Stourbridge FC count down clock to huge FA Cup clash
Stourbridge Football Club are today preparing for one of the biggest games in their history as they look to make it into the third round of the FA Cup for the first time.
Glassboys chairman Andy Pountney said he was pinching himself over the national attention the club has attracted ahead of its tie against League One side Northampton Town tomorrow.
Victory for Stourbridge would not only put them in the hat for the third round alongside the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as Wolves and Albion, but could also net them a £1 million windfall.
A bumper crowd of more than 4,000 will pack into the War Memorial Ground to see if The Glassboys can overcome the odds to get the better of Northampton.
Mr Pountney said: "If you get an away game, against Manchester United or someone like that, you are talking 45 per cent of their gate. That is what you'll get. It's minimum half a million.
"When Cambridge played them last year, that game alone earned Cambridge £1.2m. Crawley earned over £1m when they played them.
"All these clubs have gone on to be league clubs because it has been such a massive amount of money into the pot."
Former England international Chris Waddle will be in Stourbridge as part of the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary team, while BBC's Football Focus also featured The Glassboys.
Mr Pountney said: "I'm on first name terms now with TV producers. I'm on Football Focus on Saturday. You do have to pinch yourselves a bit."
Boss Gary Hackett said the game will be the club's biggest ever in the FA Cup.
The team has developed a reputation for its cup exploits and famously defeated league outfit Plymouth Argyle in 2011. Hackett said: "We have had some great moments in the cup over recent seasons, but you never get used to it."
