Spurs tie reward for Tamworth achievements - Peaks

Tamworth boss Andy Peaks was invited to the FA Cup third round draw at Old Trafford

Tamworth manager Andy Peaks says being paired with Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round is the club's due reward for their ongoing achievements over the past two and half years.

Since arriving at The Lamb when they were a seventh-tier club in February 2022, Peaks has taken the club to new heights.

He first led them to Southern League survival, then successive promotions, consolidation this season in the National League and now the most celebrated stage of all, round three of the FA Cup following Sunday's win on penalties at Burton Albion.

"It's like a reward for the last two and a half years for everyone involved," Peaks told BBC Radio WM.

"It’s just a shame that we can’t get more than 4,000 people in The Lamb. Just me alone I must have already been asked for 4,000 tickets.

"I was quite happy to have a home draw or a really big game away. And some of the ties I didn’t really fancy, a long way away and a bit tough.

"But I just had a feeling when the number 53 came out and I looked at the faces of the ones who were pulling the balls out and they knew it was a big team."

After being invited to attend Monday's draw at Old Trafford, home of Cup holders Manchester United, Peaks said: "We're happy to be at home and it’s a Premier League club so that’s absolutely brilliant. The town will be absolutely buzzing for it. It’ll be sold out and it’ll be a great atmosphere."

"We've had a couple of good paydays in beating Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion and this game will almost certainly be on TV. They told me that last night. It's just whether it's ITV or BBC. They've still to decide.

"That is all good finances for the club and stands us in good stead. We know it costs a lot more money to run now we’ve got into a full-time league this year which makes it more difficult. We have more travelling and more wages with all that expenditure at clubs.

"But it's great that a lot of people are now so much happier at the club than when I came in two years ago. We’ve had a lot of good victories and brought the players, staff together, the crowd has come back and the enjoyment is back.

"People who know who live in Tamworth say that there is a buzz about the place, which there hadn’t been previously.

"It's nice to get something like that. FA Cup runs can set clubs up for a long time.

"Anyone can beat anyone on the day as we’ve often found out in the cup. That’s what the magic of the cup is all about. But, when you get on a run like we’ve done it could only be beneficial for the club."

Tamworth manager Andy Peaks was talking to BBC Radio WM's Kath Stanczyszyn.

Tamworth boss Andy Peaks was interviewed by BBC Sport's Kelly Somers