City inspired by the past ahead of the FA Cup Final
As they look ahead to Saturday’s FA Cup final, Manchester City will have a special piece of history behind them that was discovered in the Umbro archives. A telegram sent by the club to Umbro in 1934 after City’s FA Cup victory has inspired the special numbers and lettering that the team will wear at Wembley on Saturday as they aim to beat Stoke City in the FA Cup final.
As explained in the video above, the font used on the player’s shirts on Saturday has been inspired by the lettering used on the telegram, which thanks Umbro for “the fit, quality and smartness of the entire outfit” in the 1934 final that “was undoubtedly perfection”. Let’s hope that the players feel the same way this weekend!
The numbers on the back of the City shirts on Saturday will also feature another link to Manchester and the city’s past. The historic Manchester coat of arms will feature at the base of each number, a discreet nod to a tradition of using the Manchester emblem whenever City play at Wembley.
The club will also be celebrating this historic link with a special Mercer jackets that the team will wear as they step onto the Wembley turf.
As you can see from our pictures, the Manchester coat of arms has been intricately embroidered onto the jackets, putting the whole of the city (or at least a big part of it behind MCFC in the Cup Final.
We’ve also got a shot of what both Man City and Stoke City will be aiming to fire into the goals at Wembley – the official FA Cup Final ball. Detailed with the match information, these special edition Umbro Neo balls will be seeing plenty of action on May 14th. Designed for a truer flight and greater accuracy, the Neo certainly did what it should in the semi-finals, where there were six goals in total. I wonder how many we’ll see in the final?
On 12 May 2011, at 1:02 pm Darren wrote:
While I appreciate the idea behind the lettering on the shirts, I think it looks terrible – it’s like a default font!
The Mercer jacket however, is a thing of beauty. It’s a shame we can’t keep this season’s kit… or even just the socks – by far the best kit we’ve had since the late 60′s!
On 12 May 2011, at 1:35 pm Tom Parker wrote:
Isn’t the font the same as the Umbro standard shirt printing for this season, as featured on the shirts of the Republic of Ireland and in City’s games in the Europa League?
On 12 May 2011, at 1:40 pm Aaron wrote:
No, it’s slightly different Tom, the font is more ‘print like’ on this special edition version
On 12 May 2011, at 1:49 pm Tom Parker wrote:
OK, I’ll let you off, then
Of course, the more pertinent question is can you start making the Villa’s kits, please?!I can just picture that Mercer jacket with a lion on the chest!
On 12 May 2011, at 2:32 pm Tim wrote:
That Mercer Jacket is a thing of beauty. Umbro anyway we can get our hands on one of those as fans?
On 12 May 2011, at 2:41 pm FDV wrote:
It’s true, this numbering looks like Europa League kit’s one, but I love the way in wich you find inspiration and new ideas, looking back to the past, to go straight to the future. I’m also glad you found a place for the coat of arms, a great tradition for the city of Manchester. I hope to see you again Italy.
On 12 May 2011, at 5:09 pm Joe wrote:
All of the Mercer jackets are outstanding but that one in particular is brilliant. Can’t wait to see the players come out in it on Saturday. So glad we’ve got Umbro for another 8 years, hope to see some more quality kits.
On 12 May 2011, at 11:25 pm Sean Riley wrote:
The Mercer jacket with the Manchester City Coat of Arms would be a guaranteed best seller amongst our fans, really hope Umbro and City do the decent thing and allow us the opportunity to buy one, give the fans what we want and we wont let you down!
On 13 May 2011, at 12:02 pm Umbro Blog – Manchester City’s FA Cup Final Kits Part 2 Manchester City wrote:
[...] You can see part one of the video here. [...]
On 30 Aug 2011, at 7:17 am Azhan wrote:
Umbro,where i could get at least a set of printing of this fa cup edition.please contact me umbro,i am huge fan of city and has being collecting city shirts for 10 years.pls umbro,help me..
On 30 Mar 2012, at 9:24 am Umbro coat | Seidoch wrote:
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