MARK Patterson has been the victim of FA Cup giant-killing in the past -- and now he is hoping to be on the other side of the coin if he helps his club Rossendale progress through the early stages.

Dale travel to Garforth Town, in Leeds, in the FA Cup preliminary round aiming to put together a run which would guarantee them extra cash -- under the new FA Cup prize money scheme -- and get themselves into the national headlines.

There is still a long way to go but Mark is keen to use his FA Cup knowledge to get them there.

The former Rovers, Bolton and Preston midfielder signed for the Dark Lane side in the summer and has joined the prestigious competition at the earliest stage ever.

"I don't think I've ever been involved so early before," laughed the 37-year-old, who has enjoyed some great cup runs in the past, especially with Bolton.

"I have some good memories of the competition.

"The best is when I led the Bolton team out against Liverpool at Anfield and we won 2-0 in the fourth round. Unfortunately we lost to Derby County in the next round.

"But I have seen the other side of it. At Bury we were beaten 2-1 at Chorley and at Preston we lost to Whitley Bay.

"But the worst FA Cup memory of all is when we were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Oldham and I made the mistake which gifted Darren Beckford the goal - he never lets me forget that whenever I see him!"

The money up for grabs in the FA Cup for the non-League clubs has meant the competition has taken on a whole new significance this season.

If Rossendale get through this round, they will get £1,000, then if they make it through the first qualifying it's £7,500, it's another £7,500 for the second qualifying round; £10,000 for the third; £20,000 for the fourth and another £20,000 for the first round proper.

If Rossendale can get to the first round proper, they stand to net themselves a tidy sum of £46,000.

"It does take on a new importance for the financial side of it as well as being great for the club," said Patterson.

"I have always been on the opposite side of it but now I can see what a fairytale the FA Cup is for the non-League clubs.

"I've never had to look at the FA Cup from this point of view before and I think I will only start realising it is the FA Cup if we get through the early rounds - although with the money at stake, I'm sure the Chairman will make sure we know about it from the start!"

Rossendale have so far had a fairytale start to the season, unbeaten in their opening four games since they clinched promotion to the UniBond First Division last May.

Mark missed the first two games but has featured in the last two and is thoroughly enjoying himself.

"We have had some great results," said Mark who is now coaching at Wigan's School of Excellence after getting his UEFA A coaching badge at Lilleshall over the summer.

"I had thought about packing playing in but when I went to Lilleshall, I caught the bug again and got involved with Rossendale.

"They are a very ambitious club and professionally run.

"And although a cup run would be awful for me at my age as I would have to play more games, it would be great for the club!" Mark is keen to

be a giant-killer