[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Celebrates 150th Anniversary of the FA Cup with Special Stamps
Issue Date: 8 March
- A set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the Emirates FA Cup such a prestigious competition
- A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the
competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue - Stamps in the set show:
- Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
- Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley
- A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
- Classic Finals – Keith Houchen
equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final - FA Cup Upsets – In 2017, Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals
- Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937
Royal Mail collaborated closely with The FA on the stamp issue- Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural season of the FA Challenge Cup in 1871/72 compared to the 729 clubs taking part 150 years later in 2021/22
- The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre order from today (1 March) at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641
- The stamps go on general sale from 8 March
Royal Mail has announced the launch of a set of 10 stamps to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emirates FA Cup’s very first edition.
Royal Mail collaborated closely with the FA, choosing images that celebrate the heritage and tradition of the longest-running and most famous domestic football competition in the world.
The main set of six stamps celebrate some of the themes which make the competition so prestigious, and a mixture of colour and black and white photographs relive some of the most famous moments in its 150-year history.
Stamps in the main set show:
- Lifting the Cup – Arsenal players Charlie George and Frank McLintock parading the trophy in 1971
Wembley Stadium – Crowds on the pitch at the 1923 Final – the first to be held at the original stadium in Wembley- A Big Day Out – West Bromwich Albion supporters cheering their team in the 1968 Final
- Classic Finals – Keith Houchen equalising for Coventry against Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 Final
FA Cup Upsets – Lincoln City beat Burnley 1-0 in 2017 to become the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the Quarter Finals- Royal Patronage – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth presenting the trophy to Sunderland captain Raich Carter in 1937
A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, feature a selection of the competition’s artefacts from the National Football Museum, photographed specially for the stamp issue.
For 150 years, few other sporting events have produced as much joy and heartbreak or as many moments of raw emotion. It is a competition in which amateurs and semi-professionals can play in the finest stadia in the land, and the world’s best players run out in grounds holding only a few thousand people.
Just 12 teams took part in the inaugural 1871/72 edition, and while they might not have much else in common with the 729 modern day sides taking part in 2021/22, they shared the same dream: glory.
The Emirates FA Cup has always been a unique competition. For many fans it is about memories and moments on a football pitch that they associate with a time in their lives. Like the game itself, aspects of it have changed over the course of those years. But when fans of all ages think about the competition, they think of names, places, matches, moments. One thing is guaranteed – the Emirates FA Cup will keep creating memories for generations to come.
Natasha Ayivor, Royal Mail, said: “The Emirates FA Cup has given the world some of the greatest displays of competition football and these stamps celebrate the magic of those moments. We feel there is no more fitting tribute to its 150th anniversary than this collection of Special Stamps.”
The FA’s Director of Pro Game Relations, Andy Ambler, said: “The Emirates FA Cup continues to capture the imaginations of both football fans and the wider public in its 150th anniversary season. Its historic moments from the non-league to the very elite create lasting memories, and we’re delighted that a selection of iconic moments are being celebrated by these Special Stamps.”
The individual stamps in the set:
1st Class – Lifting the Cup
90th FA Cup Final
8 May 1971
1st Class – Wembley Stadium
48th FA Cup Final
28 April 1923
£1.70 – A Big Day Out
87th FA Cup Final
18 May 1968
£1.70 – Classic Finals
106th FA Cup Final
16 May 1987
£2.55 – FA Cup Upsets
FA Cup Fifth Round
18 February 2017
£2.55 – Royal Patronage
62nd FA Cup Final
1 May 1937
The individual stamps in the miniature sheet:
Supporter’s Memorabilia
A ticket stub from the 1959 Final between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town, held at the 
original Wembley Stadium (then known as the Empire Stadium). Forest beat Luton 2-1
An Everton rosette which dates from 1966 and features an image of the trophy and a Preston North End rosette which was taken to the 1954 and 1964 Finals
Painted rattle: A hand-painted Colchester United rattle, previously an air-raid rattle, which was taken to a Fourth Round home match against Arsenal in January 1959. The game was drawn 2-2.
Winner’s Medal and Trophy
A replica of the first FA Cup trophy, known as the ‘little tin idol’, which was used from 1896-1910 after the original Cup was stolen. A new trophy (the design still used today) was introduced in 1911.
The FA Cup winners’ medal awarded to Bradford City captain Jimmy Speirs in 1911. Speirs scored the only goal in the replay against Newcastle United, which secured a win for the ‘Bantams’.
Official Match-day Items
Manchester City’s distinctive red-and-black striped away shirt. It dates from the 1969 Final, 
when the club beat Leicester City 1-0
Match ball: The leather football used in the 1903 Final. Bury beat Derby County 6-0, achieving a record winning margin in a Final that was equalled only in 2019 when Manchester City beat Watford 6-0
An ornate gold-wire and silk badge, as given to The FA stewards at the 1903 Final between Bury and Derby County
Cup Final Souvenirs
A souvenir gramophone record and sleeve from the 1932 Final, when Newcastle United 
beat Arsenal 2-1. Each side includes a ‘meet the team’ feature, with the centre label in each team’s colours
A Leeds United FA Cup winners’ pennant, which celebrates United’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the centenary Final of 1972
A souvenir porcelain replica of The FA Cup trophy, which was made to commemorate Cardiff City’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the 1927 Final
The stamps and a range of collectible products can be pre-ordered now at www.royalmail.com/facup150 and by phone on +44 (0)3457 641 641.
The stamps go on general sale from 8 March.
VSC Note: If you click on the link, Royal Mail will also offer you a wide range of collectibles, including a £2 gold coin FDC for just £1,125.00 (US$1488, €1361).
