Gateshead handed potential £200k boost as FA Cup tie with Walsall is selected for live broadcast
Gateshead's FA Cup second round tie with League Two club Walsall has been selected for live television broadcast by TNT Sports.
Gateshead have received a welcome financial boost after their FA Cup second round home tie with League Two promotion contenders Walsall was selected for live broadcast by TNT Sports.
Alun Armstrong’s men secured their spot in Monday’s draw with a stunning win at League One club AFC Wimbledon as top goalscorer Kain Adom and former Middlesbrough academy midfielder Fenton John both found the net in a 2-0 victory at the Cherry Red Records Stadium. The Heed’s reward was a first home tie of their run and they will now welcome the Saddlers to the International Stadium on Sunday, December 7 for a 3.30pm kick-off.
The decision by TNT Sports also means Gateshead will receive £60,000 in broadcast fees as their attempts to join Premier League neighbours Sunderland and Newcastle United in the third round tie are broadcast to the nature. With the Heed also landing a total of £57,125 in prize money from their fourth qualifying round win at Aveley and Saturday’s shock triumph against Wimbledon, the run has proven to be a welcome financial boost for the National League club.
The Heed will earn at least another £21,200 in prize money no matter what should happen against Walsall - but a shock win over the Saddlers would secure a prize pot of £79,500 and take their overall earnings from their run to around the £200,000 mark. For chairman Bernard McWilliams, the news of the TNT Sports decision has come as ‘a welcome boost’ for the club as they look to move on from what has been a difficult period on and off the pitch at the International Stadium.
He told the Sunderland Echo: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase Gateshead as a football club and community and obviously the financial side of the decision to broadcast the tie can not be ignored. We are working hard to improve the financial situation at the club and this is a welcome boost for us all.
“However, we also want to show what we can do on the pitch and we would appreciate the support of the local community with Newcastle United and Sunderland playing on the Saturday before our game with Walsall. To get to this stage of the competition has been a fantastic achievement from Alun and the players and we would love everyone to get behind us as we go into another tough test with Walsall next month.”
Your next Non-League read: Armstrong wants local support as Gateshead handed Walsall tie in FA Cup second round