Bolton up first for the Alex in FA Round Round One.
Despite crowds not being permitted into stadiums for the foreseeable future, Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell says the FA Cup competition is still vitally important for lower league clubs. There is still vital prize money on offer for progressing through the early rounds and Artell says that his players should be thinking about reaching the rounds when the bigger clubs enter.
The Railwaymen will have to get past Bolton Wanderers first this weekend and having already won 3-2 there in the EFL Trophy back in early September; Artell’s side can go there in confident mood.
Crewe will be aiming to put three straight 1-0 defeats behind us in League One with a positive result in the world’s oldest cup competition.
Ahead of our trip to the University of Bolton Stadium, Artell told us: “The FA Cup is still very important. It of course will be very different without the fans in but it has been that way for a few months now and it is something we have to get on with.
“We want to win every game, especially where you can make progress and bring some glory and finances to the club. Of course, the bigger clubs up the pyramid may look upon the FA Cup as a hindrance until the later rounds but the lower leagues still rely on the prize money and the chance of being on the television.
“We want to win, build some momentum and take that into our league form. It can help with that and it is another game for us to go and try and win.
“I want the players to aim big. I don’t want them to settle for the first round or getting to the second round. Why can’t we get to the 5th round and get a Premier League side and be on the TV? Why can’t our players progress to those rounds and have the chance to play against some of the top players in the country? That should be the aim and that is what the magic of the FA Cup is all about.”