The
world famous FA Cup will go on display in Ha Noi and HCM City from March 25-31,
following an agreement signed on January 29 by the Football Association of
England and the Viet Nam Football Federation.

Glory: Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard lifts the FA Cup. The world famous FA Cup will go on display in Ha Noi and HCM City from March 25-31. — File Photo

The tour will be a
chance for Vietnamese fans to hold the Cup, the most famous and oldest domestic
trophy in the world.

Fans will also get the
chance to meet former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman and
Chelsea’s Ashley Cole.

During the exhibition,
artistic and cultural activities will be also organised showing the most
memorable games, most spectacular goals and unforgettable moments of the FA
Premier League’s top four teams – Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and
Liverpool.

The first FA Cup was
held in the 1871-72 season and after 140 years, as many as 759 British football
teams have participated in it.

In 2003, Vietnamese
fans welcomed former English football captain David Beckham in a demonstration
at HCM City’s Military Zone 7 Stadium during his promotional tour of Asia.

In 2007, the English
Premier League’s Arsenal and the Vietnamese League’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai signed a
deal to open an international standard training centre – the Arsenal-HA-GL JMG
Football Academy in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

In 2009, a six-day
Premier Skills programme was organised by the British Council and the
Premiership to establish a sustainable programme of community development
through football.

Two years ago,
ex-stars of Manchester United and Livepool including Andy Cole, Vivian Anderson,
Tommy Mooney and Swedish Jesper Blomqvist, Clayton Blackmore, Jason McAteer,
John Barnes, Don Hutchison and Steve McManaman played friendly matches in Ha Noi.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News