FA Cup 2020-21 updated prize money explained: Here's how much South Shields could potentially earn following significant adjustments and cuts to prize fund
South Shields will be looking start a second lockdown with a bang when they travel to League Two side Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup first round on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Mariners saw off National League side Halifax Town in the fourth qualifying round to reach the first round of the competition for the first time since they reformed in 1974.
The club have banked £20,625 in prize money for reaching this stage of the competition and now, due to changes to the prize fund for the third and second round proper, they are guaranteed to pocket at least another £5,657 regardless of Saturday’s result.
The match could be Shields’ last for a while as new lockdown measures halted their league campaign.
With the coronavirus pandemic having a huge financial impact on football as a whole, the prize fund for this season’s competition was significantly reduced and its distribution between clubs has now been further altered.
Last season, reaching the third round of the competition would have netted non-league clubs over £100,000 – this season they would only get £51,847 for achieving the same feat following the latest changes.
In addition, the lack of crowds means lower league clubs will miss the chance to get a huge financial boost if drawn against a top Premier League side.
The winners of this weekend’s first round matches will now receive £16,972 after the initial allocation of £22,629 was split to allow the losing first round teams to be awarded £5,657.
It’s the first time losing sides in the first round proper will receive money from the prize fund.
Last season, teams who progressed from the first-round proper would have received £36,000, over £19,000 more than this season’s reward.
The second round prize fund has also been altered further after initially being reduced from £54,000 to £34,000. The winners will now receive £25,500 and the losers will get the remaining £8,500.
Allocations for the third round onwards remain as they were. Winning sides will receive £82,000, down from £135,000 the previous season while the losers receive nothing.
For any fortunate non-league clubs who are able to win in the FA Cup fourth round, the prize money is £90,000. Should a non-league side reach the last-16 of the FA Cup this season, something only nine clubs have managed since the end of the Second World War, their total prize money would be £237,375.
That figure is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, but when you consider clubs would have received £423,750 last season while having the added financial boost of gate receipts, things are quickly put into perspective.
2020-21 FA Cup prize money list in full:
Extra preliminary round winners: £1,125 (losers receive £375)
Preliminary round winners: £1,444 (losers receive £481)
First round qualifying winners: £2,250 (losers receive £750)
Second Round qualifying winners: £3,375 (losers receive £1,125)
Third Round qualifying winners: £5,625 (losers receive £1,875)
Fourth Round qualifying winners: £9,375 (losers receive £3,125)
First Round Proper winners: £16,972 (losers receive £5,657)
Second Round winners: £25,500 (losers receive £8,500)
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
Semi-Final losers: £450,000
Runners-up: £900,000
Winners: £1,800,000