It’s a date marked in the calendar of true football fans.
A tradition.
A religion.
Rivalries will be made, ties severed and friendships put aside for 90 minutes on Saturday 30 May, when Aston Villa take on Arsenal in the 2015 FA Cup.
Be there
So don’t find yourself stuck on the sofa at home. Why don’t you start planning your group trip to the capital for the biggest game of the season?
Jump on your laptop and book a London Travelodge to get the most from your spend – but don’t hang around too long because rooms are going fast!
The build-up
Although lovers of the narrative in football may be disappointed that Steven Gerard won’t be spending his 35th birthday and final hours in the red shirt at Wembley, the FA Cup Final throws up some interesting stories once again this year.
Aston Villa and Arsenal will meet at the home of English football, with both clubs in need of success, albeit for different reasons.
The stats
The Gunners booked their spot in the showpiece clash thanks to a somewhat fortuitous extra-time win over Reading, and their outing against the Villans will be the 19th occasion the north London club have contested the FA Cup final – a record high.
Victory would also make Arsenal the most successful side in the history of the competition, with their current 11 wins leaving them on par with Manchester United.
Villa meanwhile have not lifted the fabled trophy since 1957, but they have plenty of cause for optimism this time around.
Tim Sherwood’s arrival in February has brought a new feelgood factor to the Midlands club, who have endured a few tough campaigns under the guidance of Paul Lambert. The underdog tag appeared to suit Villa as they dispatched of Liverpool in the semi-final, and in Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke they have two players Arsenal will need to be wary of.
The afters
If you’re among the value-savvy who’ve booked into a London Travelodge near Wembley early then you’re laughing. Our new hotel on Wembley High Road is just a 15-minute walk from the stadium.
Or stay even closer at our Wembley hotel on the North Circular, close to Hanger Lane station in Ealing. It’s just 2 miles from the stadium, and you can park for 24 hours for just £5.
Haven’t got match tickets? The friendly Wheatsheaf is just a 5-minute walk from our Ealing Travelodge, also in northwest London. You’ll be near the pubs and restaurants of Shepherd’s Bush too, from where you can catch the Central line for fast Tube travel to Leicester Square, Soho and Oxford Street.
And if your group’s got big plans for Saturday night, The Roundhouse in Covent Garden is one of the top spots to watch the game before jumping into the action around Leicester Square and Soho.
