Ahead of Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup Final, the world’s most popular domestic cup competition, has announced plans to celebrate its 150th anniversary by bringing together a notable figure from each decade of the competition from the 1870s through to the 2020s.
The representatives showcase the enduring values of the competition, and are made up of cup founder relatives, record breakers, legendary goal scorers, upset kings and commentary royalty. Each representative will be a special guest of The FA for this weekend’s Final between Chelsea and Liverpool, and they will all be recognised and presented to the fans at half time. This will include Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola, and the granddaughter of legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. Ahead of the Final, a selection of the representatives gathered at Wembley Stadium to share stories and memories of their association with the competition. They included the great-great-grand nephew of the competition’s founder, Charles W. Alcock, last season’s winning club captain, Wes Morgan, and broadcasting legend John Motson, who commentated on 29 Finals.
Ben Watson, scorer of Wigan Athletic’s winner in the 2013 Final, Woking’s giant-killing hat-trick hero, Tim Buzaglo, and Elizabeth Robledo, the daughter of George Robledo, the first South American player to play in the Final and win the competition were also present at Wembley.
They were joined by the son of Stan Cullis, who remains the youngest manager to win the competition, and the great grandson of John Cameron, who guided Tottenham Hotspur to victory in the 1901 Final to become the only club outside theEnglish Football League to win the competition. More notable figures will be attending the Final on Saturday, with all 16 decades of the competition to be recognised and celebrated during the half time presentation.
Johannes Gunnell, great-great-grand nephew of the competition’s founder, Charles W. Alcock,added: “I feel honoured to be representing my great-great-grand uncle CharlesW. Alcock - the history behind The FA Cup is magical, and to see it still flourishing today is truly special. With so many iconic and standout moments in years gone by its spectacular to spend the time looking back
and appreciating where it has all come from. Here's to the next 150.”