What happens when the FA Cup brings the BBC cameras to your club

One of the great things about the early rounds of the FA Cup is the interest of the BBC in broadcasting select matches from the competition.

TNT Sports hold the broadcast rights to the world’s oldest cup competition from the First Round Proper onwards, and will do so for the next four seasons, it was revealed in the summer.

However, matches in the six rounds before that are up for grabs and it is something the BBC has done on a regularly since it showed the Extra Preliminary Round tie between Litherland REMYCA and AFC Liverpool in 2017. This part we are assuming (although not unreasonably so), but when it comes to how the BBC pick which match to show, they’ll be looking at potential audience size, technical limitations, and XS (expected shocks, or the David and Goliath coefficient).

The 25/26 FA Cup saw BBC cameras return to the area with Tadley Calleva’s home tie at Barlows Park against Southern League Premier Division South Weymouth selected. It has since been announced the Second Qualifying Round tie between Pickering Town v Runcorn Linnets will be the next match featured.

Football in Berkshire wanted to delve a little deeper to find out exactly what happens when the national broadcaster gets in touch. Thankfully, the Roman’s chairman Sandy Russell was very obliging!

“The BBC contacted our Secretary to enquire whether we would be open to the idea of the match being televised on iPlayer. After we agreed the BBC contacted Weymouth as both teams need to agree plus accept the kick-off being brought forward to 12.30pm [as we understand this is due to the 3pm blackout]. The FA then approve and a visit is arranged for the BBC to ensure the ground is suitable.”

“Although we have a platform, the BBC erect their own platform as a risk assessment needs to be put in place. They decided that between the dugouts was the most suitable, despite the risk of picking up industrial-type language!”

Qualifying Round matches are broadcast on iPlayer and the Red Button service, so they don’t quite have the same promotion behind them, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a fee with both clubs expected to receive around a £1,000 each for this particular round.

Locally, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to Tadley television exploits – not least enacting a ‘giantkilling’ on a team two divisions higher. However Russell felt the move in kick-off time did affect the attendance: “We did anticipate a lower attendance figure due to it being on TV coupled with an early kick-off. Weymouth normally have a 3-400 travelling support, but ticket sales suggest just over 100 plus a few paying at the gate. We were absolutely delighted with the turnout from the local community.”

“We were absolutely delighted with the turnout from the local community”

If the gate receipts were a little lower than perhaps could have been expected for a 3pm kick-off against a side with an average home gate of 1,000, hosting the national broadcaster had certainly had its benefits to the club with Russell and his team able to leverage the BBC spotlight to get several improvements made around the ground.

“Some of our sponsors back us financially, others back us in kind,” he explained. “They were keen to take the opportunity of the match being on TV to promote their respective businesses.

“There are now more sponsor boards up around the ground which is great. And we were able to get the committee, volunteers and sponsors together to get some work done around the ground we’d otherwise be doing bit by bit.

“We have a pitch contractor this season in Kestrel Contracts Ltd who are based nearby in Little London. We were able to talk to them about the pitch being on national television and they spent all Friday at the ground preparing a fantastic surface for Saturday. They did a really fantastic job.”

Russell added: “As a direct consequence as well our Social Media following has shot up, our manager has been on BBC Radio several times and with the draw now for the Second Qualifying Round we’re enjoying our furthest ever run in the FA Cup and a bit of time in the spotlight.”

“It’s a bit of a cliche to say, but the FA Cup money this season will really help us develop the club over the next few years.”

As well as club records being broken and ground improvements made, the FA Cup prize fund – including broadcast fee – means Tadley have pocketed roughly £5,819 and are guaranteed a further £1,125 for taking the field in the Second Qualifying Round. That could rise a further £3,375 if they beat Bracknell Town. 2025/26 FA Cup Second Qualifying Round matches are due to take place on the weekend of Saturday 13th September 2025.