It's Chasetown!

Last updated : 26 October 2005 By The Chairman
Athletic will travel to Chasetown FC for the first round of the FA Cup. Chasetown shocked Blyth Spartans 1-0 at the Scholars Ground in the replay of the fourth qualifying round to enter the first round proper for the first time in their history. Chasetown play in the Midlands Alliance which is the same level that Oldham Town and Chadderton play.

Chasetown could make anything up to £100,000 for reaching the first round proper as the BBC have confirmed that they will screen the match live on Match of the Day on November 6th. They will pay £60,000 to each club and as fourth qualifying round winners Chasetown will receive 10,000 prize money from the FA.

In reality the game will be played at either Walsall's Bescot Stadium or at Hednesford's Keys Park ground where gate receipts would be around £30,000. Chasetown manager Charlie Blakemore does not want the game moved and said, "There's talk of it being Hednesford or Walsall, but I'd like it at Church Street because playing there would be totally alien to Oldham, who have never heard of us. It's a dream come true to see our name in the first round proper. We're living a dream and we want the dream to continue. It's gripped everybody."