This is Bradford: Back Chat: FC United are coming to town

Source: This is Bradford

By Rachel O'Connor

SILSDEN AFC will be looking forward to welcoming FC United into their division next season.

The breakaway club formed by disillusioned Manchester United supporters when the Glazer revolution rolled into Old Trafford has been a real eye opener in the North West Counties League.

Their support has been phenomenal and clubs in Division Two will be crying into their beer at the thought of what they will be missing next season.
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Clubs who could only attract the proverbial one man and his dog suddenly had crowds most were unable to cope with when the red rebels rolled into town.

Let's take Blackpool Mechanics for instance. A massive proportion of their gate for the season visited the seaside resort for the clash with FC United.

From having a lowest crowd of the season of just 26 poor souls battling to keep warm they were suddenly faced with a red army of 4,295 for their clash with FC United.

What a pay day!

It is that sort of pay day the Division Two club's will be bemoaning but the likes of Silsden will certainly be rubbing their hands.

They had average league crowds at Cougar Park in the season just past of 113. Their lowest crowd of the season for a league game was 63 and their highest 177.

What can they look forward to when the red army rolls into town?

FC United had an average home gate of 3,058 and they certainly took vast numbers on their travels as clubs such as Blackpool Mechanics and Cheadle can testify.

Cheadle had a seasonal low of just 23 but of course this rocketed when United were in town and the turnstiles were overworked as 3,373 clicked their way in to view the action.

So it looks like Cougar Park for one week only could be in for a bigger crowd for the soccer than for the rugby.

Bring it on!