NON LEAGUE CLUBS 'SMACKING THEIR LIPS'

Last updated : 26 June 2005 By Ed

From a local Staffordshire paper:

FC United plan to ground share with either Leigh RMI or Droylsden and are predicting gates of up to 5,000, with 1,500 fans travelling to away games.

That would be good for the coffers of Norton, who averaged gatherings of 66 last season, as did Leek CSOB, while the figure for Eccleshall was 51.

Norton manager Steve Norris said: "FC United will generate a lot of interest, and if they have finance behind them it could take them a awful long way.

"As a team starting from scratch it could take them a while to settle down but, as a committed Arsenal fan, it will be nice for me to have the chance to beat a side from Manchester United.

New Eccleshall manager Mark Askey added: "FC United of Manchester can only be good for the league.

"Assuming they have the support, they will provide all teams in the league with big gates, so financially it is great."

Leek CSOB joint-manager Andy Walters was similarly pleased by the FC United's entry into the league. He said: "FC United will give the league a boost. They have already had a lot of publicity and will give the league a higher profile.

"I gather FC United already have a membership of more than 5,000, and their very presence could help clubs attract better players because they should want to be playing these sides.

"If they do take off they should boost every club they play and I think they will be tremendous for our division."

It has been hinted that Leek CSOB will be the first team to play FC United at Harrison Park when the season kicks off on August 13, but league spokesman Andrew Moffatt said: "That cannot be confirmed. The fixtures should be out within a fortnight."