The Football Association and Premier League have made five big changes to the prestigious FA Cup coming into place from next season- including the scrapping of replays.
The oldest cup competition in the world, the FA Cup still holds a special place in the hearts of football supporters despite it's wavering prestige among the elite.
From next season, UEFA competitions are being expanded, and in order to reduce fixture congestion the decision has been made to reduce replays from the first round proper onwards, despite clubs in Europe not entering until the third round proper.
This will prove controversial as replays can be big money spinners for lower league clubs, especially if they can hold one of the well-supported clubs to a draw and earn a rematch.
This will be in place for at least the next six years.
- All rounds of the FA Cup will now be played on weekends, including the fifth round which has been played in midweek for the last five seasons.
- The fourth and fifth rounds, and the quarter-finals, will be exclusive of Premier League fixtures and the fourth round will have an extended window from Friday to Wednesday.
- FA Cup Final will take place on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season on an exclusive Saturday with no Premier League fixtures taking place on the same day.
In exchange for this, the Premier League has increased funding to the football pyramid, providing up to an additional £33 million for grassroots football.
Reading will enter at round one as a League One club, and exited in round two this season at the hands of non-league Eastleigh.
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