The cash gulf of the cup for Tipton

Tipton Town stalwart Steve Palmer has revealed the financial gulf facing them in the FA Cup at Carlisle United on Saturday.

Town travel to face the League One club in the FA Cup first round proper in the biggest game in their 62-year history.

Codsall-based defender Palmer, the 33-year-old son of former Wolves star Geoff, revealed their previous Cup opponents, Sheffield, were on £500-a-man to beat them and reckons Carlisle could be on double that.

He said: "I've got a mate who knows a few of the Sheffield lads and he told me they were on £500 each just to beat us.

"That was the incentive Sheffield had. Goodness knows how much the Carlisle lads will be on to beat us - probably £1,000 each.

"It doesn't bother us though, we just use that as a tool to motivate us."

Tipton's players include a teacher, plasterer, forklift truck driver, postman and an IT technician.

Chairman Bill Williams has poured £250 into a players' kitty for each of the six rounds they have won so far in a run which started on August 14.

The club, which has already banked £30,000 in prize-money, have splashed out on an overnight hotel stay on Friday night to spare players the gruelling four-hour coach journey.

Tipton will field a reserve side when they host Ellesmere in the Walsall Senior Cup tonight.