'A great occasion' - Non-league Leeds football club's return hope as FA Cup attendance target smashed
Guiseley’s FA Cup tie against Bradford (Park Avenue) was the focus of the YEP’s Back Your Club campaign.
Guiseley AFC hope to see first-time fans return on a regular basis after smashing their attendance target for Saturday’s FA Cup derby against Bradford (Park Avenue).
The Leeds-based non-league club booked their place in the tournament’s fourth and final qualifying round thanks to a 1-0 win on Saturday. Elliot Owen’s 38th-minute close-range finish settled the local derby at a packed out Nethermoor Park.
As part of the YEP’s Back Your Club campaign, we spoke to Guiseley’s Football General Manager and Football Secretary, James Pickles, ahead of the cup tie last week. A goal was set to get over 1,000 fans through the gates.
No doubt helped by the weather, that target was smashed with an official attendance of 1,574 on a beautifully sunny Saturday. James was keen to thank those who made it possible and hopes to see some of last weekend’s new faces back at Nethermoor Park in the future.
“It was a great occasion and a great advert for non-league football in general to have over 1,500 in attendance on Saturday!” he told the YEP. “I’d hope that anyone coming for the first time will have really enjoyed the game and atmosphere and will consider returning in the future.
“I’d also like to thank all of the volunteers at the club for their input through the week and on the day itself. Each and every one of them played a part in the occasion and all of the great feedback is testament to them.”
The fourth round qualifying draw took place on Monday afternoon and it’s a far-cry from the local comforts of a third-round home tie. Guiseley have been drawn away at Leiston Town, five hours and the best part of 240 miles away near the Suffolk coast.
“Having come through a local derby we have the complete opposite end of the scale with a five-hour trip down to Suffolk,” he added. “They [Leiston] will no doubt be happy at drawing a team from the same level at home and we expect a tough game again.”
Leiston play their league football in the Southern League Premier Division Central, the same level as Guiseley in the Northern Premier League Premier Division - both England’s seventh-tier. Victory for either would send them into the first round proper where the likes of Leicester City, Bradford City or Sheffield Wednesday await.