Due to their FA Cup heroics, Coventry City is expected to receive over £1.7 million in prize money.
The Championship squad led by Mark Robins will face Manchester United in the semi-final at Wembley next month following their thrilling triumph over Wolves of the Premier League on Saturday.
In the other match, Manchester City will take on Chelsea. Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals the weekend of April 20–21.
With one minute remaining, Coventry was behind 2-1, but they rallied twice in extra time to win an exciting match at Molineux and secure a hefty payout.
Chelsea overcame Leicester 4-2 to win the quarterfinal match, and United overcame Liverpool 4-3 on Sunday. Newcastle was easily defeated 2-0 by City on Saturday.
Following years of financial hardship, Coventry will receive an additional £500,000 even if they lose their match versus United, bringing their total FA Cup winnings this season closer to £2 million.
The money will give Coventry’s finances a big boost; the Premier League and Football League are still at odds over the proposed “New Deal.”
Doug King, the owner of Coventry, is eager to upgrade the club’s Ryton training field amenities, and the pitches are currently undergoing renovations.
After taking over the club in January 2023, King paid off all of the debt and resolved the off-field problems that had plagued them for nearly ten years, including the lease on their Coventry Building Society Arena home.
Reaching the last four will earn Coventry £1.4 million in prize money, and their matches against Wolves and Maidstone were also televised, which has already earned them a further £325,000.
In an attempt to duplicate their 1987 victory, when they raised the trophy after defeating Tottenham 3-2, Coventry’s prize fund will rise even more with the semi-final matchup against Manchester United scheduled to be live on TV.
“The victory over Wolves was enormous and our greatest victory since ’87,” King declared. We’re in the semi-final, a place we haven’t been in for 37 years, and our stature is rising.
“We are making the trip back to Wembley, hopefully with a slight improvement from the previous one [in which Coventry was defeated by Luton in the Championship play-off final].”
“We’re trying to really move it forward and give Mark [Robins], who has been here for seven years, an opportunity to get to the top tier and manage in the Premier League.”
With nine games remaining, Coventry is four points outside of the play-off spots and sits ninth in the Championship table.
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