Tipt-On The Horizon For United
Last updated : 28 October 2010 By Thetashkentterror
The Black Country club having sealed their place in the opening "professional" stage of the competition by defeating Sheffield FC 2-0 last night in their Fourth Qualifying Round replay thanks to goals from Eric Bowen and Danny Campbell either side of the break in front of a bumper crowd of 1,429 at the Tipton Sports Academy, that attendance doubling the previous record crowd at the
Baker-Joiner Midland Football Alliance Division One club.
The original tie between the eighth tier club (Sheffield) and ninth tier side (Tipton) finishing all-square last Saturday at the Coach and Horses Ground. Cameron Jones putting Town ahead as early as five minutes in before Andy Gascoigne and Brian Cusworth made it 2-1 to the home side at the break. Danny Campbell midway through the second-half though ensuring that the tie went to last night's replay.
That drawn match is one of only five games that Tipton haven't won so far this season, with their overall league and cup record reading W18 D4 L1. Remarkably eight of those matches have come in the FA Cup with the Black Country side starting as far back as you can go in the competition, with their Extra Preliminary Round 5-0 win at Alvechurch in mid-August earning them just £750.
The Preliminary Round saw them defeat Stratford Town 3-1 at home, then next up in the First Qualifying Round was a 1-0 home victory over Norton United before next up in the Second Qualifying Round came a 2-0 win, again at home, and this time over Market Drayton Town. Radcliffe Olympic in the Third Qualifying Round did require a replay though after a 3-3 draw in Nottinghamshire, with Tipton then winning the second game 2-0 at home.
That run of success in the FA Cup has earned Town £29,250 so far, with commercial manager Dean Pearson commenting on the financial side of things to the Express and Star :
" It is still sinking in. Playing in the first round is a fantastic opportunity for us and the funds that we will receive from getting through to the next round will give a club like ours a very good financial base for the next few seasons. What we want to do now is get some of the fans who were at the game last night to keep coming to support us. If we could do that it would be fantastic. " We had earned £17,250 up to this point and there is another £12,000 from this. But we haven't even taken gate receipts into account. That is just pure prize money. In the current economic climate it's very difficult to get funding in place so this is an absolute God-send for us.
" The money will be put back into the club because it's absolutely vital that we have money to pay for pitch fees and for transport to matches and all that sort of stuff. It means it isn't quite so difficult to keep the club going. If we get promoted there will be extra costs associated with that so this will help us hugely. "
While Tipton-born former Wolves legend Steve Bull told the Express and Star :
" I drive past the ground regularly and it is a fantastic set-up there. I have been following Tipton's progress and this is a great result for the team and the town. I played for Tipton from 14 until I left for Albion at 19 and the club is close to my heart. What I want now is a draw at Carlisle and a replay back at Tipton. I might be able to get to the game then - if I can get a ticket! "
As for league action, Tipton are currently second, on goal difference behind Coalville Town, in the Baker-Joiner Midland Football Alliance Division One with Danny Campbell leading the way in the goalscoring charts with 13 goals so far this season. Campbell has also struck nine times in the FA Cup and is the obvious Town dangerman, while former Redditch man Jozsef Jakab is another player in double figures for the campaign with 11 goals.
Tipton still have two games left to play before they come to Carlisle a week on Saturday as well, with Town facing a trip to Frior Lane in the league this weekend and then a home game against Ellesmere Rangers in the opening round of the Walsall Senior Cup next Wednesday evening. You would certainly expect the Black Country side to play a youth side in that game though just two days before their big day out at Brunton Park.
Ticket details for the match on Saturday 6th November at 3pm now being up on the Blues official site HERE
