Survival or FA Cup glory – which would you choose?

Relegating a team from the Premier League while securing a major trophy in the same campaign is a rare feat, but Wigan Athletic achieved it in 2013. How many domestic finals have you witnessed your team reach and claim? For non-Premier League big club supporters, the count may be low. The question of whether such victories are worth the risk of dropping to lower tiers remains pertinent as Leeds United and West Ham United face a similar crossroads in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Both clubs are poised to enter a rare final, yet the specter of relegation looms. Leeds’ last major domestic triumph was in 1992, when they won the Final First Division title. West Ham’s last FA Cup victory took place in 1980, beating Arsenal 1-0. Over three decades have passed since either team last contested a major final at home, leaving many fans unfamiliar with such moments. Despite this, both made strategic changes in the previous FA Cup round: Leeds deployed nine players against Norwich City, while West Ham used seven to overcome Brentford in penalties.

The financial stakes are significant. Winning the FA Cup rewards teams with £2.1 million, but surviving in the Premier League offers far greater gains. In the 2024-25 season, each Premier League position brings £2.7 million in prize money. Finishing 17th, just above the relegation zone, earns £10.8 million—nearly five times the FA Cup payout. Relegation’s economic toll is even steeper. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimates a £100 million average loss for clubs dropping from the top flight, citing the 2023-24 season’s £111 million as a benchmark.

“The club that finished bottom of the Premier League two years ago, the last set of dates we have, got £111m,” Maguire told the Daily Mail in January. “I think by the end of this season, we’ll be looking at somewhere in the region of £120m from the television companies alone. That will drop to around £45m in the Championship, so that is already about £75m [lost].”

Managers often view cups as a platform to rotate squad members, a tactic that prioritizes short-term gains. While fans may cheer for the silverware, the financial realities can shift focus. Wigan fans, however, offer a definitive perspective. Having won the FA Cup in 2013 while being relegated, they remain steadfast in their pride. “Football shouldn’t be about making up the numbers; it should be about winning trophies,” says Martin Tarbuck, editor of the Mudhutter Football Express fanzine. “That’s why any Wigan Athletic fan asked whether they’d prefer survival over the FA Cup, would respond with a resounding no.”

“As fans and as a club, we will carry that glorious piece of silverware with us until our final breath. There’s no trophy for finishing in the lower half of the Premier League. Football is about the glory, and recalling 11 May 2013 still brings tears of joy to Latics fans.”

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