Tributes to Ray Wilkins, who sadly passed away in April, will be at the heart of the Emirates FA Cup Final between two of his former clubs.
Wilkins was a winner of the competition as a Manchester United player, scoring a memorable goal in the 1983 Final, and also as an assistant manager of Chelsea in 2000, 2009 and 2010.
His wife Jackie will present the trophy from the Royal Box to the winners at full-time.
In addition, there will be a tribute in the matchday programme and banners will be unveiled in both the Chelsea and Manchester United ends in Wilkins’s memory ahead of kick-off.
Royal Air Force personnel will play a central role in pre-match proceedings to celebrate RAF100, the service’s 100 year anniversary.
The central band and Queen’s colour squadron will perform a pre-match marching display on the pitch. The central band will then lead ‘Abide with Me’ and the national anthem. Four RAF personnel will join the ‘For All’ choir to sing ‘Abide with Me’ alongside representatives from 14 clubs across the football pyramid who have contributed to a memorable Emirates FA Cup season.
Following the national anthem, RAF Typhoons will perform a flypast over the stadium. Three RAF service personnel, who have starred for their men’s and women’s football teams, will carry the trophy and medals to the Royal Box for the post-match presentations.
Prior to the game, the teams will be introduced to a presentation party of FA Chairman Greg Clarke, chairman of The FA Challenge Cup committee John Nixon and president of Emirates Airline Sir Tim Clark KBE.
Clarke said: “The Emirates FA Cup Final remains the most iconic day in the football calendar and The FA have a responsibility to ensure that events both pre- and post-match are in keeping with the heritage of the competition.
“It is particularly fitting that both clubs and the wider football community will unite to remember Ray Wilkins on the day.
“Ray had a longstanding affinity with the competition, winning it as both a player and as an assistant manager. He is sorely missed.”
The national anthem will be performed by British soprano Emily Haig, who most recently performed at this season’s SSE Women’s FA Cup Final and will be completing her 14th appearance at Wembley Stadium connected by EE.
