Formerly the Charity Shield and organised by the Football Association, it provides a windfall pay-out each year as community-based initiatives and charities around the country share in the proceeds.
Revenue from the gate receipts and match programme sales is distributed to the 124 clubs who competed in The FA Cup from the first round onwards.
Clubs in turn pass on much-needed donations to charities and projects of their choice, while the remainder is distributed to the FA’s national charity partners
The two Shield contestants are allocated £27,000 each for their good causes, but in all nearly £300,000 from last season’s match between Chelsea and Manchester United was handed out.
From Accrington Stanley, who gave their £2,000 share to their Community Trust, to York City, who split theirs between local charity Lollipop and St Leonard’s Hospice, there was cash for everyone.
Preston’s benefited the Sir Tom Finney Foundation, Northampton remembered the Samaritans, Blackburn the East Lancs Deaf Society, and Walsall packed a punch for a local amateur boxing club.
The two teams who compete in the Wembley curtain-raiser are rewarded with a bumper £27,000 each to donate. City naturally forwarded their £2,000 share last season to City in the Community.
