FA to more than double cup cash!

Under the plans announced on Tuesday, English football's governing body will pump £180m back into the game in strategic investment for the 2018-19 season, a 38 per cent rise on this term's £123m.

The increases in the prize fund for the FA Cup will benefit participating clubs at every stage of the competition and officials at Wembley hope the wider initiatives and investments will have a significant impact, both on the organisation itself, and for all of English football.

In a statement outlining their plans, FA chief executive officer Martin Glenn said the boost was made possible by increased revenue from the sale of the Emirates FA Cup and England broadcast deals, a new long-term partnership with Nike and the benefits of the organisation's corporate re-structure in 2015.

The headlines among the new plans for every level of the game include £50m being made available to more than double the participation of women and girls in football, an extra £9m a year for grassroots facilities and a new volunteer strategy to invest directly in succession planning and training across the leagues and clubs network.

Others include boosting the disability growth fund and establishing a recreational growth fund to support recreational football including small-sided, Futsal and 'Walking Football'.

Glenn said: "The initiatives and investments announced today will make a significant impact to the way football is run in this country. They illustrate both how committed The FA is to becoming a more inclusive and diverse organisation, and how much it contributes to English football.

“The FA will now invest over £180m a year back into the game, more than we have ever done before, which will have a positive and meaningful impact at every level of football in England."

Image courtesy of www.thefa.com

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