The Emirates FA Cup Final is the world’s oldest cup competition and one of the UK’s biggest sporting occasions. Played at the home of the beautiful game, Wembley Stadium, It is an event that regularly reduces adults to blubbering wrecks – such are the emotions generated in the heat of the battle.
Last year’s match – which pitted Chelsea against their premiership rivals Leicester was the 140th final in the history of the competition. The game was one by Leicester, with a superb goal by midfielder Youri Tielemans, who fired a rocket into the roof of the Chelsea net in the 63rd minute of the game. The match was watched by a crowd of 20,000 at Wembley due to a reduced capacity being put in place during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The very first final – then known as the Football Association Challenge Cup – was played out by Wanderers and Royal Engineers in the far less glamorous surroundings of Kennington Oval.
15 teams entered that first competition but due to the complicated rule system employed at the time, Wanderers reached the final having won only one match! Their place in the showpiece was assured when they drew with Scotland’s Queen’s Park in the semi final. A relay was arranged but the Scottish team withdrew as they could not afford the train fare to London!
The Emirates FA Cup Final will take place on the 14th of May 2022. More information about the event can be found here.
For information on other great sporting events in London, please click here.
