Peacock tells FA to keep the cup cash coming

Lancaster City manager Darren Peacock has called the FA Cup a 'lifeline' for Non-League clubs in the build-up to Saturday's all EVO-STIK League clash at King's Lynn Town.

In an interview for the Football Association's website ahead of the Third Qualifying Round clash at the Walks, the former QPR, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers defender hailed the critical role a run in the world's oldest cup competition can play with the prize money and other benefits they bring.

After knocking out another EVO-STIK League side in Premier Division FC United of Manchester in the previous round, a win at the weekend will net the Dolly Blues another £7500 in prize money. Peacock, in his first full season in charge at the Giant Axe, says their run means everything to the club and the region and is targeting another win in the penultimate qualifying clash.

The 46-year-old said: "Saturday is a huge game for us. When you’re at a club like this there are plenty of people associated with the club for many years. They tell you about the days that they’ve got into the First Round Proper and what it means to the club and the region.

"These are memories that we want to rekindle. It’s exciting times for the club and the rewards are there for anybody that does well. It really is a lifeline for a lot of clubs at this level. It’s a small club and we operate on a week-to-week basis in terms of finances.

"It’s a struggle for clubs at this level to get money in and The FA Cup is vital to clubs like ours. You’ve got the exposure factor as well, for the club, the city and the area - but the financial rewards can make such a difference. It’s massive for us."

Peacock, who took over at the Giant Axe in April 2013 after more than 15 years away from the game, also told the FA's website that while top level teams may prioritise the Premier League and European competitions – it is the opposite for his First Division North squad.

He added: "We’re in five competitions. We’ve got four cups and the league. In the Premier League they’re only in three or four competitions and they’ve got a squad of goodness knows how many.

"Sometimes we can’t put a full team out because of work commitments on the weekends, so we really do have to take it week by week. We can’t afford to look ahead to pick our teams based on future fixtures, but even if we could this would always be a top priority."

To read the full interview visit: www.thefa.com/news/the-fa-cup/2014/oct/fa-cup-preview-kings-lynn-v-lancaster-city.

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