Note that this page is from our Gresley Rovers archive. It may not be related to the new Gresley Rovers (formerly Gresley FC until 2020).
Gresley trip the night fan-tastic!
Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers’ Banks’s League crowd record should be smashed out of sight tonight as the Premier Division title chase reaches its climax at the Moat Ground (7.30pm).
Top figure at the moment is 1,250 for the visit of Atherstone United on Boxing day, 1986, but with as many as 1,000 Tamworth fans expected to make the short journey that attendance should be well beaten tonight.Rovers’ secretary Peter Jenkinson said: “If the sort of figures Tamworth are talking about are accurate, we might not be far off the 2,000 mark.”
Tamworth need a point to secure the title on goal difference, while a win for Gresley would earn them third place and a possible promotion spot to the Beazer Homes League Premier Division.
Rovers’ boss Frank Northwood sprang a surprise today by drafting into his squad Keiron Smith, top scorer with Central Midlands League side Huthwaite.
Smith’s registration, however, has still to be ratified by Banks’s League officials.
Northwood is anxious to include him in his starting line-up because Martin Devaney and Keith Hill are both injured and Paul Acklam recently on loan from Shepshed, is on holiday.
The Gresley boss drafts in Burton Albion defender Nigel Simms, who missed Tuesday’s trip to Tividale.
Said Northwood: “It should be a tremendous game. Tamworth don’t need to say anything because their actions on the pitch have said it all this season. It’s just a pity that injuries have knocked us about, but we’re still looking forward to it.”
Tamworth boss Graham Smith promised, “90 minutes of blood, sweat and tears.” He said: “The players are fully aware of what needs to be done and if our fans keep cheering I’m sure we can get what we want.”
