FA Cup replays: Yeovil and Accrington fight for Manchester United bonanza
Yeovil manager Gary Johnson reckons earnings from the United game could be around £250,000
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is only the second round of the FA Cup but for Yeovil Town and Accrington Stanley, this evening’s replay at Huish Park might as well be a semi-final given the size of the prize at stake – a home tie against Manchester United.
The potential windfall reaped by a third-round encounter with Louis van Gaal’s side would provide the perfect early Christmas present for either club and led Gary Johnson, manager of League One side Yeovil, to describe Accrington’s visit yesterday as “probably the biggest game in Yeovil’s history”.
Whoever wins will receive not just £27,000 in prize money for reaching the third round but a £144,000 fee for the live television broadcast of the United game and when matchday takings and radio and highlights fees are factored in, Johnson estimates that victory tonight would be worth “probably a little bit more than a quarter of a million maybe”.
There were 1,440 at the 1-1 draw between the sides 10 days ago but Yeovil have sold around five times as many tickets for the replay, and Johnson’s team, winners at Notts County in the last round, warmed up for tonight with a 4-0 win at his son Lee’s Oldham side on Saturday.
For League Two Accrington, the incentive is arguably even greater. The sight of United descending on Stanley’s 5,057-capacity Crown Ground for a first meeting of the clubs since 1946 would leave the romantics dewy-eyed but their manager, John Coleman, is equally aware of the huge economic benefits to a club whose annual playing budget is £500,000 – or roughly £10,000 a week. A tie with United would yield at least £220,000, surpassing by some distance the £150,000 they made from their run to the fourth round five years ago.Coleman said: “The financial implications for the club would be massive. You’re looking in the region of 50 per cent of our budget.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments