The Emirates FA Cup trophy will be partially engraved when either Manchester United or Manchester City lift the famous silverware inside Wembley on Saturday, June 3.
As many as 57 teams have reached an FA Cup final since 1872 but not once in those 151 years have the engravers had the chance to bring out their tools before kick-off.
Usually, the winners’ name is engraved in the days or months after the showpiece event.
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This time, however, the word ‘Manchester’ will be visible on the cup by the time the winners have hoisted it aloft at Wembley.
That's right. To celebrate the first ever all-Manchester final, the competition’s official trophy and silverware provider, Thomas Lyte, has broken this age-old tradition.
On top of that, the below engraving took place in the Wembley changing rooms last week, with the engraver carving the name 'Manchester' into the trophy.
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Then, of course, the word ‘City’ or ‘United’ will complete the process. Kevin Baker, who is the CEO of Thomas Lyte, has recently opened up on his year's unique FA Cup final.
“We regularly welcome the Emirates FA Cup trophy into our fine silver workshops at Thomas Lyte for engraving, repairs, and restoration,” he says. “
This iconic symbol of football excellence holds a special place in the hearts of fans and players, and it is our responsibility to ensure its impeccable presentation and preservation."
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Baker added: “The Emirates FA Cup team approached us, as the official makers and custodians of the trophy, with an extraordinary request. Recognising the rarity of the two clubs sharing such similar names, they asked us to engrave the word “Manchester” on the trophy before the momentous showdown.
“This request is unprecedented and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Engraving the trophy with the name of the city that would eventually win the title, even before the final match, is a remarkable gesture.
"Each stroke of the hand engraving tools symbolised the historical significance and immense anticipation surrounding this fiercely contested Manchester derby.”
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Pep Guardiola's side are just two games away from completing a historic treble.
They will come up against Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul on June 10 in this season's Champions League final but before that, they must beat local rivals United in a highly-anticipated FA Cup final.
Who do you think will come out on top? Let us know in the comments.
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Topics: FA Cup, Manchester City, Manchester United, Wembley Stadium
Jack Kenmare