WE’RE PACKED TO THE RAFTERS
NON-LEAGUE clubs enjoyed a Boxing Day boom as fans flocked to games in their droves to get a festive football fix.
From Yeovil Town setting a new National League South record to Bury FC doing the same in the North West Counties League Premier, thousands ticked through the turnstiles.
In the National League, 7,909 were at Roots Hall as Southend United ushered in a new era.
Contracts were exchanged on the takeover led by Australian businessman Justin Rees just a few days earlier. But Barnet spoilt the party with a 2-0 win.
Aldershot Town welcomed their biggest crowd for 15 years for the local derby with Woking. The travelling Cards made up 902 of the 5,970 crowd for the tense 0-0 encounter.
More than 700 Oldham fans made up the 5,077 people at Hartlepool United as they ran out 3-1 winners.
Yeovil Town set a new National League South high again – the 6,301 for their win over Taunton Town surpassing the 6,289 for October’s midweek derby with Weymouth.
Boom
The next highest at Step 2 came in the National League North where 4,468 watched on as Scunthorpe United beat Farsley Celtic 2-0.
Back in the South, 3,764 saw Torquay’s home defeat to Truro City – and their quest for instant revenge was halted as early as Thursday when yesterday’s return at Plymouth Parkway’s Bolitho Park
was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
St Albans City claimed their second highest National League South attendance for their 2-1 defeat to Hemel Hempstead Town – 3,589 packing into Clarence Park.
At Step 3, Macclesfield Town’s crowd boom continued with 4,201 watching a 0-0 draw with Hyde United.
Dulwich Hamlet’s attendances are well-documented and 2,737 enjoyed a 2-1 win over Carshalton Athletic.
Ramsgate are flying in Isthmian Division One South East – they beat Herne Bay 3-1 in front of a 1,625 crowd. That was only topped at Step 4 by Mossley, who had 1,765 through the gates for their 2-0 win over Stalybridge Celtic.
Rocketed
1874 Northwich ran an Operation Boxing Day promotion to get four figures for their game with Witton Albion and 1,018 turned up for their highest-ever league crowd.
Runcorn Linnets also broke the 1,000 barrier – 1,001 saw them claim three points by beating promotion rivals Prescot Cables 2-1.
Bury FC made their welcome return to Gigg Lane this season and the crowds have rocketed ever since.
They had 4,833 behind them for a win over Prestwich Heys.
The derby between Wythenshawe and Wythenshawe Town was watched by 1,450 – Town winning 4-1 with former Premier League winger George Boyd grabbing the fourth.
Western League outfit Falmouth Town hosted 1,845 people for their win over Helston.
And there was even a four-figure gate in Step 6 at Retford where 1,247 saw town rivals Retford United run out 4-1 winners.