Why Eastbourne's dream FA Cup tie with Blackpool could really be make or break

This week’s FA Cup draw has handed Eastbourne Borough the biggest game in their history, when League One Blackpool visit Priory Lane next weekend.

Blackpool are a famous name in football – not least for winning the legendary Matthews Final in 1953 – but they currently are no Tangerine Dream. After a decade of ownership ravages, the club is mid-table in Division One, and new manager Neil Critchley is taking some flak as he attempts a total rebuild of his first-team squad.

But the prospects for a shock Borough victory can wait a week. Before then, the club has a bundle of planning and logistical issues to tackle. As this week progressed, club officials were still hanging on a decision by television executives which can make or break the club.

Six ties in the First Round Proper will be televised live, with extended highlight packages for around ten others. The five-figure broadcast fee, together with commercial and sponsorship income, would set up any club of Borough’s status for the season. And, of course, the tidy sum of £24,000 from the FA Cup prize fund awaits – split 75%-25% between the winners and losers.

But – astonishingly – home clubs who miss out on TV coverage will actually risk losing money on the tie. All the match expenses, including the travel and accommodation expenses of the visiting team, must be shared between the two clubs – and there is not a penny of gate income to cover them. Glory might come at a cost….

Pleasingly, Blackpool supporters - barred from travelling - have rallied to the Borough cause. Fans on their internet forum (Another View From The Tower) are offering to donate the cost of their admission ticket to club funds, to compensate for the Sports' loss of income.

The same initiative by Bradford City fans - unable to travel to their tie at Borough's neighbours Tonbridge Angels - has already raised around £2000 for Angels' funds.

Commenting on the draw, Danny Bloor was his usual buoyant self.

"It’s great to be at home to a football league club, particularly a club like Blackpool with the pedigree and history they have.

"They were a Premier league side not too long ago, and are of course previous FA Cup winners. As a kid you look back to famous faces like Stanley Matthews and Alan Ball, as well as Ian Holloway among many prominent managers.

"They’ll be firm favourites, but if we play to our full potential and they perhaps have an off day, who knows what’ll happen."

The Sports have been playing twice a week throughout October, and the last thing Bloor wants is to face Blackpool with a team frayed with fatigue or niggled with injuries. This Tuesday (3rd), for Borough’s tricky visit to Hastings United in the Sussex Senior Cup, Bloor has indicated that he will “use the full options and resources of the squad”. In other words, the Pilot Field will see an array of squad players, and possibly some of Sas Parsad’s vibrant Under-18s, given their chance to impress. Away supporters are not permitted at the all-ticket game.

Meanwhile Borough are in action again tomorrow (Saturday) when Welling United visit Priory Lane in National South. The game, behind close doors, will be streamed free to air via the “Eastbourne Borough Official” YouTube channel.