FA Cup set for September start

4 Aug 2020 By James Gordon

The FA Cup Preliminary Rounds will begin on September 1, it has been announced.

Carlton Town, Colne, Marske United, Pickering Town and Spalding United will all start in the Extra Preliminary Round.

Matlock Town, Staybridge Celtic and Ashton United will all feature in the Preliminary Round on September 12, alongside the remaining N/West and S/East Division teams.

The First Round Qualifying starts on September 22, which will feature all remaining Premier Division teams.

In order to assist in easing pressure on the football schedule, there will be no replays for the 2020-21 season in the qualifying competition. The schedule for the competition proper will be released in due course.

After two seasons of record levels of prize funds, the Emirates FA Cup prize fund has returned back in line with 2017-18 levels due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Extra Preliminary Round winners will receive £1,125 in prize funds. Preliminary Round winners will receive £1,444, while First Round Qualifying winners will receive £2,250.

Where next?

Martin Ball inspires Carlton Town’s third kit Carlton Town players, led by Martin Ball, captain Tom Maddison and Daryl Thomas, have inspired the club’s third kit to help raise funds following the Covid-19 pandemic.