History of the FA Cup Cup Finals. Since 1902, referees can only officiate one Cup Final, though they are allowed to have prior Final experience as an assistant referee. In 1914, George V became the first monarch to watch the FA Cup Final between Burnley and Liverpool in the last cup final played at Crystal Palace. The 'Matthews Final' of 1953 was the first football match attended by The Queen, in her Coronation year. It is commonly held that previous winners of the FA Cup are traditionally the only clubs allowed to use triangular corner flags in English football. However, this tradition is not affirmed
2017 FA Cup Final previously met 13 times in the FA Cup. Arsenal held an advantage in those meetings, winning seven of the last eight. Chelsea, however, won the last FA Cup tie, a 2–1 victory in April 2009. This was the second FA Cup final to feature both sides; the first was won by Arsenal in 2002. The most recent meeting between the two teams was a league encounter in February 2017. Chelsea beat Arsenal by three goals to one, a result which moved them 12 points clear in first position. The win was significant given Chelsea lost the reverse fixture 3–0 in