Stuart Attwell will be the man charged with leading out the teams of Crystal Palace and Manchester City on Saturday, as he takes charge of the 2025 Emirates FA Cup Final.
A regular in the Premier League and on the international scene, Stuart's team of officials on Cup Final day is as follows:-
Assistant Referees: Adam Nunn (Wiltshire FA) and Dan Robathan (Norfolk FA)
Fourth Official: Darren England (Sheffield & Hallamshire FA)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Craig Taylor (Staffordshire FA)
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett (Liverpool FA)
Support VAR: Michael Salisbury (Lancashire FA)
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann (Norfolk FA)
We caught up with Stuart ahead of the occasion to get his thoughts on the honour of refereeing the FA Cup Final.
How did you feel when you heard about your appointment for the Emirates FA Cup Final?
Something like this always comes out of the blue. As a referee, all you can do is put in the performances that put you in the mix for what is, undoubtedly, one of the biggest honours a referee can receive. The season itself is so full-on that you don’t ever really have time to focus on anything other than the next game. To be handed the chance to referee an FA Cup Final, though, is one of those things you dream about.
What are your own FA Cup memories?
It’s always one of those special days in the sporting calendar; one you earmark at the start of the season. When I was a kid, I remember the wall-to-wall coverage from first thing in the morning – the build-up to the game was almost as important as the match itself. The first Final I really remember with any clarity was the 1991 match between Spurs and Nottingham Forest. As a game it had everything. I recall thinking, even back then, that it would have been a great game to referee! I never came across Brian Clough (then Nottingham Forest manager) as a referee but I would have loved to. He was one of the great characters of English football.
This year's Final promises to be a great occasion for everyone travelling to Wembley....
Absolutely, it’s going to be an occasion that everyone involved – the players, the managers and coaches and obviously the fans – will remember. For Crystal Palace it’s a third Final and they’ll be hoping it’s a case of third time lucky. Wembley has been a bit of a home-from-home for Manchester City and their supporters in recent years; they’ve got an amazing record here. Whatever happens, it has the potential to be a fantastic Final. From a personal perspective, I’ll have family and friends at the game, which is always special. As a referee, you’re away from home and on the road a lot, so to have that support at the ground is something you always appreciate.”
Inspired? Why not start your own refereeing career in English football? Find out more on how to kick-start as an official here.
