Dean Henderson is hoping to become the first Cumbrian to lift the FA Cup for DECADES tomorrow.

The Whitehaven star will be in goal for Crystal Palace as they take on Manchester City at Wembley.

Henderson, 28, will be out to keep the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden at bay as Palace look to win the Cup for the first time.

Should the west Cumbrian goalkeeper succeed, he will join a select band of players from this county to win the famous competition.

Technically the last Cumbrian player to win the FA Cup was Barrow’s Gary Stevens with Everton against Watford in 1984, though he was born some 11 years before Barrow became part of Cumbria rather than Lancashire (in 1974).

Before that, Carlisle-born duo Kevin Beattie and David Geddis helped Ipswich Town to glory under the Twin Towers in 1978, when the Suffolk club defeated Arsenal in the final.

Carlisle's Kevin Beattie, left, and David Geddis, right, won the FA Cup with Ipswich in 1978 (Image: submitted)

Other Cumbrians to have won the historic knockout competition include Carlisle’s Peter Thompson with Liverpool in 1965, Whitehaven’s Jackie Sewell with Aston Villa in 1957 and Maryport’s Tom Smith, who scored for Tottenham Hotspur in their replay win over Sheffield United in 1901.

Barrow's Emlyn Hughes also helped Liverpool to the Cup in 1974, weeks after his home town was incorporated into Cumbria.

Henderson, though, would end a long wait for a Cumbrian FA Cup winner should Oliver Glasner’s side prevail at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

The former Carlisle United academy keeper will have a crucial role in the final, for which Palace are 7/2 outsiders. Pep Guardiola’s Man City are 3/4 to lift the Cup for the eighth time.

Palace have been in the final twice before but lost on both occasions to Manchester United, in 1990 (after a replay) and 2016.

Henderson, speaking earlier in Palace’s run to the 2025 final, spoke of the prospect of making history.

“If we did get the opportunity to lift silverware, it'd be phenomenal,” the Cumbrian said.

"It'd be a dream come true for not only the players, but obviously the supporters as well, and this football club.”

England international Henderson has been a pivotal figure for Palace this season, making 41 club appearances in league and cup and cementing his place in the Three Lions squad, winning a second full England cap against Finland last October.

He has kept 14 clean sheets during the 2024/25 campaign.

Saturday's FA Cup final kicks off at 4.30pm.