On Saturday 17th May 2025, the 143rd FA Cup Final was hosted at Wembley between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. Crystal Palace lifted the Cup, their first major trophy win in their History.
A total of 745 teams entered the competition, with 124 teams competing from First Round onward. This was the first time in the competition’s history that there were no replays played from the First Round.
I am taking this opportunity to look back at this season’s competition and the Kits worn by the teams from the First Round.
First Round – 1st November to 4th November 2024
80 Teams kicked off the First Round of the FA Cup this season, 48 teams from League One and League Two and 32 Non-League Teams, with Horsham and Guiseley being the lowest ranked teams in the competition, playing in the 7th Tier of English Football.
Tamworth and Huddersfield Town provided an interesting Kit Match up, with a lot going on with both kits, my favourite match up of this round.
Shrewsbury Town wore a mash up of their Away Kit / Home shorts and socks, a look they did not use in their League One Campaign.
Another nice looking Kit Match up was the game between Woking and Cambridge United, Woking in their traditional white / red halved shirt, matched up against Cambridge’s wonderful 3rd kit!
Second Round – 29th November to 1st December 2024
40 Teams in the Second Round, with only 9 Non League Clubs remaining in the competition.
Wealdstone and Wycombe Wanderers Kit match up was a nice one, with Wycombe in their 3rd Kit, one of Hummel’s “Mexico” Templates.
There was a lot of Blue / Yellow on show when AFC Wimbledon hosted Dagenham & Redbridge. The National League side who won this game, played all games from the First to Third Round in their Away Kit.
I do have a soft spot for Red / Black Kits (I think its a love of AC Milan from the 80s / 90s), so Kettering Town’s Home Kit was great to see in action, and matched up with Doncaster Rover’s Away kit gave us a nice looking Kit Match up!
Third Round – 9th January to 14th January 2025
The FA Cup Third Round, one of the highlights of the English Football Calendar with teams from Premier League and Championship entering the competition, giving us a total of 64 Teams left to compete, there was just two Non-League teams left, with Tamworth and Dagenham & Redbridge.
Aston Villa used the FA Cup to wear their special 150th Anniversary Kit, a wonderful looking kit that was elegant in it’s simplicity, carry an original Club Crest and just player Numbers, a shame it was only used in this one game.
Arsenal used their “No More Red” special Charity Kit, their fourth year of wearing an all white kit to highlight their campaign against youth violence and knife crime.
Another team in a special kit was Accrington Stanley, who wore a one off kit for their trip to Anfield to play Liverpool.
A full Third Round Kit Review can found here
Fourth Round – 7th February to 11th February 2025
The Competition is now taking to take shape, with 32 teams left competing.
Coventry City wore a special “4th Kit” for their game against Ipswich Town, the kit was the same design / template as their Home Kit but in Navy with tonal crest, logo and sponsorship.
Chelsea used their 3rd Kit for the first time in a domestic game this season, it has only been used twice this season both games against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Fifth Round – 28th February to 3rd March 2025
In the Fifth Round, 16 teams left with just 4 of those being outside the Premier League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers wore alternative “Old Gold” Shorts, they used this all “Old Gold” look in their FA Cup Games this season.
One of my favourite kit usages is when a team wears a “Tri-colour” kit, with all elements of the Kit being in different colours, so Manchester City against Plymouth Argyle produced a wonderful Kit Match up with both teams in “Tri-Colour” Kits.
Quarter-Finals – 29th March to 30th March 2025
Just eight teams left in the competition, with just Preston North End being a team from outside the Premier League.
Brighton & Hove Albion had an interesting Kit Choice, when wearing their Home Kit in this season’s competition, they wore alternative blue socks in each of it’s three appearances.
Every team in the Quarter-Finals wore their Home Kit.
Semi-Finals – 26th April to 27th April 2025
There was not a lot to talk about in terms of kit in the Semi-Finals.
Aston Villa wore all white, this is using the white home shorts (the default Away shorts are sky blue), they have used this look in all Competitions (Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League) this season.
One detail to call out is with Manchester City’s Kit, is their use of a non branded FA Cup Sleeve patch this season.
This has been an ongoing issue between the Club and FA regarding sponsorship, with FA Cup being sponsored by one of Manchester City’s sponsors biggest competitors and over recent seasons they have not worn any sleeve patch (which did carry a fine for the club) but it looks like an alternative has been found with this patch being worn.
Final – 17th May 2025
Crystal Palace wore alternative white socks in the final, a look they have not used as yet this season and one that I am sure will go down in history after their victory against Manchester City, this was their 3rd different Kit Look of their campaign.
And there we have it, the FA Cup 2024 / 25… congratulations to Crystal Palace once again!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or over at my Socials…
X – @kit_geek or Bluesky – Kit Geek
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For those that follow EFL Clubs or the leagues in general, I have now published my End of Season reviews for The Championship, League One and League Two (Links can be found below).
Football Kit Geek - @Kit_Geek 