For Dives-Cabourg, a sporting achievement… And lucrative!

The Norman club, which plays in the French fifth division (N3), created the feat by qualifying for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France – a round which already allows it to pocket 133,000 euros bonuses, excluding ticketing. Nearly a third of its annual budget.

The victory against The Puy-en-Velay just celebrated, Stéphane Gilquin has already resumed his tunic as conductor of the Dives-Cabourg club, Wednesday January 15. His voice still hoarse from the day before’s festivities, the president of the amateur club looks forward with good nature to his next challenge: hosting – potentially – one of the top names in French football in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. “We would love Paris, or Lille for me who comes from the North!” confides the person concerned.

The poster would have seemed improbable a few weeks ago, but the small club from Nationale 3, the fifth French division, has earned its place among the 16 best clubs in the 2025 Coupe de France. Its presence at this stage of the competition de Dives-Cabourg is a sporting success… But also an economic one!

“Half of the winnings will go to the players”

The competition awards winnings to clubs throughout the rounds. By reaching the round of 16, Dives-Cabourg is already guaranteed to collect 133,000 euros in bonuses. A significant sum for the amateur club, whose annual budget amounts to 500,000 euros. Far from the finances of professional clubs.

To this sum will also be added the profits from ticketing. THEtade Heurtematte has been playing sold out since the 32^e final and it is the Michel-d’Ornano stadium, in Caen, which could open its doors to Petit Poucet Normand for the round of 16.

According to the FFF regulations, the two teams must share the excess revenue from the match once the organizational costs and VAT have been deducted. But it is customary for professional clubs to leave their share of revenue to amateur clubs. The assurance of a tidy sum.

These bonuses will first benefit… the players. “Half will return to themexplains the president of Dives-Cabourg. The national average is rather to allocate them 30% but as per year, we pay them little, we told them that the winnings would come back to them in the event of a good performance..

The rest will allow the club to invest in “structural investments“: a minibus for young people and for the women’s team, a hot drinks dispenser”accepting credit card” for the club house and, if possible, a pitch with a synthetic covering with the support of the municipality. “What a bonus” notes the business manager, at the head of the Cabourg casino, who ensures that the Norman training “already has healthy finances.”

Enough to support new sporting ambitions, or even a rise to Nationale 2? “Nonimmediately decides Stéphane Gilquin, an accountant by training. We’re not going to burn our wings. An increase implies a bigger budget in the long term. We would actually need double what we have. But we hope that this beautiful epic will give us visibility to welcome new partners.” Dives-Cabourg hopes to attract “two, three big sponsors” which could support it in its progress in the coming years.

“We are going to do like Granville before us, or Avranches, and take advantage of this great run in the Coupe de France to help the club grow”

Stéphane Gilquin

France 3 Normandy

Before thinking bigger, Dives-Cabourg will also have to ensure maintenance. The prevalence given to the Coupe de France this year was achieved somewhat to the detriment of its ranking in Nationale 3. The club has had a series of defeats and is getting closer to the relegation zone.

But with this epic Coupe de France, the essential is assured. The draws on Thursday January 16 (8 p.m.) will award Dives-Cabourg an opponent. The president of the amateur club is already looking forward to the upcoming party, the image given by his club and the possible partnerships that this could bring. With a promise: “We will give dearly of our skin!”