This season's FA Cup could give Bishop Auckland the perfect platform to launch a charge back to the Northern Premier League, says co-manager David Bayles.
The Two Blues are as ambitious as they come in non-League football and whilst ground technicalities have proved to be their undoing in the past, Bayles believes everything is now in place to make the journey back to the region's summit for the first time since their 2004-05 campaign in the top flight.
Bishop Auckland v Sunderland RCA
The FA Cup
Extra Preliminary Round
7.45pm, Friday 15 September
Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland FC
Winning clubs receive £1500
By Josh Wright
Bayles’ men will take a break from their league commitments this weekend as they host Sunderland RCA at Heritage Park on Friday evening, and he hopes the financial gains from English football’s premier cup competition can aid the club's progress.
"An FA Cup run is vital to any side at our level, particularly for ourselves. It generates a ridiculous amount of income should you get through a number of games," revealed Bayles.
"It is vital for clubs at our level to receive this income as it can be hard to come by.
"We are ambitious, we have our ambitions to get back to where we once were in the Northern Premier League, but at the moment, we are some way off that.
"Winning matches and gaining momentum and confidence is what it is all about. We want to focus on the league, but The FA Cup is paramount, and it sets the season up nicely if you can progress through a few matches."
Bishop Auckland have done exactly that under the management of Bayles and fellow boss Steve Riley so far this season. The Durham club have begun their league campaign with consecutive league wins, including a 2-1 victory away to rivals West Auckland Town on Tuesday evening, and will now go into Saturday’s clash in high spirits.
And with clubs always looking forward to playing at Heritage Park, which has hosted pre-season games for Premier League outfit Sunderland this summer, Bayles knows that adds to the pressure on his side.
But Bayles warned: "Every game at home is a tough game because we have great facilities, a fantastic pitch and players like to come and play at our new venue.
"It is going to be a tough game, we understand that, but we hope that our experience, and our players can see Sunderland RCA off."
