Wednesday, 19th June, 2013
The 2013/14 FA Cup season climax will see a date outside of the Premier League season for the first time in four years, with the final set for 17th May.
Chelsea’s victory over Portsmouth in 2010 was the last time the world’s oldest football cup competition was held on a date after the regular season.
In recent years, television broadcasting demands and the mercurial rise of the Premier League meant the FA Cup final had stopped marking the end of the English season.
It meant that defending champions Wigan Athletic were celebrating cup glory on 11th May this year, but were handed the ignominy of relegation just eight days after that.
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In addition, the timing of the final had to be rearranged from its traditional 3pm kick-off to an evening start, owing to Premier League fixtures that were required to be played on the same day.
And with growing clamour for the cup final to be restored to its original place as a domestic season-ender, the FA have moved the date to six days after the final round of Premier League fixtures.
FA general secretary Alex Horne told the association’s website: "It’s the first time we’ve managed to get the FA Cup final a stand alone date since Chelsea v Portsmouth in 2010.
"But there have been various reasons for that, not least the two UEFA Champions League finals at Wembley Stadium, which have been fantastic occasions and required huge resources and a massive build-up time behind the scenes.
"We’re well aware that fans and media have been calling for the FA Cup final to have a day to itself and we’re delighted that this is going to happen for 2014."
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