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The FA Cup could be a potential financial money pot for Gillingham and manager Steve Evans is keen to exploit it.
He may be short of players - down to 14 this week - but he believes those he does have at his disposal are capable of beating a Cheltenham Town side this Saturday in the first round.
The Gills enjoyed a windfall in round three against West Ham during Evans’ first season. He’s hoping for more of the same if they can get over the first couple of hurdles in the competition.
Commenting on the weekend FA Cup game, Evans said: “When you have had any form of success in it, it is magical. I have been to the fifth round twice, fourth round numerous times, beaten some huge clubs on the way and had some magical afternoons and some magical nights.
“The Gillingham fans can relate to it, only a few years ago Steve Lovell led them to a win over Cardiff City. They come around every so often and when you get them, the more experienced you get, you realise you have to cherish them. Unless you play for the elite clubs, at the top of the Premier League, they don’t come around very often.
“From our point of view financially it could make a massive difference to us, not beating Cheltenham, but getting a West Ham at home for example on tele and then suddenly having half a million pounds. That for us is massive.”
They face a fellow League 1 side this Saturday, one who have already knocked them out in the League Cup this season. Evans was at Portsmouth on Tuesday night to see Cheltenham grab a point, days after the side also held Sheffield Wednesday to a 2-2 draw.
Cheltenham enjoyed a good run last season and bagged some much-needed funds themselves after playing Manchester City live on BBC television in the fourth round.
Evans knows his team face a tough challenge as the two clubs target cup rewards again.
He said: “They are a good side, they have one or two players like Dan Crowley who we had in pre-season, we couldn’t afford him, they signed him, they have the boy Kyle Vassell who we tried to have a conversation with, couldn’t afford him, they signed him, but the manager there is doing a great job and they have young Lewis Freestone who I had at Peterborough United, a good left foot, great lad, they will be tough opponents for us.
“I was really impressed with them on Tuesday night [Evans watched their 1-1 draw at Portsmouth] and really impressed with them when they came to Priestfield earlier in the season [winning on penalties in the League Cup].
“They are a good side, they have come up with a lot of momentum from League 2 but we have got some good players as well. We might only have 14 but they are god players.”
Adult tickets for Saturday’s match are reduced to £10. Under-18s and seniors pay £5 and under-12s are free with a full-paying adult. Kick off is at 2pm.
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