The Emirates FA Cup’s fourth round this weekend will pit its lowest-ranked team Kidderminster Harriers against the Premier League’s West Ham United.
And ahead of the tie, we've commissioned a financial and economic impact report that shows the true value of the National League North side’s run and success to date.
The report has been led by Dr Rob Wilson, a football finance expert at Sheffield Hallam University, and it has estimated that the club’s run to the fourth round has separately had a revenue benefit of more than £500,000 to Kidderminster Harriers and almost £800,000 to its local community.
The Carpetmen’s running total has been received from the competition directly in the form of prize money, gate receipts, broadcast and commercial fees, with the additional boost to the local economy generated by visitor spending, and the West Ham fixture generating revenue of almost £300,000 in its own right.
After joining the competition at the second round qualifying stage, Kidderminster have won six matches to reach the fourth round and will face a West Ham United side more than 100 places above them in the football pyramid in a tie that will be broadcast live to more than 150 countries around the world.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Wilson said: “Kidderminster Harriers have performed heroics to reach the fourth round and have been rewarded with a home tie that our research shows will provide a significant financial and economic lift to both the club and its local community.
“We’ve calculated the direct financial impact through prize money, broadcast and commercial fees along with detailed estimates, which are based on empirical research, and the broader economic impact underpinned by the spending habits from fans, visitors and those lucky enough to have a ticket.
“The data clearly shows the transformational boost that Emirates FA Cup success can have on a club and a community. Kidderminster, much like Marine in 2021, Lincoln City in 2017 and countless other clubs over the years, show why the competition is as important as ever for clubs at all levels of the football pyramid in its 150th anniversary season.”
Richard Lane, owner of Kidderminster Harriers and a local IT business owner, added: “It’s been an incredible Emirates FA Cup journey for the club this season and one that has really lifted the players, fans and the local community. There's no doubt that the economic boost from the team’s performances will be a massive help in ensuring the club can be self-sufficient for years to come, and that is the most important result for our fans.
“We're a club that puts the community at the centre of everything we do. Winning Community Club of the Year in 2019 is one of our proudest achievements and one which epitomises Kidderminster Harriers. Our success in this season’s competition is reward for our fans, the local community and local businesses who support us week-in-week-out both on and off the pitch.
“Saturday promises to be a very special day at Aggborough, and one that evokes great memories from West Ham’s visit in the fifth round 28 years ago. For a generation of Kidderminster fans, our 1993-94 run was the start of a lifelong love affair, and we’re hoping that this season’s success will have a similar impact on a new generation of fans.”
Andy Ambler, director of professional game relations at the FA, added: “As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the world’s most popular domestic cup competition, it’s important to acknowledge the impact that success has both on and off of the field.
"As Dr Rob Wilson’s study demonstrates, there can be no doubt that season after season the competition has a transformational financial and economic impact on clubs and communities like Kidderminster which can be felt for many years to come.”
