AFC TOTTON go in search of prize money over £15,000 in the FA Cup as they face Truro City tomorrow at The Snows Stadium!
Worst case scenario, if The Stags lose tomorrow they have already secured £3,125 for just getting to this stage, but Totton will be eyeing up that full winning prize of £9,375 as well as the potential to earn six figures in the next round.
The club secretary at Totton, Richard Matthews, said qualifying for the first round proper is ‘massive’ for the club.
He went on to say “Not only does it raise the profile of the club, but financially a good run in the cup is crucial for non-league teams.
“Just getting through to the first round proper will earn you £15,000, but a win will pocket the club over £40,000 and that’s without tickets sales or a big opponent to play against.
“The added incentive for making the first round proper is also potential TV coverage. You can draw an EFL club like Bolton for example home or away and not only is it a memory of a lifetime for the fans but players too, and with TV coverage as well as shared gate receipts comes more money into the club.”
It has been 14 years since the last time AFC Totton made the first round proper, and on that day they played Bradford PA, and they won 8-1 to set up a second round game against Bristol Rovers.
In that game as well there was a bit of FA Cup history in that first round game over a decade ago as then AFC Totton striker, Stefan Brown scored a hat-trick in fifteen minutes and 11 seconds, making it the fastest FA Cup hat-trick by a substitute, a record that still stands today.
Super fan and the person who controls the social media at Totton, Adrian Rose, said he is ‘nervous but excited’ for this clash with Truro.
“The last time we were in the fourth qualifying round two years ago we lost to Ramsgate, and I know how gutted everyone was then to miss out on that opportunity to progress but we’ve got another one now.
“Playing against Truro, we have history, and not only are we looking for revenge from the FA Vase final but also we want the financial boost that comes with winning tomorrow to continue our climb up the league.”
As aforementioned, Totton and Truro do have history against each other in cup competitions.
In 2007, one of the first ever cup finals played at the new Wembley Stadium was AFC Totton vs Truro City, a day that many fans will remember and cherish forever, even though that day Truro came away with a 3-1 win, litfting the FA Vase.
Then in the 2012/13 FA Cup Truro and Totton met again, with The Stags getting one back for 2007, winning 2-3 away from home.
Heading into this game, let’s look at the recent form from the two teams:
LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON
Vs Eastleigh | Away | HSC R2 | Lost 2-1
Goalscorer: Hisham Kasimu 68’
Vs Torquay United | Home | FA Cup Second Qualifying Round | Won 2-0
Goalscorers: Scott Rendell 33’ & Luke Hallett 65’
Vs Horsham | Away | ENLS | Won 0-2
Goalscorers: Tony Lee 43’ & Ash Clarke 79’
Vs Frome Town | Home | FA Cup Third Qualifying Round | Won 4-2
Goalscorers: Tony Lee 11’ 66’ 85’ & Ash Clarke 15’
Vs Weston-super-Mare | Home | ENLS | Won 3-1
Goalscorers: Ash Clarke 32’ 70’ & Scott Rendell 60’ PEN
LAST FIVE: TRURO CITY
Vs Scunthorpe | Away | ENL | Lost 4-0
Vs Brackley Town | Away | ENL | Lost 1-0
Vs Morecambe | Home | ENL | Won 5-0
Goalscorers: Connor Riley-Lowe 24’, Luke Jephcott 52’ 75’, Dominic Johnson-Fisher 63’ & Aiden Marsh 90’
Vs Eastleigh | Home | ENL | Lost 0-2
Vs Woking | Home | ENL | Drew 2-2
Goalscorers: Will Dean 77’ & Zac Bell 87’
Should Totton progress tomorrow, the draw for the first round proper will be live on TNT Sports 1 during the pre-match coverage of Worthing vs Forest Green, which is approximately 6:30pm on Monday the 13th of October.
