FARNBOROUGH Town's dream FA Cup-tie with Arsenal at Highbury a week tomorrow (Jan 25) could bring Frimley Park Hospital an unexpected windfall - and its Patric Appeal fund could scoop a £1 million jackpot if Borough were to go on to win the Cup.

Sir Ray Tindle, proprietor of The Herald, has hit on the novel idea of betting on the underdogs to benefit the appeal. With the co-operation of bookmakers William Hill, he is making three bets amounting to £1,000. He has bet

l £650 at 40-1 on Farnborough to win the fourth-round tie, which could bring in £26,000.

l £250 at 12-1 on Borough scoring first, which would be worth £3,000.

l £100 at 10,000-1 on Farnborough winning the FA Cup, which would amount to the magical million.

"When Farnborough drew Arsenal, I thought that a friendly bookmaker might give us good odds if we placed a bet for Farnborough Town to win and made it clear that the winnings would go to the hospital," said Sir Ray who, like his father before him, is a Crystal Palace supporter.

"We arranged some very good odds with William Hill. Personally, I fancy Farnborough's chances and it wouldn't surprise me if they won the Cup."

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe is slightly more doubtful. "There's a better chance of a UFO landing on Farnborough Town Hall than of them winning the Cup," he declared. "But I wouldn't mind if they did. Sir Ray can have his million and the bookies can keep all the money people put on Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea to win the Cup.

"I certainly wouldn't poo-poo the idea of Farnborough scoring first – that's a good bet. There was San Marino scoring against England within 20 seconds and England conceding the first try against Italy in the Six Nations when they were 150-1 on to win. Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will field a weakened side and if they get complacent, anything can happen. Arsenal, famously, lost to York once."

The Herald joined with the Surrey Advertiser, the Aldershot, Farnborough and Camberley News, and County Sound Radio to launch an appeal for Frimley Park Hospital last year, which came to be called the Patric Appeal (Patient Resource and Information Centre).

Senior consultant Bruce Montgomery, who is chairman of the Patric Appeal, said: "It's typical of Sir Ray's imaginative approach to fundraising and we are extremely grateful for all his efforts. He's done so much already and continues to keep us up to speed."

Conference side Farnborough won through to the fourth round with a 3-2 win over Darlington of the Nationwide League Division III. Farnborough are no strangers to the big time. In 1991-92, they landed a plum third-round tie with West Ham, which was duly switched to Upton Park and, after drawing 1-1, Farnborough eventually lost out in the replay.

Sky offered Farnborough £265,000 to broadcast the match live on condition that it was played at the Aimita Stadium (capacity 4,100).

However, after talks with Arsenal, Hampshire Police and the FA, Farnborough opted to switch the tie to Highbury. Borough will receive 50 per cent of the gate receipts and could earn as much as £1 million from the match.