Sheppey United manager Ernie Batten looks ahead to FA Cup First Round clash with League 2 Walsall at Holm Park on Friday night

Sheppey United’s FA Cup run could set the club up for generations to come.

The Ites - the lowest ranked team left in the competition - have never been to the First Round before and Friday night’s sell-out with League 2 Walsall is live on TV.

Ernie Batten has guided Sheppey through five qualifying ties - starting in the Preliminary Round on August 19 - to get to this stage. With prize money, gate receipts and around £50,000 for a live broadcast, the club might be looking towards a six-figure profit.

But it’s not just the money that is important.

Club director and manager Batten said: “It puts you in the spotlight and sets you up for many, many years.

“We had over 1,200 supporters there in the last round, lots and lots of youngsters. They will have a memory of that and they possibly become the next generation of Sheppey United supporters.

“It is a generational thing, it really enhances the club, certainly in this day and age with social media and the rest of communications now even more so. That is the fantastic thing we can take out of it.

“We’ve had non-stop requests for interviews, we’ve got the game live on TV, it is just a whole new ball game plus also the financial side is massive for us.”

The club’s management are set to host a press conference on Wednesday night ahead of the match as they get a taste of the big time.

Batten has cut short a pre-arranged business trip especially to make sure he can take training ahead of the game and be there for the big occasion.

The finances have been a big boost for Sheppey, having started the season with the departure of their chairman Matt Smith, and much-needed sponsorship. Batten admitted his players had to take a pay cut.

He said: “At the start of the season we were a bit