Last year's FA Trophy run (including Wembley) made the club over £200,000 and reduced a potential loss of nearly £700,000 to under £500,000.. Here's a useful take on that situation, which I won't repeat;,
http://toogoodtogodown.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/as-grimsby-town-post-losses-of-480000-should-we-be-worried-for-the-future-of-the-club-as-we-know-it/
An FA Cup run is obviously preferable to the Trophy not just because it potentially involves more income, but it also see the current Town XI test itself against League teams. Let's be honest, neither Scunthorpe nor Northampton have particularly scared us so far. The Terriers are another proposition, but home advantage and the current unbeaten run; who knows?!
Undoubtedly the excitement of two Cup games against Scunny is joined by some financial benefits. GTFC budget for certain average attendance levels for home games over the season. This year's budget is set on the basis of an average of 3,300 for 23 home games, as confirmed at October's Fans Forum (see http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Cup-runs-high-attendances-help-strengthen-squad/story-19914551-detail/story.html )
The FA Cup has SO FAR brought in 4 additional games, meaning increased ticket sales, more money, more chance of reaching that target. The Scunthorpe home tie proves that we can fill Blundell Park, but highlights that we don't. In the home league games so far our attendances have ranged from 2400 to almost 4400. The midweek Dartford and Welling games have been the low points attendance-wise. But being able to use the ground for 27 or more home games thanks to the cups, well, that must help the club's income. And hopefully the Trust Bars too!! ;-)
Each year GTFC remain in the Conference, our finances suffer more and more. It has been well documented that income from being in League Two and being in the Conference differs by around £700,000. That's before increased attendances and improved Cup opportunities (the League Cup would hopefully provide more glamour and more finance than the FA Trophy) are taken into account.
Even if we reach the FA Trophy Final again this year, even if we beat Huddersfield and/or force a replay, and if ideally we get a Premiership club in Round 4 of the FA Cup, (and there are a load of IFs in this sentence aren't there), then the main way for us to improve our finances instantly is via promotion.
Anyway, the Cup run; what financial impact? Hard to tell. The direct impact is a little extra money perhaps towards balancing the books, and compensating for low attendances like Dartford or Welling. The indirect impact will be seen in the next few weeks and months. For instance, the next 6 home league games are Kidderminster, Macclesfield, Lincoln, Gateshead Hereford and Southport. The highlighted three are in the Christmas period. It would massively help the club's finances not to mention the players' morale if we could pack the park over Christmas and New Year. To help us make the most of the Cup Run, bring your friends, relatives, the people who came with you to the Scunthorpe game to the Christmas games too!
It would be nice to remember this season as the one we escaped the Conference, returned to the League and knocked Scunthorpe, amongst others, out of the Cup as part of a memorable Cup run.
Incidentally, the Kidderminster game, now next Thursday 19th, for tv reasons, is being promoted as a Memories game; so wear your retro Town gear, check out the link, http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/article/mariners-memory-game-1230517.aspx
UTM