Lyle Taylor has 150 career goals including 23 in the Championship, 53 in League One but he also has 10 goals in the FA cup including two hat-tricks!
What can the FA Cup do for Chelmsford City?
The FA Cup continues this weekend, and Taylor’s new team Chelmsford City face Chippenham Town at home in the fourth round qualifiers.
But what would it mean to Taylor and chairman Spencer Gore to advance to the first round proper?
Gore explained:“One of the goals I have set is to put Chelmsford on the map, not just the football team but the city. It’s a great place that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough, and it’s still only talked about for being the birthplace of radio, which was over 100 years ago.”
Advancing to the first round proper after winning the fourth round qualifier not only comes with a £9,375 prize fund but also increases the chances of being streamed on national TV.
So, what does the magical cup mean to the experienced Taylor?
“I think in many ways for the bigger teams, the FA Cup has lost its sparkle as they believe there is a lot more money in their league endeavours. However, for a non league or lower league club, it’s massive.”
“It can give you an opportunity to showcase what you can do on a stage that you rarely get to play on, so I think the FA Cup can be really really special.”
Financial incentives or exposure?
When asked about the wider impact a cup run can have on a club like Chelmsford, Gore highlighted just how transformative it can be both on and off the pitch.
Gore revealed:“I want to make us a success story, and getting us on the telly would definitely be a good place to do that. A good FA Cup run can be not only season defining but can set you up for many seasons.”
“We’ve been to a few grounds this season that have had great historic cup runs going on to the third round and onwards, and you can be talking up to £1,000,000. This can go towards ground developments and many other great things.”
Winning against Chippenham Town at the weekend would be the best cup run Chelmsford have had in a few years, as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to eventual National League winners Barnet at The Hive last season.
Beyond the financial rewards, Gore sees the FA Cup as a unique opportunity to put Chelmsford City in the national spotlight, with an increasing chance if Chelmsford make it to the first round proper.
“Being on TV would be really great exposure for the fans and also a way to celebrate that we are heading in the right direction. Obviously, there is a financial gain as well, as you get more prize money,” explained Gore.
Home game or away game?
The FA Cup is a platform for underdog stories and upsets, but would Gore rather have a tough away fixture where the financial gain is immense or a home tie against similar opposition?
“For me personally, I want to keep going and keep advancing. Until you get to the later stages, the downside for me is that I don’t enjoy playing teams in lower leagues, as it gives them a chance to cause an upset rather than us!”
Time for change
Ever since Gore took over in July 2024, he has always had an ambitious mindset to try and take Chelmsford to the next level, and his summer business clearly highlights this.
Chelmsford City had a massive overhaul of the squad whilst also transitioning into a full time club. The additions of Taylor and the club record acquisition of Joe Grimwood from Barnet prove this.
Gore wants to give Chelmsford City the best chance of competing as possible, whilst also believing that:
“It’s not about the money. The money can be really nice and game changing, but it’s about having a really good run and giving the fans something to cheer about.”
“Only one team can win this league, only two teams can go up, only so many people can win things, but going far in the FA Cup can give the fans this sort of buzz.”
Mentality monster
With the prospect of the first round proper, this brings bigger teams going all the way up to League One, but this does not faze Taylor.
“For me, the preparation for any game of football is the same. I’ve been fortunate to play at many different levels, and I still get the same buzz whether that be Chippenham in front of you or Manchester United, the challenge is still the challenge.”
As special as the FA Cup is as a competition, the occasion doesn’t motivate Taylor any more than any other game.
“I am motivated by the fact that I want to score goals and win games of football, so for me, the FA Cup is not any more or less special than league football.”
“I just want to do as well as I can and score as much as I can in any game of football.”
Despite this, he has played in some big FA Cup ties like a 1-0 win where he scored the only goal to knock out Nottingham Forest. He also scored a hat trick against Mansfield Town in a 5-0 win in 2018.
But he revealed that his full focus is on beating Chippenham Town at the weekend and securing qualification to the first round proper for Chelmsford City.
You can listen to my full interview here on this podcast below 👇
