Biggleswade Town’s Jonathan ‘JJ’ Lacey was officially crowned as the top scorer of the 2023/24 Emirates FA Cup after Saturday’s Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium connected by EE.
The Golden Ball Award in partnership with Mitre commemorates the highest scorer throughout the competition each season from the Extra Preliminary Round to the Final, and the attacking midfielder follows Wrexham’s Paul Mullin as its latest recipient.
Biggleswade Town play in the Southern League Division One Central at Step 4 of English football’s National League System, and JJ Lacey scored 10 goals in their Emirates FA Cup campaign to hold off the likes of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Coventry City’s Ellis Simms and Ramsgate’s Joe Taylor.
He was joined by his family as our guest at Wembley Stadium for the Emirates FA Cup Final before carrying out the Mitre Ultimax Pro match ball prior to kick off and being presented with the Golden Ball Award by the former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin.
Jonathan Lacey said: “It’s surreal to be the top scorer in the Emirates FA Cup this season, and invite my family to enjoy the Final at Wembley Stadium and see me receive the trophy. We wondered if it all might be too good to be true, so when it became official after the final whistle we were relieved, and now I’m really proud to take home the Golden Ball Award in partnership with Mitre.”
Our Director of Pro Game Relations, Andy Ambler, added: “JJ Lacey is an excellent example of this competition giving players and clubs across the English pyramid the chance to test themselves against the very elite. His goal-scoring exploits from attacking midfield this season were outstanding, and we are delighted that his family could attend today’s Final and see him collect the Golden Ball Award in partnership with Mitre.”
