FA Cup Factfile
With less than twenty four hours to go until the Silkmen entertain the might of Premier League Everton, here are just a few facts and figures to keep you entertained.
Latest Odds
The bookmakers aren't sensing a shock at the Moss Rose on Saturday with Everton priced at 1/3 on to win the game. They are offering 15/4 on the draw and a whopping 9/1 on a famous victory for the Silkmen.
Looking longer term, the bookies see a return to normality with the winner coming from the 'Big Four'. Last year Portsmouth upset the form book but you can get 40/1 on them repeating the same feat at Wembley in May. Bet365 have installed Chelsea as favourites, closely following by United.
Here's a selection of odds currently on offer.
7/2 - Chelsea
9/2 - Man Utd
7/1 - Liverpool, Arsenal
14/1 - Aston Villa / Man City
20/1 - Everton
125/1 - Stoke City
1000/1 - Crewe Alexandra
2500/1 - Macclesfield Town
3000/1 - Blyth Spartans
5000/1 - Eastwood Town
Year for the Non-Leaguers
Twenty sides from the lower leagues take their place in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup sponsored by E-ON each season. And this year's competition sees a record eight non-league team reach this stage.
They are joined by a further nine from League One, leaving just the Silkmen, Gillingham and Chesterfield (who take their place thanks to the expulsion of Droylsden from the competition) to represent League Two.
Fellow League Two sides Notts County, Bournemouth, Wycombe, Rochdale, Brentford, Darlington, Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Exeter City all succumbed to non-league opposition this season.
Record Prize Money
The prize pot for this season's competition is a record £16.4m, up 69% of the previous year. The eventual winner will pocket in excess of £3.8m with the winners of this weekend's ties banking £75k.
762 sides enter the competition, with prize money available to the winners of each round's tie. To date the Silkmen have secured £50k as a result of their wins over Harlow Town and Port Vale.
Contrasting Records
Saturday will be the Silkmen's eighth attempt to progress beyond the 3rd Round stage, the previous seven having all ended in defeat.
By contrast Everton have made the Final on twelve occasions, lifting the Trophy five times, the last win coming back in 1995 thanks to Paul Rideout whose 30th minute header secured a surprise win over favourite Manchester United.
The have had mixed fortunes of late, exiting the competition at the 3rd Round stage in each of the last two seasons (Blackburn 2006/07 and Oldham Athletic 2007/08).
