Source: M.E.N.By STUART BRENNAN
FC UNITED could be facing another first tonight – the first time their huge non-league support has ever been outnumbered by the opposition!
The runaway Rebels, who have won a recordequalling 12 on the bounce at the start of their NW Counties League first division season, take on local rivals Salford City in a match shifted to the Willows rugby league ground (7.45pm).
Salford officials are expecting a crowd of more than 4,000.
FC normally take between 1,200 and 2,000 to away games, but Salford have launched a mass publicity campaign throughout the city to boost the gate, which is expected to surpass the Salford City record of 3,000 when they played Whickham in the FA Vase in 1981.
“Our players are really up for it, and we have had a good month, winning eight and losing one, so we are hoping we can peg a few points back on FC United,” said Salford secretary Bill Taylor. Rebels’ boss Karl Marginson is savouring the challenge: “My assistant Phil Power is a Salford lad, and he says everyone in Salford appears to be going. I even spoke to one lad who said there could be 10,000.
“It could be the first time our fans are outnumbered, and football-wise it will be a big test for us, because they are a decent side. If we win we will have won 14 on the bounce in all competitions, another league record.”
FC welcome back Rob Nugent to a defence which has kept eight clean sheets in their 12 games, but they will have to cope with former Manchester United winger Ben Thornley, midfielder Matty Burke – who had trials at Stockport County in the summer – and former FC goalkeeping hero Barry George.
The game has revived memories of the Lowther Shield final between Salford Sunday League arch-rivals Grove and Wellington in 1948 which attracted a staggering 18,000 people to the rugby ground and the winners went home in an open-topped bus.
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