Ball hopes for lucrative Torquay United FA Cup run

Jimmy Ball has yet to lose an FA Cup tie as Torquay United manager [Shutterstock] Torquay United manager Jimmy Ball hopes a good FA Cup run can help the club financially. The Gulls host National League North side Oxford City in the fourth qualifying round on Saturday with the aim of making round one for the first time since 2023. If Torquay are successful it will be the first time they have made the main draw since going into administration in February 2024 and being rescued by a consortium of local business people. "It's about filling up the coffers, it's about security," Ball told BBC Radio Devon. "A really good cup run can set you up for years and really help a club kick on, so that's what it's about for all of us clubs. "The chances of winning it are zero, so you've got to then get the luck of the draw, you've got to then take your opportunities to then get on the television, play a Premier League club if you can, or a big, big League One or Championship club and fill up the coffers, make the club stronger for a few years to come." Torquay fight back to draw with 10-man Derby Torquay United 'embarrassed' by Bishops Cleeve in FA Cup 'Toothless' Torquay United knocked out of FA Cup Torquay's last tie in the first round saw them get one of the biggest sides they could in Derby County in November 2022. After holding the 10-man Rams to a 2-2 draw at Plainmoor the then-National League Gulls were beaten 5-0 at Pride Park in a replay. Since then Torquay had won just two FA Cup matches before this season - both in 2023 as they reached the fourth qualifying round where they were beaten by Maidstone United. They were upset by eighth-tier village side Bishop's Cleeve in 2024 before going down to fellow National League South side AFC Totton last year. Ball - whose side scored five goals in the final 30 minutes to beat 10-man Slough Town 5-1 last week - says he expects a tough test from Oxford City. "I think it will be a real ding-dong FA Cup match," he said. "I like the way they play, I like their attacking style, I like their players and how they do it. "They want to control possession of the ball, so do we. "We'll have to try and stop them having control and break on them and spring counter attacks against them and I guess they'll have to do the same to us. "I think it'll be a really, really good FA Cup match. I don't see them coming here and sitting in and being cagey, I see them coming here and playing, so if they do great."
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