19/04/24
Slough Town Football Club are deeply disappointed by the FA's decision to scrap FA Cup replays from the 2024/25 season onwards, and join many other clubs across the EFL and non-league pyramid in strongly opposing the decision.
Replays have long been a lifeline for lower league clubs like ours, providing much-needed revenue, exposure, and the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with larger clubs. Removing replays not only diminishes the magic and tradition of the FA Cup but also deprives smaller clubs of a vital chance to generate income and showcase their talent.
This wonderful competition means everything to the non-league ecosystem - not just financially, but in terms of the memories created which can last a lifetime. The fans who travelled to Grimsby this season for a first round replay on a cold Tuesday night were a credit to our club and the National League South, but under the new format, experiences like this will be lost. Without earning a replay against Sutton United in 2018, we may not have had the experience of hosting League One side Gillingham in the second round.
Of the 732 clubs to enter the 2023/24 competition, 712 play outside the Premier League. This decision demonstrates a total lack of awareness of what football in this country means to clubs outside the top flight.
We urge the FA to suspend this change to the competition’s format until consultations are held with clubs in the EFL, National League and feeder leagues in the non-league pyramid, and more consideration is given to the importance of replays in preserving the spirit of the competition and supporting grassroots football.
Replays have long been a lifeline for lower league clubs like ours, providing much-needed revenue, exposure, and the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with larger clubs. Removing replays not only diminishes the magic and tradition of the FA Cup but also deprives smaller clubs of a vital chance to generate income and showcase their talent.
This wonderful competition means everything to the non-league ecosystem - not just financially, but in terms of the memories created which can last a lifetime. The fans who travelled to Grimsby this season for a first round replay on a cold Tuesday night were a credit to our club and the National League South, but under the new format, experiences like this will be lost. Without earning a replay against Sutton United in 2018, we may not have had the experience of hosting League One side Gillingham in the second round.
Of the 732 clubs to enter the 2023/24 competition, 712 play outside the Premier League. This decision demonstrates a total lack of awareness of what football in this country means to clubs outside the top flight.
We urge the FA to suspend this change to the competition’s format until consultations are held with clubs in the EFL, National League and feeder leagues in the non-league pyramid, and more consideration is given to the importance of replays in preserving the spirit of the competition and supporting grassroots football.
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