The running order for the Final of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup at Wembley Stadium connected by EE has today been confirmed by The Football Association.
The Final will be contested by Chelsea and Manchester City on Sunday 15 May 2022 at 14:30 BST, and it will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
DJ Char Stape will kick-off the proceedings at 13:15 with an energetic DJ set that will get the crowd pumping ahead of an action-packed afternoon.
Shortly before kick-off, UK recording artist RAYE will perform a live set of her most popular hits Bed, Secrets and Waterfall in the stadium’s bowl before performing the National Anthem.
Throughout the season, The FA has been running the very first Mitre Golden Ball competition, which will recognise the top scorer in this season’s competition. As current leader in the standings going into the Final, Chloe Williams (12 goals) of Liskeard Athletic, will take part in the pre-match build up by bringing the match ball out ahead of the fixture and placing it on the plinth.
Ceremonial Military rep and Royal Navy Able Seaman, Sophie Perrin, will walk out and place the Vitality Women’s FA Cup trophy on the plinth ahead of kick-off. She will also present the winning team with the trophy in the Royal Box after the conclusion of the game. Sophie joined the Royal Navy in 2015 and has represented the Navy’s football team for the past six seasons around multiple deployments across the world. She also plays for Plymouth Argyle in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier League.
The pre-match ceremony will see 70 Staff and Air Cadets from Herts and Bucks Wing, Air Training Corps and Staff and Army Cadets from Bucks Army Cadet Force display the Chelsea and Manchester City club crest banners on the Wembley pitch.
The Women’s Football Board Chair, Sue Hough MBE, will lead out the traditional presentation party, which will also include The FA’s Chair, Debbie Hewitt MBE, Elaine Oram, Chair of the Women’s Football Ambassadorial Panel, and Klare Iveson, Marketing Director for Vitality who will all be presented to both teams.
Players from both Chelsea and Manchester City will join together after the National Anthem for a group photo where a Ukrainian flag will be displayed with a message of ‘peace’ in a moment of solidarity for all those affected by the ongoing conflict in that country.
During half-time, Vitality – the competition’s Principle Partner – will have Wembley Stadium moving and grooving with a special half-time fan work-out, led by former Pussycat Doll and Dancing On Ice Star Kimberly Wyatt. The activity is inspired by Vitality’s primary objective of the partnership, to inspire more women and girls to be active and benefit from the health and wellbeing aspects of the sport.
A British Sign Language interpreter, Joanna Aldridge, will be present at both the Emirates FA Cup Final and the Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final for the very first time to interpret the National Anthem and other key moments in the afternoon’s running order.
