Thomas Lyte’s influence is present in almost every major Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competition. This is particularly visible with the new family of silverware made by Thomas Lyte, that symbolises the growth and prestige of the sport in this football-obsessed region.
Spanning multiple competitions, in both the Men’s and Women’s game, world renowned London silversmiths, Thomas Lyte, have masterfully crafted 4 brand new trophies. The AFC Champions League Elite trophy, the AFC Champions League Two trophy, the AFC Women’s Champions League trophy and the AFC Challenge League trophy. The majority of the continent’s most prestigious football trophies emanate from our London workshop, and with the unveiling of the four stunning new trophies, the AFC Family is born.
Thomas Lyte are a company that appreciates the importance and significance of tradition. However, this new quartet of bespoke trophies are at the cutting edge of both the modern game, and modern craftsmanship.
Beginning Thomas Lyte’s journey with the AFC, the London silversmiths handcrafted the AFC Asian Cup, the father of the AFC Trophy Family. As one of the oldest football competitions in the world, first played for as far back as 1956, the Asian Cup is now one of the biggest and most eagerly anticipated tournaments in international football. Thomas Lyte are enduringly proud of the role that we’ve played in the continued growth of the football in Asia, exhibited best in this new series of trophies.
Connected by their stunning silhouettes, the recognisable trophy handles and the presence of the ubiquitous Lotus Flower motif, the new trophies provide a recognisable connection between each continental crown. The AFC Trophy Family is a discernible symbol of an enduring relationship that stretches from London to the Far East and everywhere in between.
Thomas Lyte and the Asian Football Confederation focused on creating exceptional, iconic pieces, inspiring the logo design for each tournament respectively. Our team of skilled craftspeople at our workshops in London used their diverse talents to create this series of masterpieces.
The first of the AFC Trophy Family to be unveiled was the sister trophy, handmade for the AFC Women’s Champions League. The Women’s tournament, in particular, represents a hugely significant step forward for football in Asia. Involving 21 of the best teams from across the AFC, the draw for the inaugural tournament was held at AFC House in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumper – a suitably grand platform for a competition that promises to provide a springboard for Women’s football across the continent.
The new hand-crafted custom trophy for the AFC Women’s Champions League Trophy will be presented for the first time at the end of the 2024/25 tournament.
Perhaps the most high-profile example of our passion for innovation, design and excellence, can be seen in the trophy crowning the winners of this season’s newly-inaugurated AFC Champions League Elite competition.
The new ‘ACL Elite’ trophy was unveiled during the official League Stage draw ceremony of the inaugural 2024/25 season at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia by the AFC Competitions Committee Chairperson, Dr. Tran Quoc Tuan. A stunning trophy that symbolises both the essence of Asian heritage and the pinnacle of football achievement.
The closest relation to the ACL Elite trophy is it’s sibling, expertly crafted for the AFC Champions League Two competition. Not only is this trophy in direct relation to the ACL Elite, it bares a striking resemblance to it’s cousin, the AFC Asian Cup, the crown for the continent’s international competition. The trophy takes direct inspiration from the symbol of the Lotus Flower – an enormously important symbol for peace across Asia.
A striking feature of the trophy is the 11 hand-hammered panels, symbolising the importance of the collective within an on-field team. The body of the trophy is akin to a torso, representing the strength and fitness necessary to compete in the modern game.
The final addition, completing an exquisite quartet of bespoke silverware made exclusively for the AFC, is the AFC Challenge League trophy. The trophy’s recognisable silhouette, identified by the body’s shape, perfectly rounds off the family links across this new group of custom trophies.
A beautiful and cohesive visual identity emerges in the intricate wire eroded lettering seen on this trophy. This is seen on all four AFC trophies featured here, illustrating the unity of these prestigious competitions.
The AFC Family comes together beautifully with it’s wider cousins, the AFC Asian Cup, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the AFC U23 Championship trophies respectively. It’s clear just how strong the ties are between Thomas Lyte and Asian football, and the AFC in particular. Alongside our myriad achievements with the AFC, it’s a source of considerable pride for Thomas Lyte to have played a part in the astonishing growth of international Women’s football in Asia.
With the hundreds of hours of hard work creating these trophies now complete, we look forward to watching the action unfold – along with millions of others across the globe.
Read about our press mentions and awards for the project
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