FA Cup Third Round: Five things to watch out for

Macclesfield hoping to stay afloat with a win

As the lowest ranked side still remaining in the competition, you would be forgiven for thinking that Conference side Macclesfield Town would be looking at their clash with Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday to claim a huge scalp. But, the truth is that, romance and glory isn’t why Macclesield want to win it, it is purely for the money.

With the club only just surviving summer after being bailed out by Cheshire East council, the £67,000 prize money guaranteed by a win against a Championship side would go a long way towards helping the Silkmen, who are in the words of their manager, “barely surviving week to week”. Having won all four of their games over the festive period, they go into the clash against manager less Wednesday knowing that the chances of an upset are far from improbable.

If Macclesfield win and make it to the fourth round for only the second time in their history, they are sure to enjoy another big payday.