FA Cup: Non-league clubs given record cash pool bonus

The Football Association has announced that the 32 non-league clubs who played in the FA Cup first round last season will each receive the sum of £11,313.

The money comes from the the FA Cup pool, which is derived from replays in the latter rounds of the competition.

Clubs hosting replays from the third round onwards, last season including Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, pay 5% of gate receipts into the pool.

As a result, this year's sum is the biggest ever paid out.

Gloucester City of the Conference North were among the non-league clubs to reach the first round proper and Colin Peake, who works for them in a consultancy role, said: "This is one of the reasons why the FA Cup committee believe that replays are part of the ethos of the competition.

"It can so easily be lost in the glitz at the top of the sport how payments like this can be so crucial lower down."

Clubs have already received prize money from the FA Cup and the pool sum provides an extra financial bonus.

Conference South Dorchester Town earned £42,500 in prize money as a result of reaching the second round proper before losing to Luton, after entering at the second qualifying round stage.

Luton went on to reach the fifth round of the competition before being beaten at home by Millwall.

Non-league clubs in FA Cup first round proper (2012-13 season): Cambridge City, Boreham Wood, Alfreton, Wrexham, Harrogate, Macclesfield, Stockport, Met Police, Slough, Luton, Nuneaton, Lincoln, Kidderminster, Guiseley, Barrow, Forest Green, Bromley, Bradford PA, Arlesey, Yate, Chelmsford, Ebbsfleet, Bishop's Stortford, Hastings, Hendon, Fylde, Dorchester, Hereford, Altrincham, Gloucester, Mansfield, Braintree.