TELEVISION CASH VERY WELCOME SAYS CHAIRMAN SMURTHWAITE

PORT Vale’s FA Cup pay day will cover half their wage bill for November, says chairman Norman Smurthwaite. Vale netted £75,000 in TV fees because the Sunderland game was shown live on BT Sport, although they missed out on £36,000 in FA prize money as they were beaten 2-1 at Vale Park. Former Sunderland season ticket holder Smurthwaite explained how useful it was to have such a boost to the coffers. He told Radio Stoke before kick-off: “It’s a poignant day for lots of reasons, in particular Remembrance, and I hope the fans enjoy the spectacle in front of them and players play to their potential. “The proceeds from today cover half of November’s salaries. That’s how much it means. “We were very fortunate to be picked for TV, which when the draw came out I didn’t think would happen. I’m very grateful to the FA for considering our little club and all our needs. “It’s a special day in a lot of ways because there is form and history and for me personally, my father’s from Sunderland, his family is from Sunderland and my aunt, the most important person in my life, is from Sunderland. “I was a season ticket holder for Sunderland from 1999 to 2007 when I had a business in the North East and the factory was split between Newcastle and Sunderland fans. I went through the motions for deciding which way we would go for corporate hospitality but it was always going to be Sunderland. “I have an affinity with Sunderland through my family and seven good years watching them at their best in the Premiership. I hope they’re nowhere near that good today. I understand their chairman is in the away end so I might go and try to serve him some pies and coffee, which I might do for a bit of fun. It’s a great day for our football club for raising our profile and raising the roof for fans in terms of our expectations for what we can achieve.” He added: “I would have liked to have had TV at a nonleague club away - another Shortwood would have been nice - but this is the best draw for us since 2014 when Micky Adams had a good FA Cup run until we got beaten by Brighton.” ■ VALE are at Walsall in the Checkatrade Trophy tomorrow (7pm) and, on the same night, are at home to Sutton Coldfield in the FA Youth Cup second round (7.30pm).