Tipton's FA Cup run a club lifeline

Tipton Town manager John Hill has spelt out the reality of the club's lucrative FA Cup run by admitting - "this will keep us afloat for a couple of years."

Last night's 2-0 win against Radcliffe Olympic earned Tipton a historic tie at Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club, in the fourth qualifying round a week on Saturday.

The victory earned the Midland Allliance club £7,500 to swell Tipton's earnings to £17,250 in the competition so far.

Hill said: "You can't get away from the fact that the money gained is unbelievable.

"This little run has earned us £17,250 and that's without programmes and merchandising, which for a club of our size is massive.

"This money will keep us afloat for a couple of seasons."

The game was watched by a crowd of 500 - around five times the size of Tipton's normal gate.

Hill also revealed chairman Bill Williams has topped up the players' fines fund by £250 per round - but that his own reward was a pint of Guinness at the bar.