Western Morning News (Saturday)
Adams highlights the importance of FA Cup cash to a club ‘like Plymouth Argyle’
The financial rewards of a successful FA Cup are ‘vital’ to a club such as Plymouth Argyle, manager Derek Adams has admitted.
The Pilgrims will take their first step in the competition this season when they play Stevenage, who are eighth in League Two, at Home Park this afternoon.
Two years ago, Argyle made a substantial sum of money after playing Liverpool twice in the FA Cup third round.
Both ties were televised live and from the income that the Pilgrims they received they used part of it to substantially upgrade their training ground facilities.
The prize money in the FA Cup this season has been increased significantly so the rewards are even greater now.
For example, the winners of the 40 first-round ties this weekend will receive £36,000 in prize money as opposed to £18,000 previously.
In the second round, it has risen from £27,000 to £54,000 and in round three it has gone from £67,500 to £135,500.
So there is every incentive for Argyle to make as much progress as possible in the competition. Adams said: “It’s vital. We are obviously competing against teams that are far wealthier than us and I think that any money we can generate will help us move the football club along.
“We have got a grandstand that needs to be refurbished, and we have got a training facility that we improved after the Liverpool games, which was hugely beneficial to the football club.
“We have added a number of things with that money to try and benefit us.”
Adams admitted that the training-ground upgrade would probably not have happened had it not been for the two money-spinning FA Cup ties against Liverpool.
He said: “When I first came to the football club the training pitches were in a terrible state.
“Now we have got a brand new fence, we have got drainage on the top and bottom pitches, a sprinkler system on the top pitch, and we have got water to the bottom pitch.
“At this moment in time, we are getting a bore hole in to reduce the amount of water bills that we pay, so we are improving it all the time.
“It’s important for the foot- ball club that we keep on making small steps.”
Stevenage have won their last two league games, 2-0 away to Cheltenham Town and 3-2 at home to Oldham Athletic. That leaves them only three points behind third-placed Colchester United.
Adams said: “They have done well in League Two this year, pushing towards the playoffs.
“They have got a number of experienced players, who we have come up against over the seasons.”
Stevenage were beaten 4-0 away to AFC Wimbledon in a Checkatrade Trophy group game on Tuesday – but manager Dino Maamria made a number of changes to his team.
Adams said: “They rested a lot of players the other night so they will be coming here trying to cause an upset. We understand that.
“We have come off a number of very good performances against very good teams, and we are at home.
“We will be taking the game to them first and foremost.”
Argyle have reduced admission prices for the first-round tie, with under-18s being admitted for £1.