The Football Association has unveiled its brand new crest and a special calendar of events ahead of its landmark 150th birthday in 2013.
Next year will see The FA bring its unique history to life, telling the story of the founding fathers who paved the way in the organisation’s formative years.
The spotlight will also be turned towards the people who have helped build and shape football into England’s favourite game across the decades.
Looking forward, The FA aim will be to establish positive lasting legacies as well as educating, engaging and exciting the nation with a fantastic fixture list of matches and events.
The calendar includes:
* Major England matches including Brazil, Scotland and Republic of Ireland, plus Brazil tour
* UEFA Congress and the UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley in May
* FA England Awards at St. George’s Park on Sunday 3 February
* 20 years of women’s football and the UEFA Women’s Euro Finals in July
* National Football Day on Saturday 10 August
* FA Gala Dinner at the Grand Connaught Rooms on Saturday 26 October
FA Chairman David Bernstein said: “Looking forward to 2013, it will be a terrific opportunity for us to showcase our work to the whole country and the wider world.
“It is a wonderful achievement for any organisation and I certainly hope it will capture the imagination in the way it has mine.
“From humble beginnings to today’s global spectacle, we can be proud of this country’s contribution to football.”
A commitment to The FA’s strategic goal of ‘football for everyone’ will be at the heart of the plans with a particular emphasis on the national game, especially via women’s football.
It was 149 years ago this week that The Football Association was founded on 26 October 1863 at the Freemasons’ Tavern, near Holborn.
And on Saturday 26 October 2013, The FA and wider football family will gather together at the same location – now The Grand Connaught Rooms – to celebrate exactly 150 years to the day since the first meeting was held there.
