Scrapping FA Cup replays an insult to magic of the cup as Premier League plots dangerous course

The decision to scrap FA Cup replays throws the magic of the competition in the faces of those who love it, the success stories and the many who have cherished memories of the tournament.

A showpiece final under the arch at sun-kissed Wembley Stadium in May is a memory that holds good and bad experiences for clubs who are within at least 90 minutes of history. But away from the 90,000 spectators roaring on their respective clubs, to get to that point, over 700 clubs have battled throughout.

On Thursday, it was confirmed that there would be a restructure of the FA Cup. Among the changes is the decision to scrap replays from the first round proper.

The bombshell announcement made by the Football Association (FA) alongside the Premier League has sparked outrage from clubs up and down the English Football League pyramid to the very core of the competition, which will be in its 144th edition next season.

Many have argued that scrapping the replays is a good thing for player welfare, decongesting the fixture schedule. While players' health is a valid concern, there is a lack of foresight and empathy with the clubs lower down the pyramid. It is easy to forget that the competition doesn't start in January when Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and other titans of English football enter: before then there are eight rounds, with the competition getting at underway in the extra preliminary round, which takes place at the beginning of August.

Blyth Spartans in 1978, Leeds United in 2010, Sutton United and Lincoln City in 2017, and Marine AFC in 2021 to name a few; underdogs, minnows, and unfavoured sides are the fabric of the illustrious competition that illustrate the weird and wonderful stories it conjures up.

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