Magpies gearing up for FC United fixture

Chorley Football Club is gearing up for its biggest crowd in nearly 20 years when FC United come to town on Saturday.

A bumper attendance of around 2,500 is expected at the Chorley Nissan Victory Park at the weekend when the division's best supported team heads to Chorley.

Chairman Ken Wright said it was likely to be the club's biggest crowd since the heady days of the Conference in 1989 when 2,600 watched the games against Darlington and Stafford Rangers.

A huge organisational effort is currently going on behind the scenes and Wright called on the people of Chorley to match the visitors' huge support.

"If FC United bring 1,800 fans it would be great if Chorley can attract 1,800 of our own supporters," he said.

"It will be an unforgettable atmosphere."

The club is licensed for a maximum crowd of 4,200 and the game will be the biggest money-spinner of the season.

However Wright revealed the massive logistical effort that has been going on.

There will be 30 stewards working on the day, instead of the normal eight, while there will also be triple the number of programme sellers.

Additional staff will be working behind the bar and extra catering is also being provided.

"We are going to have somewhere in the region of 65 people working on behalf of the club on the day compared to the normal number of around 12-15," said the chairman.

The organisation has been made tougher by the fact that the game would have been postponed if either side had progressed to the next round of the FA Cup meaning it was difficult to prepare for in advance.

FC United was established by Manchester United fans unhappy at the club's takeover by the American Glazer family.

Victory Park has hosted two of their home games before but Saturday's game is certain to be biggest crowd of the three matches.

Wright said the club would have to make a contribution towards the extra policing and urged fans to turn up early.

"We've appealed to FC Utd to try and get their fans to arrive at the ground in plenty of time," he explained.

"We've got extra turnstiles to try and avoid congestion and we've also laid on extra facilities in the bar."

Last Updated: 26 September 2007 1:48 PM