There will be 262 clubs taking part in this season’s FA Carlsberg Trophy and total prize money for the 2008-09 campaign sits at £984,600 which is an improvement of almost a quarter of a million pounds on last season’s figure of £741,000.

And there’s good news for the 514 clubs taking part in The FA Carlsberg Vase this season as well with the prize fund rising to £567,600 - a 33% increase on the 2007-08 total of £425,200.

Clubs can look forward to significant pay days in the early stages of both competitions and The FA’s Chief Executive, Brian Barwick, welcomes the increase for sides within the National Game structure: “We know how important these competitions are to the thousands of football fans, clubs and volunteers out there and we’ve decided to reward that loyalty and passion with increases to our prize fund chest.

“Both The FA Carlsberg Trophy and Vase have always been massive competitions for The Football Association and we’re looking forward to yet another exciting campaign and two great finals at the end of the season.”

The prize money for the finalists of both competitions remains the same as last year with The FA Carlsberg Trophy winners taking home £50,000 while there’s £20,000 for the victorious FA Carlsberg Vase club.