England: Season-long campaign to celebrate 150 years of the FA Cup

The FA Challenge Cup was established 150 years ago, with the first matches taking place on 11 November 1871 following a proposal by the then secretary of the association, Charles W. Alcock, with a vision to bring hope, opportunity and equality to football.

To kick off the season-long campaign, The FA unveiled a film that features two-time winner Ian Wright and showcases how Alcock’s founding values are just as relevant and important today.

Rich history and traditions

The film was released across The FA Cup’s digital channels and brings to life the rich history and traditions of the competition, while highlighting the impact that it continues to provide at all levels of the football pyramid.

A series of large-scale image projections supported the film, with key figures and moments through the years displayed on landmarks across the country to depict the competition’s values alongside scripted lines from the film. A key example was Charles W. Alcock featuring on the playing surface of The Oval, London, where the competition’s very first final was contested by Wanderers and Royal Engineers on 16 March 1872.

The 150th anniversary of the competition will continue to be recognised and celebrated by The FA throughout the season, culminating in the final at Wembley on Saturday 14 May 2022.

This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct 196