Traditions
When the Cup Final is held at Wembley Stadium, traditions include the "Eve of the Final" rally at the Russell Hotel, where the match officials are guests of honour at a meal provided for by the Referees' Association. Many members of the Association including serving referees also attend.
Speeches are made and the officials are presented with mementos of the occasion and invited to autograph their refereeing colleagues' Cup Final programmes. The referees usually sleep at White's Hotel, with FA protocol stating that they should not leave the grounds.
On the morning of the Cup Final, the officials take a pre-match walk through Hyde Park before travelling by limousine to Wembley. Once there they are obliged once more to autograph Cup Final programmes and are invited to join any VIPs in the banqueting hall.
Read more about this topic: FA Cup Final Referees
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