Summary

  • Watch & follow live build-up before Crystal Palace face Man City in FA Cup final

  • Kick-off at Wembley at 16:30 BST

  • Palace bidding to lift first major trophy, while City looking to win cup for second time in three years

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. Wembley red carpet treatment for Ashford United strikerpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Neil Johnston
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    Who is top scorer in this season's FA Cup?

    Mo Salah? Erling Haaland? Chris Wood? Alexander Isak?

    Actually it's Gary Lockyer, who plays for non-league Ashford United. He scored 10 times to help the Kent part-timers win four games and reach the third qualifying round.

    Gary's prize is a day out at Wembley today. Not only that, he will walk out onto the pitch before kick-off with the match ball.

    Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr and Manchester City's James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly have all scored three goals in this season's FA Cup.

    Assuming none of them score seven today, Gary will also be presented with the Golden Ball Award after full-time.

    "The award can be passed down to my children," he says. "Growing up as a kid, you watch the FA Cup and dream of playing in it someday, so to win an award like this is just incredible."

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    People have short memories complaining about the final not being after the season finishes. It's only three years since the last time it was on the penultimate weekend. At least it has its own day with no Premier League games, in 2011 Man Utd clinched the Premier League at lunchtime before Man City and Stoke had to follow them in the Cup final!

    Hodge, Brackley

  3. Team news incoming...published at 15:01 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    With kick-off fast approaching, we'll be bringing you team news in the next 30 minutes. Stay tuned!

  4. Carnival atmospherepublished at 14:57 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Neil Johnston
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    Plenty of police on duty outside Wembley who are being kept busy with requests for selfies from fans, who are here for a good time.

    There's a carnival atmosphere outside the national stadium which is bursting with colour.

    I've seen one Palace fans wearing a shirt with 'Salako' on the back.

    Meanwhile, this is City's third successive FA Cup final. Their fans outside Wembley are up for this and want to see their team come home with the trophy.

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  5. get involved

    Get Involved - The ultimate dad dancepublished at 14:54 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Back to our Get Involved from earlier...

    Loads of you got it, of course.

    It was Alan Pardew doing the ultimate dad dancing when Jason Puncheon scored for Palace in the 2016 FA Cup final.

    Enjoy.

    Media caption,

    Alan Pardew sacked: his infamous FA Cup final celebration

  6. There's always one...published at 14:50 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Caitlin Scullion, born and bred in Croyon, south London, says she is feeling nervous ahead of the match but said it would mean “absolutely everything” to win.

    She says: “We got promoted [to the Premier League] on my 13th birthday. I’m about to turn 25 and to get a cup in that lifespan would be quite a feat really.”

    She says she'll be watching the match with her friend Ryan, and the pair plan to get eagle tattoos if the club are victorious.

    "It'll either be the greatest day or we're just happy we were here. The community is really together today."

    Crystal Palace fanImage source, BBC Sport
  7. Oh how times have changed...published at 14:47 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    One from our friends at Radio Norfolk...

    They've just released a series for BBC Sounds called The Man Who Made Wembley. It tells the story of Arthur Elvin, who went from leaving school at 14 for a job in a jam factory, to saving Wembley from possible demolition in the 1920's and running it for 30 years, turning it into the national stadium.

    While researching the programme, writer and producer Paul Hayes visited the BBC Written Archives Centre at Caversham to look through the Wembley files. While there, he came across this account of how the 1929 final was covered on the radio.

    “It was in 1929 that the Cup Final was not broadcast live as a running commentary, but a number of commentators obtained admission to the ground and at approximately 15 to 20 minute intervals one of them left the ground and gave an eye-witness account of what he had seen from a house near by. This process was carried on throughout the match, and the accounts were relayed by land line to Savoy Hill.”

    What an effort.

    That makes me sitting here typing into the void look pretty lazy doesn't it. Shout out to my predecessors for their efforts.

  8. Battle of the standspublished at 14:44 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    PalaceImage source, Getty Images

    There's been a lot said about fan displays and Tifos this season but I reckon we're going to see some pretty spectacular displays at each end of the pitch today.

    Manchester City fans have come together to fund a special Kevin de Bruyne tribute which will be held at their end before kick-off.

    While Crystal Palace always impress with their creative and unique displays.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Alan PardewImage source, Getty Images

    The ill-fated Strictly Come Dancing audition of Alan "snake-hips" Pardew.

    Anon

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Was it not the Alan Pardew celebration to the goal that was clipped and kept in FA cup meme folklore?

    Jack

    Alan Pardew’s dad dance - never to be seen again - perhaps today?

    Anon

    That’s either Pardew's dance routine or the Mark Clattenburg refusing to play the advantage when we scored.

    Graham, Palace fan

  11. Going bananas for Man Citypublished at 14:37 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Neil Johnston
    BBC Sport at Wembley

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    This is James, who was waiting outside Manchester City's team hotel earlier in the hope of catching a glimpse of his hero Erling Haaland.

    "He's got a Haaland clock, a Haaland shirt, a Manchester City towel - and his bedroom is painted blue," says James' dad, Rob.

    "It was his 10th birthday on Monday. This is the first time he has watched Manchester City live. "

    First live City match...and it's at Wembley?

    Not bad at all.

    By the way, City's team hotel is right next door to the Crystal Palace fan park where supporters have been singing Palace songs for the past few hours.

  12. Nil pointspublished at 14:35 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    The FA Cup final followed by Eurovision. What a day.

    How many of you will be extending the bbq to watch that? Both sides will be hoping they don’t come away with nil points today…

  13. Get involvedpublished at 14:32 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Right, enough sentimental stuff. Let's have a giggle.

    Today is obviously a huge day for both sides but it's an attempt at a first ever major trophy for Crystal Palace. They had another crack at it in 2016 but missed out in a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United.

    But away from the actual football on that day, something happened that lives pretty much rent free in many football fan's heads as one of the greatest celebrations to ever grace the FA Cup.

    A viral moment that has now secured its place in meme history as pure gold.

    What was it? Get your texts in with your answers and we'll come back to it shortly with the correct answer...

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Warming-up before we take the pilgrimage to Wembley. Season ticket holders together for the last five years. It will be the last time we're together as a four, as one of us is off to Canada next month. The other in Manchester. Nobody knows how to feel. All a bit too much.

    Olly

    Crystal Palace fans poseImage source, Olly
  15. South London and proudpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Neil Johnston
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    Nicola has been turning heads outside Wembley with her red and blue hair streaks.

    "I did my hair like this for the semi-final and we had a great result," says Nicola, who has driven to Wembley from Norfolk to support her beloved Crystal Palace.

    "I'm hoping for the same outcome today."

    And what if Palace qualify for the Europa League?

    "They'll be some good holidays to look forward to," she laughs.

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  16. Drink it in...published at 14:26 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    There's something nostalgic about the FA Cup isn't there?

    It always evokes memories of first football matches, first trips to Wembley.

    I imagine that will be the case for a lot of Crystal Palace fans today. Perhaps you're taking your little one for their first Wembley trip.

    Soak it in, folks.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I would love Palace to win today. Great club and fast exciting players. As a Forest fan I technically should support City as we would automatically qualify for the Europa League, but football will be better for it with a Palace win!

    Benno, Boston USA

  18. Postpublished at 14:22 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    To think that Crystal Palace have never won a major trophy is pretty incredible. I'll probably ruffle a few feathers by saying this but ah well - are they the biggest club to never win a major trophy?

    Can they get one on the board today?

  19. Third time lucky for Palace?published at 14:20 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Neil Johnston
    BBC Sport at Wembley

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    No need to ask who Rob (centre) 16-year-old Will and 11-year-old Annie are supporting at Wembley.

    "Hopefully it's a case of third time lucky," says Rob after Crystal Palace were runners-up in their previous two FA Cup final appearances in 1990 and 2016.

    Palace will play in next season's Europa League if they land the first major trophy in the club's history.

    "We've never had a European tour before," adds Rob. "It would be magical. Oliver Glasner has elevated this club. We're on a crest of a wave thanks to him."

  20. FA Cup 'losing a bit of it's gravitas'published at 14:18 British Summer Time

    Crystal Palace v Man City (16:30 BST)

    Micah Richards
    Former Man City defender on BBC iPlayer

    Everyone is talking down the FA Cup and I don't like this.

    In terms of the build-up we had Premier League games yesterday and we have Premier League games tomorrow.

    The fact that Palace can win a trophy for the first time in their history and at the moment all we are talking about is a top four race.

    I feel this competition is losing a bit of it's gravitas.