Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.32 2022-23

The running order for this weekend’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
connected by EE has been announced by The Football Association.
The sold out Final is to be contested by Chelsea and Manchester United on Sunday at 14:30,
and will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer with coverage starting at 13:50.
Fans wanting to soak up the atmosphere will be able to enter the dedicated fanzone from
10.30am, where a food and drinks village will also be open.
Once inside the stadium, BBC Radio 1 Djs Arielle Free and Charlie Hedges will begin the
proceedings at 13:00 and warm up the crowd with a set full of energy and popular tracks.
As kick off approaches, Sammy Rowland of Hashtag United will bring out the match ball
and place it on the plinth. With 11 goals, Sammy is the current leader of the Mitre Golden Ball
competition, which recognizes the top scorer in this season’s competition.
The pre-match ceremony will see Ceremonial Military representative, the Army’s Corporal
Lois Jacobs place the trophy onto the pitch side plinth. Seventy Staff and Air Cadets
from Buckinghamshire Army Cadet Force and Thames Valley Wing Air Cadets will display the
Chelsea and Manchester United club crest banners on the pitch.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will lead out the traditional presentation party,
which will also include Debbie Hewitt MBE (The FA’s Chair), Sue Hough MBE (Chair of The FA
Women’s Football Board) and Kirsty Leece (Chief Risk Officer at Vitality).
Following the entry of the presentation party, British Iranian soprano Jasmine Faulkner
will perform the National Anthem. A British Sign Language interpreter, Joanna Aldridge, will be
present to interpret the National Anthem and other key moments in the afternoon’s running
order.
During half time, Vitality - the competition’s Principle Partner - will encourage fans in
stadium and at home to get active and benefit from the health and wellbeing aspects of sport in a
special ‘Find What Moves You’ half time performance, led by former Pussycat Doll and Dancing
On Ice Star, Kimberly Wyatt.
On conclusion of the Final, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will present the trophy
to the winning captain from the Royal Box.
In addition, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour will be coming to Wembley on
Sunday. The FA is giving ticket holders for the match and local residents access to have their photo
taken with the iconic trophy.
The trophy will be on display in the Samovar Space on Olympic Way. Local residents will be
able to have their photo taken between 10:30 - 11:30, before it opens up to Vitality Women’s FA
Cup Final ticket holders between 11.30am - 1.30pm.
Residents and fans will also be able to meet former England international goalkeeper and
Women’s FA Cup winner, Carly Telford.
It has also been announced that the Football Association and BBC Radio 1 will collaborate
for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup and Emirates FA Cup Finals, with some of radio’s biggest names
performing at the showpiece events.
With a packed Wembley Stadium connected by EE expected for both Finals, fans in
attendance will be treated to DJ sets from some of Radio 1’s most well-known talent. Arielle Free
and Charlie Hedges will perform at the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final on Sunday 14th May, and
Jeremiah Asiamah at the Emirates FA Cup Final on Saturday 3rd June.
All three DJs will perform pre-match and at half time at their respective Finals.
Arielle Free is Radio 1’s Early Breakfast presenter, bringing her energy to early mornings.
She is also a huge champion of new artists which sees her playing new music across the summer
at some of the World’s biggest festivals.
Charlie Hedges co-hosts Radio 1’s Live Lounge show, which attracts some of the biggest
artists, with alumni including Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus and Bruno Mars. As well as this, she also
hosts Radio 1 Dance Anthems, which is the UK’s biggest Dance show.
The Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final will kick off at 2.30pm on Sunday 14th May, with live
coverage commencing at 1.50pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk