Winning against world-class talent is always going to be difficult for teams like Yeovil, which has struggled this season even in its own league, two divisions below the mighty Premier League. The goal on Sunday, Yeovil Manager Gary Johnson wrote in his notes for the matchday program, was to “give the fans a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Manchester United may not be too accustomed to playing this kind of game at this kind of stadium, but the home team is an expert. The F.A. Cup is open to all clubs in the English league system, which includes some from Wales, and over the last 90 years Yeovil has been matched against some of the biggest teams in the third round. It has given a few a run for their money: Liverpool in 1935; Sunderland, whom Yeovil beat in 1949 by 2-1; Arsenal in 1992; and Liverpool again in 2004.

This year Yeovil drew the biggest club of all. Just to put it in perspective, United is 65 places higher in the English league structure, and it has revenue probably 250 times bigger: Think of seeing the Yankees sent to play at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

In 1949, Yeovil did go on to play Manchester United, away in the fourth round, and was soundly thrashed, 8-0. But win, draw or lose, these great clashes of unequals bring in a small fortune. Sunday’s game alone was expected to increase Yeovil Town F.C.’s annual turnover by around a third, team officials predicted.