Chasetown prepare for the big day

Last updated : 03 November 2005 By Dave Moore
TheFA.com has described preparations by cup minnows Chasetown and tells how they are guaranteed a massive £75,000 payout when their First Round clash against three-time Semi-Finalists Oldham Athletic is screened live by the BBC1 before a TV audience of millions on Sunday.

They're in the First Round Proper for the first time ever, and with Midland Alliance colleagues Leamington, are the joint lowest-ranked club left in the competition.

Charlie Blakemore's giantkillers have already won five rounds, scoring 19 goals, and set up their showdown with the Latics when a tense 1-0 Fourth Qualifying Round replay success over cup battlers Blyth Spartans extended their unbeaten run to 19 games.

"We've already won our cup final," enthuses club chief executive Mike Joiner, who as Midland Alliance chairman is doubly thrilled to see two of its members excelling in The FA Cup.

"I've been involved at the club for 40 years and at the start of the season I said 'Look, we've done a few things in the last 40 years but let's see if we can do something really special this season' - and this is really special!

"It's a family club and we want it to stay like that but we're really enjoying our spell in the limelight - it's a reward for everyone's efforts, and for those less glamorous nights when you have to fix the toilets!"

Aside from The Cup's romance, the hard cash produced by prize money, gate receipts and television fees has given the club a massive boost.

Chasetown have landed £22,000 in prize money, with £16,000 up for grabs against League One Oldham - who knocked out Manchester City last year. Each side is guaranteed £75,000 in TV money, and a capacity crowd of around 2000 at Church Street should generate gate receipts of around £20,000.

Chasetown have resisted calls for the tie to be moved to Hednesford, Walsall or Oldham, and while one-off expenses such as providing temporary segregation fences could cost £20,000, the club is confident of making at least £80,000 from The Cup run.

"We didn't want to move it to another ground," stressed Mike. "This is our home, and to play elsewhere is losing the reason for the competition.

"The money is unbelievable. Each year we budget around £15,000 on stadium improvements, but if we get £80-£100,000 we weren't expecting from The Cup we can bring our plans forward five years."