The FA Cup is one of the most prestigious football competitions in the world, featuring teams from across all tiers of English football, from grassroots clubs to the elite Premier League and Women's Super League sides. However, despite the increasing popularity and growth of women's football, the prize money for the women’s FA Cup lags significantly behind the men's competition. The Equal FA Cup movement is a campaign advocating for a fairer distribution of prize funds, calling for equal prize money between the men's and women's competitions.
With growing support from players and clubs, the movement aims to ensure that women’s football receives the recognition and financial backing it deserves.
Many players and teams have united to advocate for an equitable FA Cup campaign, calling for equal prize money between the men's and women's competitions. Clubs such as Lewes FC, AFC Sudbury, Worcester City Women, Cheltenham Town, and Dulwich Hamlet FC, alongside individual players, have voiced their support for this cause. I had the privilege of interviewing Rhian Cleverly to discuss the progress of this player-led movement.
Lewes FC has been at the forefront of the equality campaign since 2019, with Rhian serving as the team captain at the time. Building on the momentum of the Lionesses' historic Euros victory in 2022, the team felt inspired to do more. Rhian explained, “We ended up writing a letter to Karen Carney because she was conducting the women’s review at the time, and we received so much support.”
Pictured [Left to right]: Nat Johnson, Rhian Cleverly and Lauren Heria.
Currently, only £6 million of the FA Cup's total £26 million prize fund is allocated to the women’s competition, a modest improvement from the previous figure of £3 million as of November 2023. Rhian highlighted the importance of this issue, stating, “Things like this take time… There are players struggling, and there are clubs struggling.” She emphasized how equitable prize money could provide critical financial relief for lower-league teams, fostering player development and ensuring fundamental support.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Rhian shared an example of the disparity: “The FA Cup 2nd round win would have earned my team £75,000. Instead, Rugby Borough received £8,000. It’s the same cost for boots, kit, food, petrol, and rent.” Reflecting on her decade-long career, which included reaching the FA Cup final with Bristol, she noted the potential for growth in the women’s game. She also stressed how financial inequities hinder teams’ ability to support players, particularly those facing injuries. “Say an ACL or an MCL that didn’t require immediate surgery—how many tier 3, tier 4, or tier 5 teams in the FA Cup could afford to cover these costs?” Additional prize money, she argued, could provide much-needed medical support for players recovering from devastating injuries.
Importantly, the campaign is not asking for an increased prize fund but for a fair distribution of the existing money, shared equitably across the men’s and women’s competitions, as well as between the various fixtures. Rhian clarified, “We’re not asking for someone who loses in the first round to get £70,000. We’re asking for prize money based on performance. In our team talks, we discuss how advancing to the next round could make a tangible difference for everyone involved.”
The financial boost could also support long-term development. For instance, after Lewes Women’s first team faced relegation in the 2023/24 season, the club was forced to shut down its girls' pathway for 2024/25. Rhian highlighted how fair prize money could ensure pathways like these remain open, benefiting both men’s and women’s lower-league teams, with 95% of FA Cup participants standing to gain from the proposed changes. She added, “One hundred women can have a voice, but one man’s support can make a difference and encourage others to think about this issue.” Lewes FC’s men’s team has shown strong support for the campaign after becoming educated on the matter, and Rhian believes other clubs would follow suit with increased awareness.
Although the campaign is still in its early stages, Rhian revealed plans to engage with MPs, noting that a bill has already been introduced in Parliament. She emphasized the importance of raising awareness to drive positive change, stating, “The more people become engaged, the more inevitable change becomes.”
Significantly, FA Cup prize money is not dependent on sponsorship, placing the responsibility squarely on the FA to enact these changes. “We want to have a conversation with the FA,” Rhian said. “We want to understand their reasoning. Ultimately, we just want a date—a goal to work towards.”
With collective effort and determination, achieving equality in the FA Cup is not only possible but inevitable. #EqualFACup
Watch the interview with Rhian Cleverly here:
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