IN just over a fortnight, Worcester City have become richer to the tune of £12,000 thanks to their FA Cup exploits.
The Blue and Whites pocketed £4,500 for beating Coventry Sphinx 4-0 in the second qualifying round on September 28 and another £7,500 after seeing off Rugby Town, albeit at the second time of asking.
While such figures would be considered loose change when discussed in terms of, say, the Premier League, its importance to City cannot be overstated.
When you bear in mind that, when topped up by gate receipts, it’s around a quarter of the £50,000 the club banked in season ticket sales to see them through a whole season, the amount is significant.
There is another £12,500 on offer if they can turn the tables on Lincoln City in the fourth qualifying round, too.
Of course, FA Cup cash has always been vital to teams like Worcester but, now they are in exile at Kidderminster Harriers, it is even more so.
The current amount will certainly pay the players for the forseeable future and it could also help strengthen the squad rather than having to release personnel to balance the books. It is a situation not lost on striker Danny Glover, who helped fire City to within one victory of the first round proper with the first goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 replay win at Rugby.
“These are the games that you need for Worcester to survive, I know it sounds silly but it does help a long way,” he said.
“For the club, I think it was massive, we knew the importance of it and after last Saturday we wanted to put it right. We thought that we did well to stay in the game on Saturday and personally it was a below par performance and a few of the lads were a bit frustrated.
“But we dug deep on Tuesday and I thought, as the game went on, we were getting stronger and I thought we were the only ones who were going to go on and win the game.
“It’s all for the club. I think the gaffer needs to give me a bit of a pay rise now but I don’t think I’ll be getting that!”
As well as the money up for grabs, City are also relishing the prospect of taking on Lincoln, a side who were in the Football League until 2011 when they were relegated to the Conference.
Glover said: “You never know in the cup. If we turn up I think we can give them a decent game. They’ll be surprised at how we can keep the ball and play.
“We’ve got some good lads and it’ll be a chance for them to prove themselves against a team in a higher league. What more of an incentive than to do that?”
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