THE FA Cup represents an opportunity for Darlington to gain heightened exposure as well as prize money if they can enjoy a run in the prestigious competition, starting with the first of Hyde United’s two visits to Heritage Park.

Hyde are the opposition for the first qualifying round tie this afternoon, and they also travel to North-East in seven days’ time for a league fixture, but today all focus is on the Cup and the potential it holds for non-league clubs.

Last season Blyth Spartans made national headlines when they reached the third round with a run that saw them defeat Darlington after a replay before going on to humiliate Hartlepool United live on BBC television.

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The Northumberland club made around £150,000 from their run, including money earned from TV coverage, while Warrington’s coffers were boosted when their shock first round win over League Two Exeter City was televised.

Darlington have a long way to go before reaching that stage, however, as today’s game is in the first qualifying round with the winners receiving £3,000.

“The competition has a great history and as club at our level it’s about how far you can progress. It can bring in a lot of revenue,” said Darlington manager Martin Gray.

“Blyth and Warrington showed what can be done last year, they set the standard, and there’d be nothing better for us than to make a name for ourselves as well as bring in some financial income.

“It would be great to have a run. It’s a fairytale competition and we’ve got to make sure we win the game this weekend in 90 minutes.”

Quakers’ new signing Ryan Brobbel was playing in the Football League at this time last season, on loan at Hartlepool from Middlesbrough, although he had returned to the Riverside before Pools were embarrassed by Blyth.

He has also had two temporary stays at York City, so switching to the Northern Premier League, having been released by Boro in the summer, represents a big drop for the winger, whose cross set up Nathan Cartman’s goal during his debut against Ramsbottom United on Tuesday.

“We’ve already got similar players, but his signing brings competition and you can never have enough of that,” said Gray.

“You’re always looking to strengthen the squad, that never stops, and at least in the short term that is what we’re doing.

“He’ll definitely bring competition for places, he’s got a lot of quality, so we’ll see how things go.”

Playing in the third level of non-league football is likely to present Brobbel with a test of his character as well as football ability.

Gray added: “He either buys into what we do or he doesn’t play, and that goes for everybody. It doesn’t matter where you come from, you have to buy into our mentality and hard work ethic and if you do that your quality should come through. If Ryan didn’t fit in he wouldn’t have played on Tuesday.

“I demand both sides of the game. You can’t be just a player blessed with ability, it’s about the team.”

Brobbel stands a good chance of being selected today ahead of Anthony Bell, who made little impact on Tuesday before being replaced at the break by the former Boro winger.

Gray added: “We’ll play our strongest team, as will Hyde, because the last thing I want is for us to go down there on Monday night for a replay.”

Whichever XI the manager chooses to face a club 19th in Darlington’s division with two wins from eight games, Gray will want a first half much-improved on Tuesday.

“We had a game plan, but the players did not stick to it and we needed to get to half-time to shake things up,” he said. “We got back to the game plan in the second half, but it’s frustrating when you set things up, as a manager, and the instructions are not followed from the first minute.

“Having said that, Stephen Thomson was one-on-one and was stopped from scoring with a great save, and we had two or three balls goals go across the goal.

“There was more endeavour from the team in the second half.”

Darlington and Hyde met in the first round of the FA Cup in November 1994, Bernie Slaven and Gavin Worboys (2) getting the goals in a 3-1 away win for Quakers.