For the first time ever in the competition, the FA Cup trophy has already been engraved ahead of the final.
History has been made before anyone’s even kicked a ball.
In what is set to be a massive day for our city, Manchester United and Manchester City will face each other in an all-Manchester final of the Emirates FA Cup at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 3 June – with it being the first time the two clubs have battled it out for the trophy in the final in the 151-year-old football competition’s illustrious history.
But that’s not the only first, as the competition’s official trophy and silverware provider has already begun engraving the cup ahead of the final for the first time ever too.
As many as 57 teams have reached an FA Cup final since the first clash all the way back in March 1872, but not once in 151 years have the trophy engravers had the chance to get busy before kick-off – until now, that is.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite both United and City claiming several wins and successes throughout the competition’s history, the two sides have never met in an FA Cup final, and the same goes for both clubs in Sheffield, Nottingham, and Bristol – which has obviously meant that engravers haven’t had the chance to etch even the first half of any finalist’s name onto the trophy before.
The FA Cup trophy has already been engraved for the first time ever ahead of all-Manchester final / Credit: The FA
All that will change this year, though, with Manchester the undoubted winner regardless of whether it’s the blue or red half leaving Wembley with grins on their faces.
ADVERTISEMENT
The word ‘Manchester’ will already be on the trophy by the time the winners have lifted it it at Wembley.
The FA says this has broken “the age-old tradition” of the winners’ name being engraved in the days or months following the Final.
Kevin Baker, CEO of Thomas Lyte – the company which has been engraving the FA Cup trophy since 2014 – says The FA approached him with the “extraordinary request” and a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” earlier this month.
ADVERTISEMENT
Get set for a historic Battle of Manchester at @WembleyStadium.
“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,” Kevin explained.
“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.”
Manchester United and Manchester City will battle it out to be crowned champions in the final of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday 3 June.
Kick-off is at 3pm, and the game action is to be shown live on both BBC One and ITV.
Featured Image – The FA
Sport
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Emily Sergeant -
31st May 2023 
