Become a Wigan/City fan for the day
This Saturday, the world's oldest football competition enters its 142nd year, with Man City and Wigan Athletic journeying all the way to Wembley from such places as Manchester and... just-outside-of-Manchester. Only one will join the illustrious ranks of FA Cup winners (among them? Oxford University, the Royal Engineers, and the Old Etonians… twice), but, sadly, neither of them is from London, so we've put together the ultimate guide to becoming either a David or Goliath supporter for the day.
Flip a Coin
Heads: Congratulations -- for the next 24hrs, you're a Wigan supporter. Start calling yourself a "Latic". Your team is the youngest in the prem, having only been formed in 1932 (noobs!), but that also means they're the only club never to have been relegated from the top tier
Tails: Sweet! You're a Man City supporter for the day. Time to put on something blue. Brush off accusations of glory-hunting by reminding people that only in 2012 did you win your first title in over four decades, and also that Man U exists.
Latics: Did you know that all the Heinz beans in the UK are made in Wigan? You do now. Get a haricot-laden full English at Smiths of Smithfield.
City: Your newfound team has a Belgian captain. Belgian! If there was ever an excuse to eat a fully loaded waffle, this is it, so hit Leon De Bruxelles for the goods.
Latics: You've got to cover up that Leyton Orient tatt somehow, so head into Carnaby Street's Soccer Scene to snag a cheapo shirt.
City: You're a more classic sort of gent now, so it's Lillywhite's. Thanks to a big sponsorship deal, all the blue shirts have "Ethiad" plastered over them, which by the way, means "united" in Arabic… so maybe go for the scarf
Latics: Believe it or not, the song of your newfound people goes: "We come from Wigan and we live in mud huts, ooh, ah, you should be a Wiganer". In fairness, they make a compelling argument
City: Commit to memory: "Mancini oooo, he comes from Italy to manage Man City. We buy our chants from Arsenal!". Pray that they kept the receipt.
Latics: Wigan is home to the oldest pie company in England -- remind yourself of your temporary spiritual home by heading to The Windmill in Mayfair, where you'll find a pie club, two pie rooms, and a multi-award winning steak & kidney.
City: Historically part of Lancashire, you'll find a mean hotpot at The Malt House -- they're a football-friendly pub with a projector screen, too, so consider settling in.
Latics:Underdog (below the Brewdog in Shoreditch) will get you revved-up, and over-confident about your team's chances by feeding you delicious beer cocktails.
City: Head to The Blues Kitchen to be amongst your people, and a collection of 40+ bourbons.
Latics: Staying in Shoreditch, roll over to Bar Kick for table-football tables, and a huge 3D screen downstairs.
City: Take a five-minute jaunt from Camden down to Fitzrovia's Jetlag sports bar for a projector screen, and a 15-country beer list. City 'til you die! Or like, tomorrow. Whatever.