Boss who led Histon to FA Cup win over Leeds bemoans replay bar

Histon keeper Danny Naisbitt, goal scorer Mathew Langston and manager Steve Fallen celebrate Histon's 2008 win over Leeds United

A manager who guided a village club to a giant-killing win has criticised the decision to scrap FA Cup replays.

Steve Fallon was in charge of non-league Histon when the Cambridgeshire side beat Leeds 1-0 in a second-round tie in 2008.

Fallon, 67, said the move would make it harder for the dreams of fans and players to come true.

The cup format has changed following an agreement between the Football Association (FA) and Premier League.

"It's just taking away what is left of the FA Cup as it used to be," said Fallon, a former Cambridge United defender, who now works as a PE teacher.

"We managed to beat Leeds without a replay but drawing and playing a replay at Elland Road would have been a dream come true.

"This is just going to make it harder for FA Cup dreams to come true - for fans and players."

Histon celebrates following the FA Cup Second Round match at the Glass World Stadium, Impington

FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round onwards in the 2024-25 competition, as part of the agreement.

In its current format, there are no replays from the fifth round onwards.

The FA said the move to eliminate them from an earlier stage had been made "in light of changes to the calendar" driven by the expanded European competitions.

The English Football League (EFL) said the new format was "agreed solely between the Premier League and FA".

But the FA said discussions had been going on for "well over a year".

European football governing body UEFA launched the Europa Conference League in 2021.

The number of teams in the Champions League group stage will rise from 32 to 36 next season.

Steve Fallon said the move made it harder for the dreams of lower club fans and players to come true

"I don't understand why big clubs can't play more matches," added Fallon, who lives in the Cambridge area. They have big enough squads.

"If lower-league clubs have to hang on through extra time, then face penalties, rather than hang on for 90 minutes, there are going to be fewer upsets.

"Big sides are fitter, they can bring on internationals from the substitutes' bench."

'Chance of glory'

Fallon said non-league and lower league clubs would not be the only ones to suffer.

"Clubs in the lower end of the Premier League will also be hit," he added. "Their best chance of glory is a cup competition too."

Leeds United, now near the top of the Championship alongside Ipswich and Norwich, were in League One, the third tier, when they lost to Histon at the Impington ground in 2008.

Histon, now in the United Counties Premier Division South league. were in the Conference National 16 years ago.