Ticketing Everton and Chelsea were each allocated 25,109 tickets for the final. Having sold over 32,000 for their semi-final win over Manchester United, Everton were unhappy and disappointed with this allocation. The match was Everton's first FA Cup final in 14 years and Everton chief executive Robert Elstone predicted that the club could have sold in excess of 70,000 tickets for this game. Chelsea also said that the size of their allocation meant that it was unlikely that there would be sufficient tickets for all of their hospitality and non-hospitality season ticket holders. Club Wembley ten-year season ticket holders were also guaranteed a ticket for the match. After those tickets were allocated, 70% of the remaining tickets were distributed amongst the clubs that had competed in the
2008–09 competition, with the other 30% given to those involved in grassroots football and the "football family".
Kits Since both finalists' first-choice kits are predominantly blue, a coin was
tossed to determine which team would have the first choice of kit. Everton won the toss and chose to wear their traditional blue kit, meaning that Chelsea would wear their all-yellow third-choice kit. Chelsea were nevertheless given the "home"
dressing room, i.e. that used by the
England national team.
Match ball The official match ball of the 2009 FA Cup Final was the
Umbro Dynamis. The
Dynamis uses a 20-panel configuration, as opposed to a more traditional 32-panel design, which allegedly makes the ball faster. The surface of the ball is made from a Teijin microfibre material. The
Dynamis was also used in the 2008 final, but the 2009 version has a gold colourway.
Opening ceremony The traditional FA Cup Final song,
Abide With Me, was performed by the
London Community Gospel Choir. The
trophy was then brought out onto the field, followed by the two teams, before the Chief Guest of the final – former
Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan – was introduced to the managers and players of both teams, as well as the match officials. The introductions were immediately followed by the singing of the national anthem, "
God Save the Queen", sung by
Britain's Got Talent 2008 finalist, 13-year-old
Faryl Smith, making her the youngest performer of the national anthem at the FA Cup final. ==Match==