Marine FC set for £75k windfall with their FA Cup clash with Tottenham chosen for BBC broadcast

Marine FC's fairytale FA Cup run has taken another welcome twist after it was revealed their third round tie against Tottenham will be shown live on BBC One.

All 32 clashes from the next stage of the prestigious competition will be broadcast live for the first time, with eight to be shown for free on the BBC.

The selection will see Marine bank £75,000 when Jose Mourinho's side travel to Rossett Park on January 10.

Marine are only the second team from the eighth tier of the football pyramid to reach the third round and were handed a dream showdown with Spurs, who currently top the Premier League.

The club, based in Merseyside, are ninth in the Northern Premier League Division One North West, but made the headlines after memorably knocking out Havant & Waterlooville in the final minute of extra time on November 29.

James Barrigan, a bin man by trade, delivered a free-kick towards the far post in the dying stages of extra time, and Niall Cummins, a PE teacher, benefited from a deflection to spark scenes of jubilation.

Marine are named after a local pub and have generated £150,000 so far across their run to the third round.

Their meeting with Tottenham will kick off at 5:30pm on the BBC's flagship channel, it was confirmed on Tuesday.

It has been suggested that the game may be moved to Anfield, should Marine not be able to make their own ground Covid-19 secure.

Chairman Paul Leary has insisted that no discussions over any temporary move have taken place, however.

He believes his club are ready to host Tottenham and that they are looking forward to welcoming back a limited number of supporters.

'We've not been in discussions to play at Anfield and all of the parties that have been involved in discussions have been focused on making sure we make the ground COVID secure,' Leary said.

'I read something that said we were unable to do this which isn't true. We remain positive that the game will be held here at Marine and that is what we are working towards.'