Pre-match gigs for FA Cup anthem

Football bosses are to launch a musical contest with a series of pre-match gigs to find an official FA Cup anthem for this season.

Acts such as Lethal Bizzle, Devlin and the Pigeon Detectives will take part in the FA competition with fans voting for the track which will greet players as they step on to the pitch at Wembley for the final.

A shortlist of six acts has been drawn up with each one hoping to be the soundtrack of the 2013 final as the Football Association celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.

The contest will begin on Saturday as Lethal Bizzle performs his track Not A Saint with Vato Gonzalez and Donae'o before the third round clash at Upton Park between West Ham and Manchester United.

Further gigs will take place during each successive round, and then one act will play at each of the two semi-finals, with fans then voting for their favourite.

Bizzle - a relative of Arsenal player Emmanuel Frimpong - said: "I've watched the FA Cup since I was a boy and always dreamed of playing in it.

"It's a special competition and I'm made up to be a part of it, and hopefully I can become part of its history by producing the official FA Cup anthem. To have my music open the FA Cup final really would be a dream come true."

Videos of the songs will be added to the FA's website - at TheFA.com/TheFACup - after each round, prior to the final on May 11.