Unfortunately, the FA although it claims to be for the good of football, firstly looks after itself. Many of these competitions can actually, as you have illustrated, prove costly to the clubs.
Hopefully the independent regulator when they finally arrive will recommend an overhaul of the main FA, County FA's in the main are pretty good from my own experiences.
I agree. Small clubs at lower levels are being ripped off by the F.A. left,right and centre. Part time players who are asked to travel half the length of the country in all competitions a lot of the time in midweek. Meaning they either take holidays or unpaid leave from their full time jobs to travel and play the games.That's if they have a job outside of football. Prize money in the Vase and Trophy is a joke. F.A. want it to be all about the Premier League and approx the 5 divisions below it. Quadruple the prize money in every round of the Trophy and Vase, and reduce drastically the prize money in the FA Cup from round 5 onwards. The teams left in the competition by that stage aren't going to go bust because the prize money drops. Also, regionalise the lower clubs properly. Example: Spennymoor and Darlington being in the same Division as Kings Lynn. Ridiculous. A 400 mile round trip. Grassroots football forms the backbone of English football. Take away the backbone and the whole thing collapses. Treat the lower leagues with respect which is what they and the thousands of people who run them and work for them deserve. It isn't about the insanely rich, it's about helping the poorest. Think of all the players who started off at lower levels. FA need to start acting fairly now.
Good comments Stephen. I'm not convinced the FA have much if any influence over the PL, hence the reason the independent regulator needs to come in ASAP, it's on the horizon but can't come quick enough for me.
Regionalisation is always a difficult one just given the geographical nonsense of the country, it's never going to please everyone and some are just so far out on a limb due to their location they're just never going to fit anywhere correctly.
Have to give them credit for what they have done to get to a perfect pyramid and even listening to clubs to understand the issues and trying to find a solution, still not perfect but it's a start that has to continue.
Happy Christmas to you and thanks for the hard work this year. I agree with the share of money moving down the pyramid!
And you Matt, great work from yourself too! Just like the top end of the game, money goes to money and not to help those who really need it.
Unfortunately, the FA although it claims to be for the good of football, firstly looks after itself. Many of these competitions can actually, as you have illustrated, prove costly to the clubs.
Hopefully the independent regulator when they finally arrive will recommend an overhaul of the main FA, County FA's in the main are pretty good from my own experiences.
I agree. Small clubs at lower levels are being ripped off by the F.A. left,right and centre. Part time players who are asked to travel half the length of the country in all competitions a lot of the time in midweek. Meaning they either take holidays or unpaid leave from their full time jobs to travel and play the games.That's if they have a job outside of football. Prize money in the Vase and Trophy is a joke. F.A. want it to be all about the Premier League and approx the 5 divisions below it. Quadruple the prize money in every round of the Trophy and Vase, and reduce drastically the prize money in the FA Cup from round 5 onwards. The teams left in the competition by that stage aren't going to go bust because the prize money drops. Also, regionalise the lower clubs properly. Example: Spennymoor and Darlington being in the same Division as Kings Lynn. Ridiculous. A 400 mile round trip. Grassroots football forms the backbone of English football. Take away the backbone and the whole thing collapses. Treat the lower leagues with respect which is what they and the thousands of people who run them and work for them deserve. It isn't about the insanely rich, it's about helping the poorest. Think of all the players who started off at lower levels. FA need to start acting fairly now.
Good comments Stephen. I'm not convinced the FA have much if any influence over the PL, hence the reason the independent regulator needs to come in ASAP, it's on the horizon but can't come quick enough for me.
Regionalisation is always a difficult one just given the geographical nonsense of the country, it's never going to please everyone and some are just so far out on a limb due to their location they're just never going to fit anywhere correctly.
Have to give them credit for what they have done to get to a perfect pyramid and even listening to clubs to understand the issues and trying to find a solution, still not perfect but it's a start that has to continue.