In English football, the FA Cup Final, the deciding match of the FA Cup competition, is considered the highest domestic honour for referees to be appointed to officiate.

The most recent final (2023) was refereed by Paul Tierney, with Neil Davies and Scott Ledger as assistant referees. Peter Bankes was fourth official and David Coote served as the video assistant referee.

Selection

By modern tradition, individuals are appointed to referee an FA Cup Final only once, a rule that has been in practice since 1902. They may have previously appeared as an assistant referee or fourth official.

However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the tradition was broken when Anthony Taylor became the first referee for over a century to officiate a second cup final. This was decided to allow a referee who would be officiating in a maiden final to experience the occasion as intended, with friends and family present and a stadium full of fans. In 2021, with the same crowd restrictions in place, Michael Oliver also refereed a second final.

David Elleray commented on his selection for the 1994 FA Cup final:^[1]

Whatever else anyone might claim, it is the biggest match of your career as you only referee the final once, you are desperate not to make a mess of it. People are often surprised to learn that you can only do it once but I thoroughly approve of the principle. It is such a special occasion that [...] it would never be as good the second time round. I strongly believe that no one should have all the big games and those who have shown themselves capable of refereeing at the highest level should receive the highest accolade of doing the Cup Final.

Referees and assistants are chosen by the Football Association for their impartiality and their assessed performance scores for previous seasons. Only one referee has ever been replaced under the impartiality rule; Mike Dean agreed to pull out following questions in the media about him being able to referee a Cup Final involving Liverpool as he is from the Wirral, a peninsula situated near the city. Alan Wiley took his place.^[2]

Officials are informed of the appointment by the FA Referees' Secretary and sworn to secrecy until a public announcement can be made, usually the following day. There then follows a period of media attention resulting in interviews and features appearing in the national press.

Traditions

When the Cup Final is held at Wembley Stadium, traditions include the "Eve of the Final" rally at a central London location, where the match officials are guests of honour at a meal provided for by the Referees' Association.^[1] Many members of the Association including serving and past Cup Final referees also attend.

Speeches are made and the officials are presented with mementos of the occasion and invited to autograph their refereeing colleagues' Cup Final programmes. The referees usually sleep at White's Hotel, with FA protocol stating that they should not leave the grounds.

On the morning of the Cup Final, the officials take a pre-match walk through Hyde Park before travelling by limousine to Wembley.^[1] Once there they are obliged once more to autograph Cup Final programmes and are invited to join any VIPs in the banqueting hall.

Fees

For the 2013-14 season the officials' fees for the Cup Final were: referee and assistant referees £375 each; fourth official £320 and a souvenir medal each, plus travelling expenses.^[3]

Referees

1872–1977

Year	Referee
1872	Alfred Stair
1873
1874
1875	Charles Alcock
1876	W.S. Rawson
1877	Sidney Havell Wright
1878	Segar Bastard
1879	Charles Alcock
1880	Francis Marindin
1881	William Peirce Dix
1882	Charles Clegg
1883	Francis Marindin
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891	Charles J. Hughes
1892	Charles Clegg
1893	Charles J. Hughes
1894	Charles J. Hughes
1895	John Lewis
1896	William Simpson
1897	John Lewis
1898	John Lewis
1899	Aaron Scragg^[4]
1900	Arthur Kingscott
1901	Arthur Kingscott
1902	Tom Kirkham
1903	John Adams
1904	A. J. Barker
1905	Pat Harrower
1906	Fred Kirkham
1907	Nat Whittaker
1908	T. P. Campbell
1909	Jim Mason
1910	John Ibbotson
1911	John Pearson
1912	J. R. Schumacher
1913	Arthur Adams
1914	Herbert Bamlett
1915	Harry Taylor
1916–1919	no finals
1920	Jack Howcroft
1921	S. Davies
1922	J. W. P. Fowler
1923	D. H. Asson
1924	Bill Russell
1925	Noel Watson
1926	I. Baker
1927	William Frederick Bunnell
1928	T. G. Bryan
1929	Arnold Josephs
1930	Tom Crew
1931	Harry Kingscott
1932	Percy Harper
1933	Eddie Wood
1934	Stanley Rous
1935	Bert Fogg
1936	Harry Nattrass
1937	Reg Rudd
1938	Arthur James Jewell
1939	Tommy Thompson
1940–1945	no finals
1946	Ernest Smith
1947	Jim Wiltshire
1948	C. Jack Barrick
1949	Reg Mortimer
1950	Harry Pearce
1951	Bill Ling
1952	Arthur Ellis
1953	Sandy Griffiths
1954	Arthur Luty
1955	Reg Leafe
1956	Alf Bond
1957	Frank Coultas
1958	Jack Sherlock
1959	Jack Clough
1960	Kevin Howley
1961	Jack Kelly
1962	Jim Finney
1963	Ken Aston
1964	Arthur Holland
1965	Bill Clements
1966	Jack Taylor
1967	Ken Dagnall
1968	Leo Callaghan
1969	George McCabe
1970	Eric Jennings
1971	Norman Burtenshaw
1972	David Smith
1973	Ken Burns
1974	Gordon Kew
1975	Pat Partridge
1976	Clive Thomas
1977	Bob Matthewson

1978–2009: Fourth official era

Year	Referee	Assistant referees	Fourth official	Ref(s)
1978	Derek Nippard	J. Bent J. Lydon	W. Cleere
1979	Ron Challis	Keith Hackett H. Dempsey	W. Harvey
1980	George Courtney	Alan Robinson J. Byles	J. Cunningham
1981	Keith Hackett	A. Jones D. Hutchinson	J. Penrose
1982	Clive White	A. Hamil T. Mitchell	R. Guy
1983	Alf Grey	Colin Downey John Pardoe	John Connock
1984	John Hunting	A. Saunders N. Butler	V. Wood
1985	Peter Willis	Terry Holbrook D. Keen	J. Harris
1986	Alan Robinson	Robbie Hart Allan Gunn	C. Topliss
1987	Neil Midgley	R. Nixon J. Hodson	D. James
1988	Brian Hill	Mike Pierce G. Tyson	David Redshaw
1989	Joe Worrall	Mike Peck Arthur Smith	Jeff Winter
1990	Allan Gunn	L. Watson C. Reeve	Roger Milford
1991	Roger Milford	P. Brennan P. Newton	Keren Barratt
1992	Philip Don	Rob Harris John Hilditch	Kelvin Morton
1993	Keren Barratt	Roy Pearson Brian Wigginton	Roger Dilkes
1994	David Elleray	Paul Rejer Graham Barber	Gerald Ashby
1995	Gerald Ashby	Mark Warren Steve Bennett	Steve Lodge
1996	Dermot Gallagher	Anthony Bates Peter Walton	Paul Durkin
1997	Steve Lodge	David Crick David Horlick	Peter Jones
1998	Paul Durkin	Bill Jordan Phil Joslin	Graham Barber
1999	Peter Jones	David Babski Philip Sharp	Mike Riley
2000	Graham Poll	Darren Drysdale Graeme Atkins	Alan Wiley
2001	Steve Dunn	Mike Tingey Kevin Pike	Steve Bennett
2002	Mike Riley	Glenn Turner Ralph Bone	Mark Halsey
2003	Graham Barber	Nigel Miller Keith Stroud	Mike Dean
2004	Jeff Winter	Roger East Antony Green	Matt Messias
2005	Rob Styles	Jim Devine Paul Canadine	Neale Barry	^[5]
2006	Alan Wiley^[6]	Ceri Richards^[7] Darren Cann	Phil Dowd	^[8]
2007	Steve Bennett	Peter Kirkup Dave Bryan	Howard Webb	^[9]
2008	Mike Dean	Martin Yerby Trevor Massey	Chris Foy	^[10]
2009	Howard Webb	Dave Richardson Mike Mullarkey	Martin Atkinson	^[11]

2010–2017: Fourth official and reserve assistant referee era

Year	Referee	Assistant referees	Fourth official/ Reserve assistant referee	Ref(s)
2010	Chris Foy	John Flynn Shaun Procter-Green	Andre Marriner Stuart Burt	^[12]
2011	Martin Atkinson	Adam Watts Simon Beck	Lee Probert Jake Collin	^[13]
2012	Phil Dowd	Stuart Burt Andrew Garratt	Mike Jones Simon Long	^[14]
2013	Andre Marriner	Stephen Child Simon Long	Anthony Taylor Gary Beswick	^[15]^[16]
2014	Lee Probert	Jake Collin Mick McDonough	Kevin Friend Simon Bennett	^[17]
2015	Jonathan Moss	Darren England Simon Bennett	Craig Pawson Harry Lennard	^[18]
2016	Mark Clattenburg	John Brooks Andrew Halliday	Neil Swarbrick Michael Salisbury	^[19]
2017	Anthony Taylor	Gary Beswick Marc Perry	Bobby Madley Adam Nunn	^[20]

2018–present: VAR and AVAR era

Year	Referee	Assistant referees	Fourth official/ Reserve assistant referee	VAR/ AVAR	Ref(s)
2018	Michael Oliver	Ian Hussin Lee Betts	Lee Mason Constantine Hatzidakis	Neil Swarbrick Mick McDonough	^[21]
2019	Kevin Friend	Constantine Hatzidakis Matthew Wilkes	Graham Scott Edward Smart	Andre Marriner Harry Lennard	^[22]
2020	Anthony Taylor	Gary Beswick Adam Nunn	Chris Kavanagh Lee Betts	Stuart Attwell Stephen Child	^[23]
2021	Michael Oliver	Stuart Burt Simon Bennett	Stuart Attwell Dan Cook	Chris Kavanagh Sian Massey-Ellis	^[24]
2022	Craig Pawson	Dan Cook Edward Smart	David Coote Dan Robathan	Paul Tierney Simon Bennett	^[25]
2023	Paul Tierney	Neil Davies Scott Ledger	Peter Bankes Adrian Holmes	David Coote Simon Long	^[26]

Referees with more than one final

Referee	Number of finals	Years
Francis Marindin	9	1880, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890
Alfred Stair	3	1872, 1873, 1874
Charles J. Hughes	3	1891, 1893, 1894
John Lewis	3	1895, 1897, 1898
Charles Alcock	2	1875, 1879
Charles Clegg	2	1882, 1892
Arthur Kingscott	2	1900, 1901
Anthony Taylor	2	2017, 2020
Michael Oliver	2	2018, 2021

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Elleray, David (2004). "The Cup Final". The Man in the Middle. London: Time Warner. pp. 110–119. ISBN 0-316-72714-8.
^ Davies, Christopher (25 April 2006). "FA replace Cup final referee from the Wirral". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 7 April 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
^ "The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team".
^ "The death of Aaron Scragg". Runcorn Guardian. 18 August 1909.
^ FA Cup Final 2005, report: TheFA.com website.
^ Original referee Wirral-based referee Mike Dean was removed from the final after Liverpool made it through to the final. He was replaced by Premier League Select Group Referee, Alan Wiley.
^ Original assistant referee Peter Kirkup woke up with a stye in his eye on the morning of the match, which affected his vision. He was replaced by Premier League Select Group Assistant Ref, Ceri Richards.
^ "FA replace Cup final referee from the Wirral": Telegraph.co.uk website.
^ "Bennett chosen for Final". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
^ "Dean gets Final spot". TheFA.com. 7 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
^ Mawhinney, Stuart (21 April 2009). "Webb appointed for The Final". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
^ "FA Cup Final for Foy". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 13 April 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
^ "Atkinson takes Cup Final whistle". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
^ "Phil Dowd to referee FA Cup final". The Daily Telegraph. London. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
^ "Marriner to referee FA Cup final". ESPNFC. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
^ "Man City 0 - 1 Wigan". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
^ "Lee Probert to take charge of the FA Cup Final at Wembley".
^ Callow, James (21 April 2015). "Jon Moss will referee the 2015 FA Cup Final at Wembley". The FA. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
^ "Mark Clattenburg to referee the 2016 Emirates FA Cup Final".
^ "Sorry. Something's wrong with the pitch. - Cheshire FA".
^ "Michael Oliver on FA Cup Final appointment". The Football Association. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
^ "KEVIN FRIEND WILL REFEREE 2019 EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL". The Football Association. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
^ "REFEREE ANTHONY TAYLOR AND HIS TEAM WILL TAKE CHARGE OF THE HEADS UP FA CUP FINAL". The Football Association. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
^ "THE LINEUP OF MATCH OFFICIALS FOR THE 2021 EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL HAS BEEN SELECTED". The Football Association. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
^ "MATCH OFFICIALS CONFIRMED FOR THE EMIRATES FA CUP AND VITALITY WOMEN'S FA CUP FINALS".
^ "THE TEAM OF MATCH OFFICIALS FOR THE EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL HAS BEEN CONFIRMED".

v t e FA Cup
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Qualifying rounds	1888–89 1889–90 1890–91 1891–92 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Finals	1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
History Trophy List of finals Semi-finals Final referees Winning managers Non-English clubs Scottish clubs Non-League clubs in the 5th Round Giant-Killing Award