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FC Halifax Town v Charlton Athletic: Aspin wants FA Cup show of pride for TV audience
Neil Aspin.
They don’t come any harder than League One leaders Charlton Athletic, but boss Neil Aspin hopes their FA Cup first round clash will put FC Halifax Town firmly back on the map.
The Blue Square Bet North side will take part in their biggest match since reforming in 2008 on Sunday (kick-off 12.30pm) as the Addicks, five points clear at the top of League One, arrive at The Shay for a game which will be broadcast live by ITV.
Charlton are clear favourites and expected to win comfortably, but the former Harrogate Town manager sees the wider impact of the match for Halifax.
“It is a massive game for the club and one which raises our profile, as we’re playing the biggest team in the draw possible,” he said.
“While it is daunting on the field, off the field, no matter how you dress it up, financially because of the TV, it will benefit the club in the long-term.
Difficult
“It is a big occasion which all the players want to play in because they may never get the chance ever again to play in such a big game.
“Everybody is eager to play.
“We know how difficult it will be because it’s the hardest game we could have got. They’re beating every team in their league, while we’re only mid-table in ours.
“Nothing is expected of us, Charlton are expected to win easily, so we have nothing to lose, but I do hope we earn some pride and do as well as we can.
“But the whole day is about showing Halifax in a good light and I just hope we do ourselves justice.”
One problem Halifax do have is a lack of available strikers.
James Dean, who scored twice in last Saturday’s win at Gloucester, starts a six-game ban for man-handling the referee at Guiseley back in September.
And top goal-scorer Lee Gregory (hamstring) is the only injury doubt, having missed the last two matches, and Aspin is remaining tight-lipped on whether the marksman will be fit to play.
However, on-loan Chester FC forward Jamie Rainford is free to play and could start alongside Danny Holland.
“At the moment Lee is not fit but there are a couple of days still to go before the game,” Aspin said. “It is difficult having few bodies in the forward areas with James suspended and potentially also being without our top scorer.
“But we knew we may be without him when he limped off against Hyde earlier this month.
“It is difficult for players at our level to get treatment for injuries because they all have full-time jobs, but the injury he’s got is not something you can heal by speeding up the recovery.”
From Sunday, Halifax will bank an FA live broadcast fee of £67,500 to go along with the £25,000 they have already collected for three FA Cup qualifying-round wins.
Aspin is hoping to use some of the cup revenue as a springboard to move up the league table – Halifax are currently 11th.
“After Sunday the aim is the league and trying to get into the play-offs,” he said. “We’re four points off them and we want to keep in touch. And one of the main objectives is to use some of the money generated from the Charlton game to bring some players in.
“We’re not going to catch the top two, but we are capable of picking up enough points to reach the play-offs.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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