FA Cup prize pot is slashed – but winners’ cheques in FA Trophy and FA Vase stay the same in 2020/21

Non-league clubs taking part in the early rounds of the 2020/21 FA Cup will be playing for half the prize money compared to last season.
Miles Everett in FA Cup action for Horndean (red) against Melksham in 2017. Non-league clubs will be playing for reduced cash prizes in next season's tournament. Picture Ian HargreavesMiles Everett in FA Cup action for Horndean (red) against Melksham in 2017. Non-league clubs will be playing for reduced cash prizes in next season's tournament. Picture Ian Hargreaves
Miles Everett in FA Cup action for Horndean (red) against Melksham in 2017. Non-league clubs will be playing for reduced cash prizes in next season's tournament. Picture Ian Hargreaves

The governing body admits the 50 per cent slashing of the prize fund is 'due to the financial impact of the pandemic.'

In 2019/20, clubs winning in the extra preliminary round banked £2,250 with the losers collecting £750.

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Next season, the 184 winners will receive £1,125, with the losers banking just £375.

The payments - to winners and losers - are halved all the way through to the first round proper.

Last season, Pompey collected £36,000 for beating EFL new boys Harrogate Town in the first round proper. In 2020/21 they will pick up £22,629 with victory at the same stage.

In 2019/20 clubs received £54,000 for a second round win and £135,000 for a third round success. Next season, those sums have been reduced to £34,000 and £82,000 respectively.

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Arsenal picked up a cool £3.6m cheque for lifting the trophy last weekend, but next season’s winners will receive half of that - £1.8m, the same amount Chelsea received for losing at a deserted Wembley.

Next season’s winning semi-finalists will bank £900,000 each, again half of the money available in 2019/20.

There is exactly a month between the 2019/20 final taking place and the start of next season’s tournament.

The 2020/21 event begins on Tuesday, September 1, with the 184 extra preliminary qualifying round ties.

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To ease any possible fixture congestion, there will be no replays in any round up to the first round proper.

The draws for next season’s early FA Cup, FA Vase and FA Trophy rounds will be made on August 18.

2020/21 FA Cup prize fund

Extra Preliminary Round winners £1,125 (£375 for the losers)

Preliminary Round winners £1,444 (£481)

First Round Qualifying winners £2,250 (£750)

Second Round Qualifying winners £3,375 (£1,125)

Third Round Qualifying winners £5,625 (£1,875)

Fourth Round Qualifying winners £9,375 (£3,125)

First Round winners £22,629

Second Round winners £34,000

Third Round winners £82,000

Fourth Round winners £90,000

Fifth Round winners £180,000

Quarter Final winners £360,000

Semi Final winners £900,000 (£450,000)

Final winners £1,800,000 (£900,000)

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Clubs taking part in the 2020/21 FA Vase will be playing for the same winners’ cheques as last season.

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But there has been a slight reduction in the amount all losing clubs will get.

Between the first qualifying round and the semi-final, the losers will receive up to £50 less than they would have in 2019/20.

Next year’s winners will bank £30,000, but the losers will only receive £15,000 - a £5,000 reduction on 2019/20.

Prize fund

First Round Qualifying £550 (£160 losers)

Second Round Qualifying £725 (£225)

First Round Proper £825 (£250)

Second Round Proper £900 (£275)

Third Round Proper £1,125 (£350)

Fourth Round Proper £1,875 (£600)

Fifth Round Proper £2,250 (£725)

Sixth Round Proper £4,125 (£1,350)

Semi Final £5,500 (£1,725)

Final £30,000 (£15,000)

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Clubs taking part in the 2020/21 FA Trophy will also be playing for the same winners’ cheques as last sason.

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But, like the FA Vase, there has been a slight reduction in the amount all losing clubs will get.

Between the first qualifying round and the fourth round, the losers will receive up to £250 less than they would have in 2019/20.

Next year’s winners will bank £60,000, and the losers half of that - the same amounts as in 2019/20.

FA Trophy prize fund 2020/21

First Rd Qualifying: £2,450 (£625)

Second Rd Qualifying: £3,000 (£775)

Third Rd Qualifying: £3,750 (£1,000)

First Rd: £4,500 (£1,250)

Second Rd: £5,250 (£1,500)

Third Rd: £6,000 (£1,750)

Fourth Rd: £7,500 (£2,000)

Semi Final: £15,000 (£5,000)

Final: £60,000 (£30,000)