New flags, new balls and skin tight vests

Last updated : 13 May 2008 By Michael Morris

Wembley Stadium has gone into FA Cup Final mode. The huge flags advertising the final between City and Pompey are now on display.

Click the images below to see full sized pics.

Also the FA have announced that a new football will be used for the first time on Saturday. Like traditional balls it's round but this one is the new UMBRO FA Cup Dynamis ball.

It has a 20 panel design instead of the usual 32 and it's described thus "The new Teijin micro fibre material gives the ball its power and a super soft touch. While the Dynamis is also the first football to use new Tri-Ply bladder technology, designed to increase the power and accuracy of any strike of the ball."

I've been sent a press release today from the company supplying the sports underwear for the City squad to wear at Wembley.

The team will be wearing high-tech Australian compression clothing called 'Skins'.

The tops and half-tights will be worn underneath Cardiff's playing kit and are, as their name implies, skin tight. They're designed to compress muscle groups to trigger an acceleration in blood flow which means the Cardiff boys will be getting increased oxygen to their working muscles - resulting in an enhanced performance on the day. The team has used the clothing throughout its FA Cup campaign for both training and matches.

David Ling from Skins said: "We won't be the first Aussie name to make an impact at an FA Cup Final - that was Craig Johnston - but we think we've got a great chance of helping Cardiff make history".

www.skins.net

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