Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust and RamsTrust are disappointed by the Football Association’s decision to schedule the kick-off time of our third round FA Cup tie for 6pm on Saturday 11 January 2025.

This decision has been taken solely to suit the requirements for screening the game to various international viewing audiences ahead of the needs of match-going fans in the UK. The kick-off time is even later than the 5:15pm seen for late Premier League games on Saturdays, and with the potential for extra time and penalties the Derby fans in particular face a late journey home from London.

While both clubs are set to receive a payment of £30,000 for the international broadcast, this is scant consolation to supporters for the inconvenience. Following on from the abolition of replays from the 1st Round Proper, this is just the latest decision taken without regard to the history of the competition and the needs of supporters.

We jointly call on the FA to rethink such decisions and put match-going supporters’ needs at the forefront of FA Cup scheduling, without whom football is nothing.