Fish and chip paper

By Alex Inglethorpe Exeter boss and BBC Sport columnist

This time last year Exeter's FA Cup exploits ensured we were the Conference team basking in the media spotlight.

We drew 0-0 at Manchester United in the third round and took them back to St James Park for a replay that Sir Alex Ferguson's team eventually won 2-0.

Last season's FA Cup run created memories - but the cash it generated was crucial

When Burton pulled United out of the hat for the third round of this season's competition I received several requests for interviews from television stations and newspapers to talk about what it was like for us 12 months ago.

I turned them all down.

This is the time for Burton and their manager Nigel Clough to enjoy being the centre of attention - our experiences last year were great but are now fish and chip paper.

Our match at Old Trafford was a fantastic experience for the club and created memories that we will never forget.

I felt we were feeling pretty good about ourselves in the dressing room at Old Trafford before the game as Steve Perryman wrote out the teamsheet and took it into the referee's room.

Steve has lifted the FA Cup twice - I believe he is one of only three people to do so - and is vastly, vastly experienced.

Shortly afterwards the referee came into our dressing room and pointed out that Steve had omitted to include a goalkeeper on the teamsheet.

Clearly there is confidence and then there is over-confidence.

Our form in and around the two games against United was excellent.

We had a great run of form going into the match and were pretty good in the immediate aftermath.

We also had a good run in the FA Trophy last season and perhaps towards the end of the campaign the sheer volume of games that had stacked up took their toll.

We haven't really thought too much about what we did last year - most of that team have left

But there is no doubt that the bottom line is that the money generated for Exeter last season was crucial.

I really believe that money was the difference between having Exeter City and not having Exeter City - at least not in the form we know it now.

But we haven't really looked back nostalgically, part of the reason being that most of the team that played against United are no longer at the club.

With regard to the Cup exploits of Burton, Nuneaton and Tamworth this year - I can honestly say I haven't really seen any of their games.

I've had half an eye on their scores but quite honestly I have been so busy on the phone this month trying to sign players that I have had little time for anything else.

I could not even begin to tell you the number of hours I am on the phone.

I've had to learn is that is sometimes possible to neglect the team while you are searching for a player - the players already at the club must come first.

But I enjoy the wheeling and dealing and the pressure of the job.

After all, there are enough people playing Championship Manager and I'm doing the real thing.

Read Alex Inglethorpe's column every month on the BBC Sport website