Belford urges fans to back AFC play off bid

HINCKLEY manager Courtney Belford wants the local community to back his side ahead of their promotion play-off semi-final on Saturday.

The community-owned club face Hucknall Town this weekend knowing they’re two wins away from promotion.

They’ve averaged more than 230 fans at home matches since returning to Kirkby Road in Barwell this season.

That support helped the team finish second in the league, meaning they have home advantage in Saturday’s semi-final and, should they make it, in the final the following week.

And Belford wants as many people as possible cheering his side on. He said: “The fans have been unbelievable this season.

“There aren’t many clubs at this level of football with that sort of fanbase. We’ve seen how good the fanbase has been and how good the atmosphere has been, and we need that again. We need the local community to come out and support us.

“We’ve done as much as we can. We’ve played some entertaining football, and the fans have seen a bit of everything this year! They’re the heartbeat of this football club and we need their help to get over the line.

“After the chance of a title went, we told the lads to finish second so we could play here (at Kirkby Road), on a pitch we’re comfortable on. Hopefully we can get over the line.”

Belford’s side have also scored the most goals of any team in the top ten levels of football in the country - plundering 148 of them in just 44 league games as well as a competition-record 18-0 win in the FA Vase in September.

Five of them came in their last meeting with Hucknall just three weeks ago when they edged a nine-goal thriller.

And Belford says he knows what to expect from the visitors.

“That (the 5-4 win earlier this month) was a tale of two poor defences on the day. That hasn’t been the case all season for both of us, that’s why we’re both in the play-offs.

“Both teams will be confident of winning, and it will be down to whoever deals better with the opposition’s strengths who will win.

“We expect Hucknall to be a big, strong and physical side. Hopefully we can spring one or two surprises on them.

“But a lot of it will be down to whoever wants it more on the day. Given the two games against hem, this year, I’d probably say to expect goals!”

The play-off semi-final will take place at Kirkby Road on Saturday afternoon, kicking off at 3pm.