THE FINANCIAL rewards of a long run in the Emirates FA Cup are not lost on any club in non-league football.

Petersfield Town have already added almost £9,500 to their coffers from their record run and Saturday’s cup tie at Love Lane will be worth £7,500 to the winners.

The off-the-field effect of winning three games in the competition has helped to stabilise the finances of the Rams – as well as creating new revenue for them from the extra publicity the club has been receiving.

However, chairman Graeme Moir eyes the riches that could come with more success in the world’s greatest cup competition.

“Any money that is generated from a cup run in the national competitions is a bonus that you are not relying on or expecting – you can’t run a football club banking on cup prize money coming in,” said Moir.

“However, the more funds we can bring in from prize money, and more people coming through the turnstiles, allows us to invest that money in the club’s future.

“As well as generating the finances to allow the club to thrive at Southern League level we also need to look to the future and how we hope to develop the football side of the club and the stadium.

“One day in the future we would hope to play St Albans City in league matches in the National League South, but getting to that level involves a five to ten year development plan.

“If we were to get through to the First Round Proper and get a big tie that ends up on television and the radio, the cup run would then have generated five or even six figures sums for the club.

“We have a number of exciting plans and initiatives for the future and the more funds we can generate through the FA Cup this season the quicker we can accelerate those ideas.”

Moir believes though that the club’s supporters should put to one side dreams of going through another couple of rounds for the moment and enjoy the enormity of Saturday’s cup tie.

He added: “This must rate as the biggest match in the club’s history to date. We have all been lucky to experience some magical days over the last two historic seasons but a win on Saturday could top all of those memories.

“It is amazing to think of where we have come from to be able to experience days like this – and we need to enjoy them while they are here. Hopefully we can continue our progress and experience more of these days.”