A trip to the unknown for Eastbourne Borough in the FA Cup

The Emirates FA Cup draw has handed Eastbourne Borough a journey into the unknown.

They travel to Brantham Athletic – 120 miles away on the Suffolk coast – in their second qualifying round tie on Saturday 22ndSeptember.

Brantham, of the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division, reached this stage of the competition with a 1-0 win over Spalding United on Saturday.

SEE ALSO Sussex sides discover their next FA Cup opponents | Bowman on the Road: FA Cup pride for our Sussex Clubs | Eastbourne show potential in thrilling draw with East GrinsteadThe Blue Imps play at Step Five – the equivalent of the Southern Combination – and currently sit in mid-table, having played only three league games. They entered the FA Cup in the Extra Preliminary Round at the beginning of August, and have dispensed with Wivenhoe Town (5-0 a), Welwyn Garden City (1-0 h) and Spalding United (1-0 h) to reach this stage.

With prize money almost doubled this season, an FA Cup run can be a huge boost to finances. Last weekend’s winners each earned £6,000, and a victory in the next round comes with a £9,000 cheque. If Eastbourne Borough were to reach the First Round Proper, they would be richer by at least £48,000 in prize money alone – quite aside from gate receipts, commercial opportunities and even the Holy Grail of a possible televised tie. But first things first: it is Brantham or bust for Jamie Howell’s men.