Marine recently discover if they can have fans attending the mich anticipated FA Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur next month.
Following a coronavirus assessment at their 3,185-capacity stadium, the non league outfit have been given permission to host a total of 500 fans for their FA Cup Third Round fixture with Spurs, who sit 6th in the Premier League table, in January.
Marine’s stadium is located in Merseyside which is in tier 2, and thus a limit was agreed between the FA and Sefton council.
The Northern Premier League Division One North West side were dramatically drawn at home against Jose Mourinho’s Spurs in the 149-year-old competition, with their tie set to take place on January 10.
Not only will Marine be able to receive gate receipts for the mouth-watering tie, but the will also receive a £75,000 windfall after the match was selected for broadcast on the BBC.
Marine are named after a local pub and have generated £150,000 so far across their run to the third round.
The Merseysiders are only the second team ever from the eighth-tier of English football to ever reach the third round after Chasetown FC were knocked out by Cardiff City at the same stage of the competition in 2008.
Marine’s Emirates FA Cup run has been a record-breaker for the club, having won through seven rounds beating Barnoldswick Town, Frickley, Runcorn Linnets, Nantwich Town, Chester, Colchester United and Havant & Waterlooville on the way.
The game against Tottenham Hotspur sees the biggest gap in the history of The FA Cup between two competing teams with Tottenham sitting 6th in the Premier League and Marine also placed 6th at Step 8 in the English football system.
Club officials have decided that tickets will be allocated initially to priority groups such as members, players, staff and main sponsors. The balance of the tickets available out of the 500 will then be offered to regular Marine fans who have attended all or the majority of the seven home games played at the Marine Travel Arena up to the October 31. No tickets will therefore be placed on general sale.
Marine chairman Paul Leary said: “It is absolutely vital that our members, regular supporters, players, staff and main sponsors receive between them the number of tickets that we have available.”
“Our members and regular fans deserve the chance to watch the most magical FA Cup game in the history of the competition.”
“As we are strictly limited to the number of spectators that can attend the game, it is of course regretful that we cannot put any tickets on general sale, as the demand for any possible remaining tickets would be overwhelming.”
In a gesture of goodwill Marine have offered all Tottenham season tickets holders free entry to a home game next season, when coronavirus restrictions are hopefully lifted, in order to make up for a lack of away fans for the FA Cup tie.
Jose Mourinho claimed he’s looking forward to facing the non-league side. The Spurs boss said, ‘I hope there are good conditions in the stadium, in terms of safety-related to protocols. I would love to play in that small stadium, that’s for sure.
‘It means a lot for the home fans, the players and the coach. The best way to respect them is to take the team, the players they want to play against. We are going to respect them. We are going to respect the competition.’
Fans reacted as Marine discover if they can have fans attending FA Cup tie with Tottenham…
Marine are allowed 500 fans in for the Spurs game and will get around 75k alone for the game being broadcast on the BBC. This is why I love the FA Cup.
— David Coates (@coatesy1976) December 22, 2020
I see Marine have rewarded their fans’ loyalty by capping tickets for their FA Cup game with Spurs at £10.
£18 fucking quid for a Papa John’s Trophy game.
— Mark (@poshfanupnorth) December 20, 2020
Spurs fans unlikely to be allowed in but if any of you know someone who lives by Marine’s ground, you’ll be able to get a great view https://t.co/exrgY2UYt7
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) November 30, 2020
Marine v. Spurs though. Jose Mourinho managing against an 8th tier side is what the FA Cup is all about. They’ll be allowed fans in too!
— James Flynn (@james_flynn) November 30, 2020
A real club that is being rewarded financially especially when they need it now more than ever
— Mankini Dave (of The Yeltz Army) (@Spag68) December 21, 2020
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