90min

2020 FA Cup Final to Be Named 'Heads Up FA Cup Final' as Part of Mental Health Campaign

By Nischal Schwager-Patel

The FA Cup trophy.
The FA Cup trophy. / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
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This year’s FA Cup Final will be renamed in support of a nationwide mental health campaign.

The 2020 showpiece will be known as the ‘Heads Up FA Cup Final’, in agreement with official competition sponsor Emirates. The final will don the name of the campaign ‘Heads Up’, a mental health initiative led by the FA and Heads Together.

In an FA statement, they said: “We can today announce that this season’s Emirates FA Cup Final will be dedicated to Heads Up, with lead partner Emirates donating their title to the campaign. As a result, the showpiece event in the football calendar will be known as the Heads Up FA Cup Final.”

The FA Cup Final is due to take place on 1 August, 10 weeks later than the original set date of 23 May. The competition is currently at the quarter-final stage, after English football was suspended in March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The FA added: “Culminating in the Heads Up FA Cup Final, the campaign has strived to raise awareness, spark conversation and signpost support for those in need, highlighting to the nation that we all have mental health and it's just as important as physical health.”

The Duke Of Cambridge, Prince Willian launching the Mental Health Campaign.
The Duke Of Cambridge, Prince Willian launching the Mental Health Campaign. / Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The mental health campaign is led by FA president and Duke of Cambridge, Prince William. It looks to encourage the discussion of mental health, while raising awareness about its importance across the nation.

This is not the first instance this season where the mental health campaign has been present. There have been campaigns and events all throughout the campaign, with every FA Cup third round match kickoff delayed by a minute in order to encourage fans to think about their mental health.

The FA Cup logo at a second round clash.
The FA Cup logo at a second round clash. / Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

The quarter-finals are set to be played at the end of this month, over the weekend of 27/28 June. The last eight sees an all-Premier League lineup, with four of the top six still in the competition.

Norwich host Manchester United on 27 June, before the remaining three ties are played the following day. Sheffield United welcome Arsenal to Bramall Lane, Chelsea travel to high-flying Leicester and Newcastle face Manchester City on Tyneside.

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