The FA And Thomas Lyte Sign Five-year Trophy And Silverware Partnership
The Queen’s Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, Thomas Lyte, has today been announced as the official trophy and silverware supplier of both The FA and the Emirates FA Cup after signing an exclusive five-year partnership agreement.
The pair have been associated for more than 20 years, having collaborated on several commissions that include the designing and crafting of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, The FA Community Shield and the new Emirates FA Cup in 2014 that is the third version of the iconic trophy since 1911 and is considered a masterpiece of British silversmithing.
Thomas Lyte specialises in the bespoke design and manufacture of elite silverware and has created or restored trophies such as the Rugby World Cup’s Webb Ellis Trophy, the Davis Cup trophy, the Guinness Six Nations trophy, and those received by winners at the Sport Industry Awards.
Thomas Lyte and The FA will work in partnership throughout the five-year agreement to create and restore both trophies and silverware.
The news follows a similar agreement between Thomas Lyte and the British & Irish Lions, for whom the silversmiths have created the first ever perpetual trophy for a Lions tour.
Ahead of the 2020/21 Emirates FA Cup Final on Saturday 15th May, its trophy has undergone a full refurbishment at Thomas Lyte’s workshop, and new medals have been fashioned. The winners’ medals and ribbons will be both gold and silver, while the runners-ups’ medals will be all silver for the very first time with a red ribbon. All recipients will also receive a custom-made and embossed presentation case.
Not all heroes wear capes
Official Trophy and Silverware Suppliers @ThomasLyte are in charge of keeping the #EmiratesFACup in tip-top shape
Find out how they do it
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 5, 2021
“We’re incredibly excited to be announcing this new partnership with The FA and the Emirates FA Cup,” said Kevin Baker, CEO and Founder of Thomas Lyte.
“It gives us immense pride to see our craftsmanship on show to a global audience at the climax of the world’s most historic and authentic knockout competition. We have proudly worked with The FA for many years and are delighted to be taking our relationship to the next level with the signing of this exclusive five-year deal.”
Kathryn Swarbrick, The FA’s Commercial and Marketing Director, added: “We’re delighted to have formalised our long-standing relationship with Thomas Lyte. The organisations share key values o rich tradition, innovative progression and the pursuit of excellence and we look forward to seeing them all on show during this season’s Emirates FA Cup Final and beyond.”
More details about the broader ambitions of the partnership will be revealed in the coming months and is part of a wider Thomas Lyte mission to shape the future of Britain’s silver industry by preserving traditional skills and pioneering modern methods, and championing British design, expertise and workmanship at elite sporting events across the world.
