FA Cup 2020-21 updated prize money explained: Here's how much Hartlepool United could potentially earn following significant adjustments and cuts to prize fund

Dave Challinor’s side reached the third round of the competition last season, earning £108,750 in prize money before they were knocked out by League One outfit Oxford United.

This season, Pools kicked-off their cup campaign with a 6-0 win away to Ilkeston in the fourth qualifying round and bagged themselves £9,375 in the process.

Now they are guaranteed to pocket at least another £5,657 when they visit Moor Lane due to changes to the prize fund for the first and second round proper.

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.

As Pools found out last season, reaching the third round of the competition would have netted National 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 reduced 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.

Here is the 2020-21 FA Cup prize money list in full following the most recent amendments:

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

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