The Mirror has launched a campaign to save FA Cup replays, which are absolutely vital for lower-league clubs working on a shoestring budget

The Mirror has launched a ­campaign to save FA Cup replays that provide vital cash to hard-up lower league clubs and their communities.

Football figures, politicians and fans back our fight against the move, which some claim has been made under pressure from billionaire owners of Premier League clubs, fearing fixture pile-ups. England legend Peter Reid, 67, said of the FA’s decision: “They are selling out the little clubs for the elite.”

Gate receipts and TV cash can make the difference between bankruptcy and survival for many clubs while also boosting facilities at grassroots level from junior teams of all ages to older people playing walking football.

FA chiefs insist clubs will not lose out as there will be more televised games in the early rounds of the competition.

Sign our petition HERE to ask the FA to reinstate FA Cup replays.

Reid, who won the FA cup in 1984 with Everton, told how his brother Shaun managed Warrington Town when they beat Exeter City in the 2014 FA Cup first round, pouring money into coffers of the Northern league club. The 67-year-old said: “They [the FA] are selling out the little clubs in the footballing pyramid for the elite. Many have survived thanks to the FA Cup. When Warrington Town beat Exeter it was vital for them and the money helped the entire community.”

Fair Game, which represents 34 clubs across the game’s pyramid, is calling for the Football Governance Bill to protect the FA Cup. Everton fan and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said that Bill could still be amended. He added: “Clubs in lower leagues face a daily battle to survive. To have their governing body and support cut off that lifeline is beyond belief. It shows complete disrespect to the fans.

“I am joining with Fair Game in calling for the FA to reinstate replays. We applaud the Mirror for sticking up for clubs across the country who have been devastated by this.”

Mr Burnham and Fair Game chief executive Niall Couper said in a joint letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer: “Events of this season have led to rising concern among supporters that football authorities are running the game in the interests of the few and not the many.”

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Former Newcastle and England star Malcolm Macdonald, who played in one of the most famous FA Cup replays of all time when Hereford United bet the Magpies in 1972, slammed the FA for backing the top Premier League clubs over lower league minnows. He said: “It is dreadful, disgusting that they have done this. It’s a betrayal of their membership, especially smaller clubs.”

Tranmere Rovers vice chair and co-owner Nicola Palios told how the League Two outfit earned around £500,000 from their 2020 FA Cup run. It included a 2-1 replay victory over then-Premier League club Watford. Ms Palios said: “It means investment in infrastructure for years to come. That benefits not just the clubs, but the communities around them.” She also said lower league clubs would be “100 per cent behind” the Mirror campaign.

Branding the FA decision “ridiculous, she added: “But the Premier League gets what the Premier League wants.”

National League side Maidstone United, which pulled off a huge shock to beat Ipswich Town 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round last season, supports a local foodbank with takings from the tie.

Cambridge United chief executive Alex Tunbridge, who was previously in charge of Newport County, said his former club’s 2018 replay against Tottenham Hotspur “probably kept it alive”. First round ties are worth £50,000 to clubs if shown live on TV. Replays add £25,000, and £40,000 in Round Four. The decision to end replays was made by the FA board, after consultation, last week.

But the English Football League said the new format was “agreed solely by the Premier League and FA”. The FA insisted “all parties accepted” the change. It said: “With new match rounds in European competitions added by UEFA next season, the game can no longer fit FA Cup replays into the calendar. We will offer more televised matches in the early rounds which earn clubs more money. We are looking at the prize fund too so nobody should lose out financially when replays go.”

The Football Supporters’ Association said in a poll of members 69.5 per cent wanted replays. It added: “Domestic cup competitions have been under threat for years because of the greed of the biggest clubs and their desire to grab more broadcast revenue. That has led to an increase in the number of European fixtures as UEFA failed to stand up to those clubs, and a massive squeeze on the calendar.”

How board decided to act...and sparked fury

It was the members of the FA board who made the decision to drop replays from the cup next season.

Led by CEO Mark Bullingham, they listened to English Football League leaders and fans and pledged to ensure that lower league clubs “do not miss out” financially.

But the EFL and the Football Supporters’ Association claimed their desire to keep replays had largely been ignored. The FA said: “Removing replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue. The discussions then focused on how to make all of our competitions stronger, despite having fewer dates available.

“The changes achieve this by returning it to a weekend competition on every round. They ensure that we have exclusive broadcast slots in an increasingly congested calendar.”

The FA insisted “all parties accepted” the changes, including the EFL and the National League. But the EFL claimed there was “no agreement” prior to the deal being announced and no “formal consultation” with the FA.

Classic replays that show why they're so special

A non-league side back in 2005, the minnows’ two matches against Manchester United earned them £1million. United were lucky to still be in the cup after a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in the third round, left. They won in Devon with Rooney and Ronaldo both scoring.

Cray Valley Paper Mills 1-6 Charlton

In November last year, the minnows defied a gap of 116 league places to force a replay in this FA Cup first-round game. The team from the eighth tier of the football pyramid, the Isthmian League South East Division, hosted their neighbours (the two clubs are three miles apart) in a replay, which Charlton won 6-1.

Hereford 2-1 Newcastle

Non-League Hereford defeated top-flight Newcastle United in one of the most famous upsets. The two sides met for a third-round replay in 1972 at Hereford’s Edgar Street stadium after a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park. A header from Malcolm Macdonald put the Magpies ahead before Hereford’s Ronnie Radford equalised with a 30-yard screamer. Radford famously ran off with both arms aloft in celebration. An extra-time winner by Ricky George bagged an unlikely place in the fourth round.

Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Watford

A 2020 FA Cup run earned the League Two outfit £500,000 and secured their future. They drew 3-3 away with then-Premiership side Watford, beating them 2-1 in the replay to face Manchester Utd at Old Trafford. They lost that game 6-0. But were winners financially.

Arsenal 5-1 Farnborough

The Conference side left Highbury £500,000 richer in 2003 after their home draw was switched there on safety grounds. Outplayed but not outfought, they did a lap of honour after a goal by Rocky Baptiste gave fans something to remember.