HEREFORD FC have made their feelings clear about the Football Association’s move to scrap FA Cup replays from the first round onwards.

Hereford’s most famous moment came in their 1972 victory against Newcastle United in a third round FA Cup replay.

In more recent years the Bulls have profited from a televised FA Cup second round replay against Fleetwood.

The FA stated on Thursday that the competition will be without replays in the first round due to the ‘expanded UEFA competitions’.

The calendar agreement, which is for a minimum of six years, has faced criticism from Football League and non-league sides.

Hereford are amongst them and released a statement which said: “We would like to express our disappointment at the announcement from the Premier League and Football Association that the format of the FA Cup will be changing, including the scrapping of replays from the First Round onwards.

“It is clear this decision has been taken with the views of a small minority of clubs to the fore, placing little or no importance on how significant and special the FA Cup is to hundreds of others – both financially and through the additional interest that is often created in local communities.

“Our city was catapulted onto the football map thanks to the exploits of Colin Addison’s Southern League Hereford United team in the 1970s, and his side’s FA Cup Third Round Replay win over First Division Newcastle United in February 1972 remains one of the greatest upsets in the competition’s history. No-one will ever forget the late, great Ronnie Radford.

“Under the FA Cup’s new rules, a giant-killing exactly like this will no longer be possible, as the match would have to be settled at St James’ Park, without the added drama of a second game at Edgar Street.

“We would join the huge number of EFL and non-league clubs in asking the Football Association to suspend this decision until a full consultation has taken place with all the affected stakeholders in the game we love.”

In response to criticism about the change the Football Association says that they have been discussing next year’s calendar with the Premier League and Football League for ‘well over a year’.

“Removing Emirates FA Cup replays was discussed in the early meetings and all parties accepted that they could not continue,” the FA said in a statement.

They added that the FA Cup rounds would all now be held at weekends and that an increased number of matches in the early rounds would now be broadcast.

“We understand the concerns expressed over the last 24 hours, and we will be sharing more details with clubs very shortly to explain the additional revenue opportunities in the early rounds,” the FA statement added.

“We will keep this under review as the new calandar begins to ensure that EFL and National League clubs do not lose out.”