A season-long 'Battle of the Bands' style search to find an official FA Cup Anthem has entered its final stage, with six of the UK's biggest music acts vying to have their track chosen as the soundtrack to the world's oldest domestic football competition.
Chosen at the start of the season based on their football relevance, the final contenders hoping to etch their name in FA Cup history are MOBO-award-winning rapper Lethal Bizzle, VMA-nominated grime artist Devlin, Leeds rockers The Pigeon Detectives, Birmingham outfit The Twang, heavyweight music champions Reverend & The Makers and multi-million record selling rock band The Enemy.
The winning track will be chosen by the British public, with voting now live on the official FA website (www.thefa.com/thefacup) alongside videos of all live performances. The winner will then play the official Anthem live at Wembley ahead of The FA Cup Final with Budweiser on 11 May, with the track also used throughout next season's competition.
Each act has played live ahead of selected ties throughout this season's FA Cup season, beginning with Lethal Bizzle at Upton Park before the clash of the Third Round between West Ham and Man United and culminating in The Enemy and Reverend & the Makers playing live at Wembley during the weekend's Semi-Finals.
MUSIC ACT AND TRACK INFORMATION
Third Round: West Ham v Man United
Act: Lethal Bizzle
Track: Not a Saint
Team: Arsenal
Quote: "I've watched The FA Cup since I was a boy and always dreamed of playing in it. It's a special competition and I'm made up to be a part of it, and hopefully I can become part of its history by producing the official FA Cup Anthem. To have my music open The FA Cup Final would be a dream come true."
Fourth Round: Stoke v Man City
Act: Devlin
Track: Sun Goes Down
Team: Spurs
Quote: "I've been going to the football since I was seven and played until I was 16, when my love for the music took over. The FA Cup is always the competition you get excited about it, and I think half the country stops what they're doing when the draw is being made. I'm buzzing to be a part of it."
Fifth Round: MK Dons v Barnsley
Act: The Pigeon Detectives
Track: Animal
Team: Leeds
Quote: "It's every schoolboy's dream to play in The FA Cup, and while we're not lacing up our boots and running onto the pitch it's still a massive buzz to be involved - winning the competition and being behind the official FA Cup Anthem would be something we would all be really proud of. Although not as proud as our dads would be - they all wish we were footballers really." Matt Bowman, Frontman
Sixth Round: Man City v Barnsley
Act: The Twang
Track: We're a Crowd
Team: Split between Birmingham, Aston Villa & West Brom
Quote: "We're all huge football fans so to be part of the search to find an official FA Cup anthem is dead exciting. Winning it would be a dream." Phil Etheridge, Frontman
Semi-Finals: Wigan v Millwall & Chelsea v Man City
Act: The Enemy
Track: Saturday
Team: Coventry City
Quote: "We had such a buzz playing at The FA Cup Final last season but it's a bit more competitive this time round so we're a little more excited. We've heard some of our songs being sung from the terraces before which is always cool, but to have our name alongside the official FA Cup Anthem would be pretty special." Tom Clarke, Frontman
Semi-Finals: Wigan v Millwall & Chelsea v Man City
Act: Reverend & The Makers
Track: Shine the Light
Team: Sheffield Wednesday
Quote: "If I were given the choice of Sheffield Wednesday winning The FA Cup or our song becoming the official FA Cup Anthem I'm honestly not sure what I'd pick - but we're made up to be in with a shout." Jon McClure, Frontman
For additional videos and artist updates go to the official FA Cup Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TheFACup).
