PICKERING Town’s new chairman Wayne Taylor is setting his sights on progress in this season’s FA Cup.

The Pikes take the first step on the road to Wembley this weekend when visiting Northern League division one side Sunderland Ryhope CW in the competition’s extra preliminary round.

Taylor, who was appointed chairman last week after five years in the role of commercial manager, says it would be fantastic if the club could simply go beyond the qualifying stages this season.

“Every small club in the country gets excited about the FA Cup,” he said. “The money it generates can absolutely boost your funds.

“Just getting through two or three rounds would make a difference to a club like Pickering,” he added. “We are a profitable business but we don’t count extra Cup games in our annual budget.”

Pickering will bank over £6,500 if they win three games in this season’s FA Cup. Progression to the first round proper can be worth over £30,000.

“If we got as far as the first round, we would be able to invest money in ground development,” said Taylor. “There has not been a lot of money spent on our ground over the last 10 years.”

Pickering play their opening game of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division season on Tuesday night at Barton Town Old Boys.

Taylor is ‘very optimistic’ that manager Paul Marshall will lead the side on a push for promotion.

“As always, it will be important that we get off to a good start,” he said. “But I think Paul is building a team that can definitely go places this season.

“We are expecting a tough game in Sunderland but, hopefully, we can win that to set us up nicely for the Barton game.”

Player-coach Tony Hackworth, meanwhile, is considering hanging up his boots after snapping an Achilles tendon in last week’s friendly against Scarborough Athletic.

The former Leeds United striker, 36, had only just returned to action after a brief spell out of the game.

Tadcaster Albion host Spennymoor Town tomorrow in a pre-season friendly, kick-off 3pm.