FA Cup Engraved with 'Manchester' Before Final

Thomas Lyte engrave ‘Manchester’ onto the Emirates FA Cup trophy for first ever Manchester derby final, now dubbed the Battle of Manchester

The Emirates FA Cup’s famous trophy has already been partially engraved to recognise and celebrate the first ever Final between Manchester City and Manchester United.

As the competition’s official trophy and silverware provider, Thomas Lyte, are responsible for etching the winning club’s name into history each season, and either City or United will be added following the final whistle at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 3 June.

As many as 57 teams have reached an FA Cup Final, since Wanderers and Royal Engineers first clashed at the Kennington Oval in South East London in March 1872. But not once in 151 years have the engravers had the chance to begin engraving the champions’ names onto the trophy before kick-off. Until now.

Ahead of the @EmiratesFACup Final, we have already engraved ‘Manchester’ on the trophy!

We are proud to be the official makers of the trophy and are looking forward to engraving either ‘City’ or ‘United’ after the final whistle.#MadeForThisMoment #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/2OxO971RLs

— Thomas Lyte (@ThomasLyte) May 30, 2023

Despite Manchester City’s and Manchester United’s success over the competition’s history, the two sides have never met in an FA Cup Final. The same goes for both clubs in Sheffield, Nottingham and Bristol, all locations that support multiple football clubs that carry the cities name.

“It’s remarkable that these giants of English football have won the competition on 18 out of a possible 141 occasions between them but never met in the Final until now. This unique engraving underlines the historic nature of the game in prospect, and we can’t wait to see whether it will be City or United added to the trophy.”

Andy Ambler, Director of Professional Game Relations for The FA

Battle of Manchester FA Cup Engraved Early by Thomas Lyte - hand engraver (opt)

Manchester will be the undoubted winner regardless of whether it’s the blue or red half leaving Wembley with broad smiles on their faces.

The word ‘Manchester’ is now already engraved on the Cup, before the match kicks off, and before the champions have hoisted it aloft at Wembley.

Fittingly, the engraving took place in the changing rooms at Wembley, in the week proceeding the Final. The engraver lovingly carving the name of this great global footballing city into a trophy handcrafted by Thomas Lyte back in 2014.

Battle of Manchester FA Cup Engraved Early by Thomas Lyte - Plinth bottom (opt)

Battle of Manchester FA Cup Engraved Early by Thomas Lyte - Half complete (opt)

Battle of Manchester FA Cup Engraved Early by Thomas Lyte - Close Completed (opt)

Battle of Manchester FA Cup Engraved Early by Thomas Lyte - hand engraver shoulder (opt)

Thomas Lyte are Royal Warrant holders, as Goldsmiths and Silversmiths to the Late Queen Elizabeth II. As partners to The FA and the Emirates FA Cup, we regularly welcome the Emirates FA Cup trophy into our fine silver workshops at Thomas Lyte for engraving, repairs, and restoration. This iconic symbol of football excellence holds a special place in the hearts of fans and players, and it is our responsibility to ensure its impeccable presentation and preservation.

“The Emirates FA Cup team approached us, as the official makers and custodians of the trophy, with an extraordinary request. Engraving the trophy with the name of the city that would eventually win the title, even before the final match, is a remarkable gesture. This truly is an unprecedented and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that symbolises the historical significance and immense anticipation surrounding this fiercely contested Manchester derby.”

Kevin Baker, Founder and CEO of Thomas Lyte

Battle of Manchester FA Cup Engraved Early by Thomas Lyte - plinth cloth (opt)

Thomas Lyte also design and provide the medals for the final each year, and we will continue to hand engrave the trophy’s plinth with either ‘City’ or ‘United’ following the result of this year’s final. Completing the process using skills that have survived and been handed down from masters to apprentices for many centuries.

On Saturday, 3^rd June 2023, in what The Football Association have dubbed “The Battle of Manchester”, as United and City battle it out at Wembley Stadium, looking ensure it’s their team’s name on the trophy. Finishing the job, as we finish ours.