Source: The FA

The Golden Ball returns to Men’s and Women’s FA Cup

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Top scorers in the Emirates FA Cup and Vitality Women’s FA Cup were crowned for the very first-time last season, and the Golden Ball, in partnership with Mitre, is set to return in both competitions during the upcoming 2022/23 season.

Last season’s winners, Marske United’s Adam Boyes and Liskeard Athletic’s Chloe Williams, received the respective awards from football icons Ian Rush and Faye White following the 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup and Vitality Women’s FA Cup Finals at Wembley Stadium Connected by EE, after scoring 11 and 12 goals apiece.

The Emirates FA Cup begins with the Extra Preliminary Round across the weekend of Saturday 6 August 2022, with non-league players having the chance to emulate Adam and lay down a marker before the likes of Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland enter in the Third Round on Saturday 7 January 2023. The top scorer award will be presented after the Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 3 June 2023.

The First Round Qualifying of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup will kick-off on Sunday 11 September 2022, before Women’s Super League players such as Sam Kerr and Vivianne Miedema enter the fray in the Fourth Round Proper on Sunday 29 January, when they gain the opportunity to stop Chloe from retaining her title, and be crowned after the Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 14 May 2023.

The @EmiratesFACup and @VitalityWFACup channels will post updated standings of both awards after each round of the Emirates FA Cup and Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

Last season’s Emirates FA Cup top scorer, Adam Boyes, said: “It’s an honour just to play in the Emirates FA Cup, so to outscore some of the best players in the country and be recognised for it at Wembley Stadium was an unbelievable experience that I’ll be hoping to replicate this season.”

 The Vitality Women’s FA Cup top scorer from last season, Chloe Williams, added: “I’d never imagined at the start of the season that it would end with walking out at Wembley Stadium. Giving everyone the chance to win this award makes it extra special, and I’ll be looking to add another to my mantel piece.”

 Further details on last season’s winners and the awarding of their trophies can be seen here.

With thanks to the FA