How telly snub fired Stourbridge to FA Cup glory

The non-league Glassboys created the shock of this year's competition so far by knocking out Northampton Town, who play four divisions above them in League One, to advance to the third round for the first time.

But Tuesday's 1-0 win at the War Memorial Ground was not shown live on TV, after broadcasters BBC and BT Sport both overlooked the tie, despite Stour being the lowest-ranked club remaining.

Pountney believes being shunned gave boss Gary Hackett and his players added motivation.

"We talked about it this week, me and Gary," he said. "If we needed any more motivation to come and win a game like this, then that was it.

"I do think we have been dismissed. We are the lowest team left in the competition and I genuinely think they (the broadcasters) didn't believe we could

do it.

"But we deserved to win. We were the better team."

Stourbridge will now travel to League Two Wycombe Wanderers in the third round on January 7, another tie which will not be televised.

Under competition rules, the Glassboys will receive half of the gate receipts from the tie at Adams Park, though the financial windfall will be significantly less than had they been drawn against a Premier League club.

Pountney added: "It's difficult to say what this means in terms of finances. We won't get the radio money for the postponed game against Northampton last week.

"The goalposts seem to move every week. We won £27,000 on Tuesday for winning the game. After that, I know as much as anybody."

Tuesday's victory was the second time Stourbridge have knocked out league opposition in six seasons after they defeated Plymouth Argyle in a first-round replay back in 2011. They had reached the second round in three of the last five seasons but were unable to find a way past Stevenage, in 2011 and 2013, or Eastleigh last year.

Pountney, chairman at Amblecote since 2009, believes Tuesday's achievement is testament to the hard work put in by everybody at the club.

"I was almost in tears at the end, with all the hard work we have put in," he said. "Things like this make it all worthwhile.

"The day after is always a reality check of course. I will be taking the kids to school at 8am!

"Tuesday didn't surprise me. We beat Plymouth. I know we lost 4-0 at Stevenage (in 2013) but we played better than the score suggests. Against Eastleigh last season we had chances. We are not a million miles away.

"We have brought in new players this season, reshaped a little bit. That is what we have done and we are now starting to see what we have invested in.

"This was our fourth time getting to the second round and this is the best team we have had.

"We will go to Wycombe now and we are capable of beating them. I don't see any reason why we can't do it.

"It's great, isn't it? Exciting."