FA Cup prize money is having a profound effect on those at the bottom
With three rounds of qualifiers done, teams as low down as Tier 7 have pocketed nearly £10,000, a larger sum than their annual budgets. This is what they're using it on...
The debate about Women’s FA Cup prize money continues behind the scenes. It still lags far behind the men’s game, but the winner last season took home £100,000, as opposed to the £25,000 of the season before the prize money was given a sharp increase by the FA.
This season, it remains the same as last, with the winner again taking home six figures, though arguably those who go that far won’t feel the difference in such a figure as money at the top of the domestic game continues to spiral upwards anyway.
But at the bottom, it is having a notable difference. Two seasons ago, a run through the three qualifying rounds to the first round would bring just £1,450 for winning three games, while last season and this it brings grassroots and amateur clubs as far down as Tiers 6 and 7 a hefty £8,800, more than some club’s annual budgets.
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A win in the first round would take that tally up to £14,800, while even defeat guarantees an overall intake of £10,300, with every first-round loser getting £1,500 on top of what they’ve earned so far.
While the debate and fight for more progression should never go away, the sharp rise in prize money is having a huge positive effect on those fortunate enough to find themselves this far in the competition, with the first-round proper draw having taken place on Monday.
Not every club has yet received all the money – prize money is generally paid two or three weeks after each round – but many are already plotting the major impact it can and will have on them.
Dussindale & Helesdon, a Tier 6 side who were as low down as Tier 7 last year, have fought their way past Fulbourn Bluebirds, Mulbarton Wanderers (on penalties) and Islington Borough on Sunday to get this far, meaning they are guaranteed a minimum of £10,000 for their run, whatever happens in the first round where they’ve been given a winnable tie at home to Needham Market.
“To put it into perspective, our annual budget is around £6,000,” says manager Adrian Tink, who describes the money as “massive for us” given they are a self-sufficient club.
“Our players all find individual sponsors. We charge match fees still, we have no benefactor, we work hard to find sponsors to survive season to season.
“This amount of money means we can put forward a base for the next couple of seasons. Our aim is to continue to progress and this money allows us to put some roots down and be fair and treat the players.”
One thing Tink intends to spend a chunk of the money is brand new tracksuits for the squad as reward for their run so far.
It will cost them around £1,200, a fee they’d never usually have expendable in their usual budget, but now can afford to treat their players.
“The rest of the money we will reinvest as a team, it will allow us to be less reliant on sponsors for next year, which are very hard to find in the current climate. It takes some of the pressure off for the next year or two.”
The club shares a ground with Norwich City Women, which Tink describes as “very good but very expensive” and the costs them around £3,000 for a season, and this money could conceivably cover that for three seasons.
After promotion, they are also now not in a regional league, and have to hire a minibus for most away games, which costs £250-300 for a weekend. It also costs up to £350 to put on a home game.
“It’s hard to describe how much this money makes a difference. The extra prize money from the FA has made such a difference and long may it continue. It’s making its way to grassroots clubs. Teams will still go out of business, we know that, it’s expensive, but it’s making a difference.”
Tink admits they budgeted to get through the first qualifying round, but now stand on the verge of a potential second round and what would mean taking home around £15,000 for their run, should they get past Needham Market.
“It’s doable. We’re underdogs, they’re a level above us but you just think ‘wow’, it could be another £6,000. We’d have never considered that.”
Leeds Modernians, a current Tier 7 club, also made it to the first-round proper for the first time after wins against Poppleton, Retford and a thrilling penalty shootout win at Birtley Town on Sunday after a 3-3 draw.
They are just one of a handful of Tier 7 sides in the draw for the first round, and they too are plotting where the money will go and what a difference it will make.
“We have had an excellent run in the cup so far,” a club spokesperson said. “We are over the moon with the prize money as it is not only benefiting our team but the entire club. We are representing the entire football club and are proud to do so.
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“The club has put some of the prize money toward buying the women’s team a new set of tracksuits with the remainder going toward new goalposts along with improving changing facilities, which the whole club will benefit from.”
Leeds Modernians have also been given a home tie against either Sunderland West End or Darwen next month, both Tier 5 sides.
“If we can get through the next round, the extra prize money will go towards further improvement that all of our teams will benefit from.”
Wyberton Wildcats have also made it this far as a Tier 7 side, but have been given a much tougher task next up with a trip to Tier 4 side Boldmere St. Michaels.
They’ve beaten Newark Town, Kirby Muxloe and also endured a penalty shootout on Sunday to overcome Tier 5 side Basford United, and Chairman James Payling admits what they do with the money is still being debated, given they never imagined they’d have this much to use.
“The prize money is still very much up for discussion within our committee to be honest,” says Payling. “Before a ball was kicked it was loosely spoken about, but it was only a dream to get through all three rounds of qualifiers and into the first-round proper.
“Some of the money we have received already has been spent on new bulbs for our aging floodlights. They’re not cheap so it’s been a great help. Also, nothing is confirmed yet but two years ago we took out a six-year Pitch Improvement Grant, I would say a small part of the prize money will help cover and take the pressure off our side of the repayments.
“Other than that, I’ll be suggesting we do something that will benefit the whole club which will also be something the squad can see as a sign of recognition for their efforts. I’m not really not sure what that looks like yet, but I’m sure it will be discussed at our next monthly meeting.”
For some though there has been frustration at FA’s rules. St Joseph’s Rockware of [SJR] Worksop got a bye in the first round and therefore didn’t receive the £1,800 on offer, but did pick up the £3,000 for their second qualifying round win before picking up another £1,000 for their defeat against Lye Town at the weekend, which sees them miss out on the first-round proper.
“£1,800 would have bought portable floodlights,” says Chairman Andrew Guest. “Senior teams could have trained during the winter free of charge. It would have saved the club money which could have been used on keeping our junior sub costs low, new goalposts and ground improvements.”
The £3,000 from the second qualifying round win was spent on a new minibus, and the debate over whether byes should receive prize money rages on, with the same issue in the men’s side of the competition.
What is for certain though is while for many caught in the middle the current prize money may not be making a huge amount of difference, at the bottom it is having a profound effect, which is a good start.
Interesting to see what clubs are doing with their prize money & the difference it can and will make. When my daughter made her FA Cup debut in the first preliminary round in September 17 her tier 5 club were drawn against a county league club & I think the prize money was around £150 for winning. Indeed the cost of entering was a bar to many clubs doing so. The increase in prize money seems to have made entry worthwhile and clearly the FA introducing exemptions to the lower tiered clubs has given the first bite of the financial cherry to those at the bottom of the ladder. In 2017-18 I believe there were free than 300 entries while in 2023-24 there are more than 400. Hopefully progress will continue to be made at all levels and more girls will be able to thrive in our national game.