A run in the early stages of The FA Cup can be critical to the survival of clubs such as Lancaster City, according to manager Darren Peacock.
The former QPR, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers defender took over the reins at the Lancashire club in April 2013 – and in his first full season in charge he has guided his side to the Third Round Qualifying of The Cup.
After defeating FC United of Manchester previously, the Northern Premier League Division One North side face a trip to King’s Lynn on Saturday as they bid to continue their Cup adventure.
King's Lynn Town v Lancaster City
The FA Cup
Third Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 11 October
Walks Stadium, King's Lynn
Winners receive £7,500
And the manager says the run means everything to the club and the region.
“It really is a lifeline for a lot of clubs at this level,” said Peacock.
“It’s a small club and we operate on a week-to-week basis in terms of finances.
“It’s a struggle for clubs at this level to get money in and The FA Cup is vital to clubs like ours.
"You’ve got the exposure factor as well, for the club, the city and the area - but the financial rewards can make such a difference. It’s massive for us.”
Peacock also said that while top level teams may prioritise the Premier League and European competitions – it is the opposite for Lancaster.
Darren Peacock celebrates a UEFA Cup goal for Newcastle in 1996
“We’re in five competitions,” he added.
“We’ve got four cups and the league. In the Premier League they’re only in three or four competitions and they’ve got a squad of goodness knows how many.
“Sometimes we can’t put a full team out because of work commitments on the weekends, so we really do have to take it week by week.
"We can’t afford to look ahead to pick our teams based on future fixtures, but even if we could this would always be a top priority.”
The former defender took over at Lancaster in April 2013 after more than a decade away from the game.
"It’s about 15 years since I finished playing," he explained. "When I first finished playing after I got injured I moved totally away from football. I moved abroad to Portugal for four or five years and ran a small business when I finished.
"I wasn’t doing any coaching when I was away, but I was always watching games and looking at the results. My boys got involved in football and you never really lose the buzz.
"So when I came home I thought it was time to get back involved in going to watch football again. I’d moved to a village near Preston and went to watch Lancaster a few times.
"I had no intentions of coaching them then, I just thought I’d go and watch a local game. But then a position came free, I went in for it and here I am."
“The rewards are there for anybody that does well”
Darren Peacock
A victory against King’s Lynn on Saturday would leave Peacock’s side one win away from a place in the First Round Proper.
And the Bristol-born boss ended by saying it would be a dream come true if he could help the city relive some fond moments of years past.
“Saturday is a huge game for us,” he said.
“The rewards are there for anybody that does well.
“When you’re at a club like this there are plenty of people associated with the club for many years.
"They tell you about the days that they’ve got into the First Round Proper and what it means to the club and the region.
“These are memories that we want to rekindle. It’s exciting times for the club.”
