It was only a few seasons ago that national newspapers across the country were getting all hot and bothered about a lack of respect being shown for the FA Cup.

The Football Association itself describe the competition, on its website, as the oldest and best domestic cup competition in the world.

However, a couple of years back there was a fear this status could be jeapordised by managers fielding weakened sides in the competition as they looked to preserve Premier League status or concentrate on the Champions League.

As a result the likes of Arsene Wenger and Steve Bruce were hit with criticism for not valuing the competition.

However, if anyone over the past few years has done their best to devalue the FA Cup it is the English Football Association themselves.

It was four years ago the FA decided to move the semi-finals to Wembley Stadium, probably because they had spent £30m extra on building the thing than planned. As a result they needed to host everything from a Bon Jovi concert to an American Football match to recover the costs. The semi-finals being held at a neutral venue, like Villa Park, had long been part of the FA Cup's history. It had allowed fans outside of London to witness the games closer to home and gave a sense of inclusion and involvement for the whole of the country. The trouble is there is no money in it.

Just like there is no money in giving FA Cup final tickets to the supporters that deserve them.

The FA has for years now flogged FA Cup final tickets to corporate sponsors, some of whom have no interest in football and support the final as enthusiastically as Andy Murray would if he were forced to sit through a 90-minute video of England's greatest World Cup games whilst eating a nettle.

And of course there is no money to be made in allowing clubs from step six of the non league football ladder into the competition.

The FA of course have to allow some non-league clubs in as that is what makes the competition unique, but it seems there is now too many minnows for the FA and they are quick to turn their backs on the Cornish clubs who have long supported the competition. During the past few seasons the FA have cut the prize money for the non-league teams entering at the early stages of the competition. So much so that Falmouth Town chairman Steve Kimberley told the Packet that it costs Falmouth Town to enter the competition to start with and it is not until they reach the later qualifying rounds that they are able to make any money - and there is no guarantee of that.

It seems the FA have forgotten the clubs who have ably supported the competition through the years. Falmouth made the first round proper on three occasions when they played Oxford United in 1962 and Peterborough United in 1967 and 69.

More than 8,000 people went through the gates at Bickland Park for the Oxford tie. Sadly though that was a time when the FA Cup held true to its inclusive policy of trying to reach as many football fans across the country.