The nominees will bring a Dutch flavour to this season's Team of The FA Cup as Holland’s Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie go head-to-head in a week-long race to claim the honour. 

For the next seven days you have the opportunity to make your views felt and vote in our official online poll on the homepage of TheFA.com to see which van will become the final member of the illustrious Team of The FA Cup. And, for one lucky voter, the chance to WIN TWO TICKETS to The Final to see the pair in action.

The Manchester United and Arsenal strikers both bagged a double at the weekend in their clubs’ FA Cup semi final victories, and are competing for this season’s final FA Cup Player of the Round award, run in partnership with UMBRO.

Ruud van Nistelrooy re-discovered his goal-scoring form, bagging his first goals for Manchester United since November in his side’s 4 – 1 semi final win over Newcastle United.

Van Nistelrooy’s goals ended an eight-match drought and led to manager Alex Ferguson predicting that his star striker will go on a scoring spree.

“If we give Ruud the ammunition, he can finish. I hope Ruud maintains his scoring form because if he does he will be unstoppable. His first goal was typical of Ruud, it was something out of nothing,” said the Reds’ boss.

Robin van Persie made as much impact for The Gunners, coming on as a late substitute to score two superb goals in Arsenal’s equally comprehensive 3-0 win over Blackburn.

“It means so much to the club and the fans to make The Final," said van Persie after the game. 

"When I was in Holland I was aware how huge The FA Cup is. I saw The FA Cup Final last season and thought how amazing it would be play in a final at Cardiff.”

Now fans have just seven days to vote for either of the Dutchmen by registering a vote on our homepage poll before 9.00am on Monday 25 April.

The fact that both sides are now appearing in their 17th FA Cup final adds even more spice to the voting as fans look to gain a psychological advantage before the two sides meet at the Millennium Stadium on 21 May.

The player with the most votes will be crowned FA Cup ‘Player of the Round’ and will win £1000 worth of UMBRO football kit and equipment for a local school, club or organisation of his choice, plus an engraved silver salver.

The successful player will join Bishop’s Cleeve FC’s Kevin Slack, AFC Wimbledon’s Rob Ursell, Bath City’s Scott Partridge, Halifax Town’s Craig Midgley, Slough Town’s Alex Haddow, Exeter’s Dean Moxey and Paul Jones, Yeovil Town’s Kevin Gall, Nottingham Forest’s Kris Commons and Newcastle United’s Shay Given in The FA’s Team of The FA Cup.

The team will enjoy VIP status at The FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 21 May 2005 and will be introduced to the crowd at half time.

Click on the buttons below to place your vote (before Monday 25 April) or to submit your details to win the tickets.


Please read our Competition Terms and Conditions for the full terms and conditions of entry and information on how we will use your personal data.