The FA Cup trophy: Everything you need to know - News

The FA Cup’s magic may mainly derive from the competition, past games and glories, but the trophy itself is pretty special.

Watching Joel Ward and Marc Guéhi hold the famous old cup aloft from the Royal Box after the 1-0 win against Manchester City was something every Palace fan had waited a lifetime to witness.

The red and blue ribbons were already tied to the prize, with the name of Crystal Palace set to be engraved for the first time.

But what else should we know about the trophy itself and just how old is it?

Here’s some facts you might not know about the cup...

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The famous 'old' Cup

The FA Cup itself weighs close to 6.3 kilograms or 14lbs, a fair bit heavier than those tin foil versions often spotted in the stands! It is actually the third iteration of the current – and most famous – design.

Clubs first played to get their hands on this design back in the 1910/11 season. That year Bradford City defeated Newcastle United in a replay to lift the trophy – the first game was coincidentally played at the original Crystal Palace, which hosted finals from 1901 to 1914.

Two separate trophies were used prior to this, but it was the third design that would become iconic.

The 1911 original lasted all the way until 1992, when a replacement was made by Bedworth jewellery manufacturer Toye, Kenning and Spencer. This version was, in 2016, valued at £1m when it appeared on the BBC auction television show Antiques Roadshow.

This lasted until it was retired following the 2013 final, when Wigan Athletic defeated Manchester City at Wembley. By 2014, the current trophy was in use. It took just over 250 hours of craft work to create.

In terms of look they appear nearly identical with only minor tweaks around the aforementioned weight.

The current replica is heavier and more durable than previous versions – perhaps explaining why it was able to take a knock during Arsenal’s celebrations in the 2020 final!

The trophy comes in three parts – the cup itself, plus a lid and a base. It was handcrafted using age-old techniques, including casting, hand-chasing, hand-engraving and polishing, and includes many of the trophy’s original features, including grapes, vines and fluting.

As you might expect, the trophy needs semi-regular restoring and polishing to keep in a healthy condition.

How long will Palace have the trophy for?

Officially the FA Cup always remains property of the Football Association and is loaned to the holders.

It must be returned to them by March 1 the following year. If they want to, the FA can recall it whenever they want, provided they give the holders a week’s notice.

Palace ribbons will remain attached to the trophy until the day of the 2026 final. At that points ribbons of the two finalists will be attached.

Hopefully though, the Eagles’ colours will once again be visible, if we go all the way for a second year in-a-row!