Gillingham Football Club is deeply disappointed to learn of the decision taken by the Football Association and Premier League to alter the format of the FA Cup which will include abolishing first, second and third round replays starting in 2024/25. We join the wider Football community in condemning the path forward chosen by the elite minority.
To have seemingly made this decision without consulting EFL member clubs, nor those in the National League and at Grassroots level, shows a complete disregard and contempt for the traditions of the competition and our Football pyramid.
729 clubs entered the FA Cup this season, but it appears the views of only 20 of those clubs were of importance to the FA when deciding the way forward for this historic competition. Football belongs to us all, not just the elite.
Football fans deserve better.
We hope the FA will consider reviewing its decisions and, in future, include everyone in their thought processes, not just those with the largest bank balances.
