Magic of the FA Cup can bring money and memories for lower-league clubs says Gillingham manager Mark Bonner

The FA Cup is all about money and memories for lower-league clubs, according to Gillingham boss Mark Bonner.

The 38-year-old is only in his second managerial job but he’s already got a major FA Cup scalp to his name after winning at Premier League Newcastle in 2022.

“It’s great when the good stuff starts, it’s really good,” said Bonner. “If you can be at a club that gets on a run it is amazing, the emotion that’s attached.

“I always say the FA Cup is about two things for a lower-league club, money and memories, and if you can have both you’ve had a brilliant a year in the competition.

“The prize money on offer is big. Obviously, the big lucrative replays are gone now, probably my favourite memory at my previous club was we played Manchester United at home, drew 0-0 and got a replay at Old Trafford, that was epic. That created unbelievable memories and huge amounts of money.

“We won at Newcastle, a full house at St James’ Park. You can have career highlights in this competition if you can get (past) a few rounds – but that’s the hard bit. You’ve got to try and get through a few rounds and hope that the luck of the draw falls your way.

“I’ve got some brilliant experiences in the competition and the lads would have done for sure. Let’s see if we can start a run on Saturday, the aim and intention will be to be in Monday’s draw.”

The romance is still there for little clubs with big dreams, just look at non-league Maidstone’s historic run to the fifth round in last season’s FA Cup.

Bonner is one man who doesn’t need to be sold on the magic of the competition in an ever-increasing football calendar.

“As a fan when you’ve been involved and seen smaller clubs be competitive and beat teams higher up, it is the best,” added the