IT'S the biggest game in more than 60 years for Leiston as FA Cup fever sweeps the north Suffolk town.On Saturday afternoon Victory Road, Leiston will be buzzing as the Blues entertain Coalville Town from Leicestershire, expecting a big attendance and hoping for another FA Cup pot of gold.

Mike Bacon

IT'S the biggest game in more than 60 years for Leiston as FA Cup fever sweeps the north Suffolk town.

Tomorrow afternoon Victory Road, Leiston will be buzzing as the Blues entertain Coalville Town from Leicestershire, expecting a big attendance and hoping for another FA Cup pot of gold.

And in today's credit crunch market, the £7,500 cheque tomorrow's victors will receive in this third qualifying round tie, will be greatly appreciated, as Leiston chairman Andy Crisp explained.

“Players today expect wages at this level of football and many in this League are paid three figure sums on a weekly basis.

“At Leiston we pay players weekly, some clubs pay per game, but even we can't compete with one or two clubs in our League.

“If we beat Coalville it will take our winnings in both the FA Cup and FA Vase to almost £20,000 this season and that would mean we will make a small profit at the end of the year.

“As a club we have been very close in the last three years to getting things right and if we were to win on Saturday, we would be able to enjoy the rest of the season with few financial worries.”

For many people it will seem incredible that £20,000 a season only just covers costs for a club in the Ridgeons League these days.

But football at all levels has moved on dramatically over the past decade and while most people were happy to pay to play 15 years ago, that has all changed now.

What hasn't changed however is the excitement of the FA Cup which still captures fans' imaginations around the world. And with former Ipswich Town star Titus' brother Tes Bramble fit to play for the Suffolk side, Leiston are hoping for an afternoon to remember.

IN Monday's Green'Un read the full report with pictures from Leiston v Coalville Town. Or go on-line at www.greenun24.co.uk Saturday night for the result.