FA to celebrate 50th anniversary of Vitality Women's FA Cup

The FA has unveiled plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup at Sunday’s Final between Arsenal and Chelsea, with recognition of the Cup’s former Finalist captains a central theme of the day. 

Lead sponsor Vitality will pay tribute to the competition’s 28 winning captains by displaying their names on the steps that lead up to the Royal Box. From the competition’s first winner, Southampton’s Lesley Lloyd in 1971, to the most recent winner, Manchester City’s Steph Houghton in 2020, each player’s name will be visible to recognise their achievements in lifting the famous trophy.  Finalist captains over the last five decades have also been invited to attend the showpiece fixture by The FA.  

As part of the pre-match ceremony, the captains from the very first Final, Southampton’s Lloyd and Elsie Cook of Stewarton Thistle, will bring out the Vitality Women’s FA Cup trophy and place it on the plinth. And at half-time all the captains in attendance will be presented to the crowd, with an opportunity for fans to celebrate the trailblazers and acknowledge their contribution to the game.

In addition, The FA has worked with five of the winning captains from each decade of the competition to each write a letter titled ‘Dear Women’s FA Cup’. Five-time winner and Manchester City defender Steph Houghton, Arsenal’s nine-time winner Faye White, two-time winner Hope Powell, Doncaster Belles 1983 winner and Honorary President Sheila Edmunds, and 1971 winner Lesley Lloyd have taken part.  

Kelly Simmons, The FA’s Director of the Women’s Professional Game, said “The Women’s FA Cup is one of the most admired competitions in the world and to be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary this weekend with tens of thousands of fans at Wembley Stadium is brilliant."