historic season for the Glassboys as they reached the third round, defeating Northampton Town along the way.
• Andy Morris, Westfields – One of the founding members of the club in 1966, now chief executive as the club enjoyed a historic cup run to the first round.
And then ahead of kick-off, the National Anthem will be sung by British soprano Emily Haig, who will be completing her third appearance at Wembley Stadium in as many weeks, having performed at The SSE Women’s FA Cup Final and The FA Non-League Finals Day. Emily will be supported by The Band of The Royal Logistics Corps.
The #CupStory campaign will also come to a climax approximately twenty minutes before kick-off with a fan focused display and parade on pitch. Joining in the celebration will be a Cup Final winner from both Arsenal and Chelsea, Sol Campbell (winner for the Gunners in 2002 and 2003) and Eddie Newton (winner and goalscorer for the Blues in 1997).
“It has been a historic season for The Emirates FA Cup and we were keen to pay tribute to a number of clubs at all levels of the football pyramid who provided the watching world with memorable moments,” said Andy Ambler, The FA’s head of professional game relations.
“The singing of ‘Abide with Me’ remains one of the iconic moments on Cup Final day and therefore it seemed highly appropriate to bring the clubs into the heart of this tradition.”
