Chelsea’s iconic FA Cup final shirts reimagined

As the Blues prepare for our latest FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, supporters will be getting their own replica shirt ready to show their colours in support from the stands at Wembley, or from the sofa for those cheering the team on from afar.

Fans can also do so while honouring great FA Cup final triumphs of the past, with several of our most iconic shirts worn while lifting the famous old trophy available in replica form from our online shop or in person at the Chelsea Megastore at Stamford Bridge.

That includes the original from our very first FA Cup victory in 1970, when the legendary Kings of the Kings Road overcame their fierce rivals Leeds United after a replay. That came after the first game at Wembley was drawn 2-2, thanks to Ian Hutchinson’s late equaliser for the Blues.

Get your 1970 FA Cup final shirt here

We travelled up to Old Trafford for the second game, where we came from behind again: Peter Osgood’s incredible diving header levelled the scores before David Webb sealed the win in extra time.

We had to wait 27 years to get our hands on that trophy again, when Ruud Gullit’s rebuilt Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 at Wembley in the 1997 final, announced our return to top in English football after some tough times.

It was a memorable triumph too, with Roberto Di Matteo getting us going with a stunning long-range drive off the underside of the crossbar after just 43 seconds, at the time the quickest goal ever scored in the FA Cup final at Wembley, before a beautiful Gianfranco Zola flick teed up homegrown midfielder Eddie Newton to make the win safe.

Get your 1997 FA Cup final shirt here

It was a team and a victory full of swagger and style, and revolutionised English football with a new continental influence, meaning the shirt worn in that final and re-released now is among the most iconic ever worn by Chelsea.

The goalkeeper shirt from that final is also available and carries its own story, having been worn at Wembley by Frode Grodas on that day.

The Norwegian had only left his homeland for Chelsea at the age of 32 and thought he had missed his chance to play in an FA Cup final, heading into the changing room in tears after being sent off at Everton in the Premier League a week earlier.

That turned to cheers of joy when he was informed by his team-mates on the bus home that his suspension wouldn’t begin until after the final, and the sight of him celebrating on the Wembley pitch in a Viking hat remains one of the most enduring images of the victory over Middlesbrough.

Get your 1997 FA Cup final goalkeeper shirt here

Having waited so long between those first two FA Cup triumphs, we were back just three years later. This would be the last-ever final played in the shadow of the famous twin towers of the old Wembley, with the stadium being torn down and rebuilt afterwards.

It was given its farewell by a Chelsea victory in another shirt which has now been made available again, and this one is almost as famous for being worn when captain Dennis Wise carried his infant son up the steps to collect the trophy as for what happened on the pitch.

Get your 2000 FA Cup final shirt here

The match itself was a tense affair against Aston Villa, again settled by a Di Matteo goal, this time a bit less spectacular as he reacted quickest in the box to turn in from a corner. Not that anyone cared, as we celebrated another FA Cup triumph and said goodbye to the old Wembley.

You can pay tribute to all three of Chelsea’s FA Cup victories at the original Wembley Stadium – plus a replay at Old Trafford, of course – with the replica shirts available now online or in store.

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