Deloitte report shows the financial benefit of Leyton Orient's FA Cup run (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Deloitte report shows the financial benefit of Leyton Orient's FA Cup run

2:25pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Sport

The revenue from last season’s magical FA Cup run generated circa 30 per cent of Leyton Orient’s total revenue for the year, according to a report by Deloitte.

The report shows that the competition has delivered £643m in prize money, TV payments and gate receipts to participating clubs over the ten year period 2001/02 to 2010/11.

The breakdown of those figures shows gate receipts accounting for £413m, prize money £121m, with £109m coming from TV payments.

Orient’s campaign saw them reach the fifth round of the competition where they held Premier League giants Arsenal to a replay before bravely bowing out at the Emirates Stadium.

The entire run generated circa £1.4m – circa 30 per cent of the club’s total revenue for the year, with prize money accounting for £0.2m of that.

Russell Slade’s side were broadcast on TV four times in their journey – three times on ESPN and once on S4C – earning them £0.5m in TV revenue, with the two Arsenal clashes accounting for 80 per cent of that.

Indeed, the pairing with the Gunners proved so lucrative that the two meetings combined provided £0.5m in gate receipt revenue, with a further £0.2m coming from the earlier rounds. That provides a total of £0.7m in gate receipts – 50 per cent of the club’s total income from the cup run.

O’s chairman Barry Hearn said: “The FA Cup is the biggest Cup competition in the world. It’s a big chance for all small clubs to have their moment in the sun and get a little bit of glory, whilst the financial returns are also fantastic.

“It is miles ahead of everything else because of the pleasure it gives to ordinary football fans throughout the entire country, providing memories that last for generations not just for weeks.”