Tamworth bosses in plea to missing fans

Mar 6 2010 by Colin Stoner, Birmingham Mail

TAMWORTH management duo Gary Mills and Darron Gee have urged the Lambs’ missing fans: Your club needs you!

Tamworth showed their character and quality to bounce back after four successive defeats with a 1-0 win against Gateshead last wek to give a huge boost to their hopes of retaining their place in non-League’s top level.

But a crowd of just 483 watched the fixture and manager Mills and No.2 Gee admitted they were desperately disappointed with the attendance.

Tamworth – who today entertain Rushden & Diamonds – had averaged just above 1,000 for their home games before Tuesday.

The cash-strapped Lambs are operating with the lowest budget in the league but they need fans through the gate to build.

“We were just flabbergasted by the gate against Gateshead, considering what we have done this season,” said Gee.

“We are champions of the Blue Square North, we have played some unbelievable football and got some fanastic results, but it seems unless you win 4-0 every week there are some fans who just aren’t bothered.

“We’ve some fantastic loyal supporters but we’ve got others who just want to jump on the bandwagon when we are doing well.

“I’m sure those fans will be there for the games against Luton and Oxford but if there was a time when we needed their backing it was on Tuesday against Gateshead, which was a huge game for the club.

“I feel for the chairman and the board when they put so much hard work into the club and then just 480 fans come through the gate.

“How can you plan your budget for next year when you are getting gates of 483? If the club is only getting that sort of figure, then it really is in trouble. It’s not good enough.

“The players deserve better, so does Bob Andrews, the chairman, and so does Nick Lunn, the commercial manager.

“It’s easy for people to write on forums that we need to bring in more players, we need to do this or that, but then they don’t come to games and support the club.”

But the win over Gateshead, courtesy of Iyseden Christie’s goal, was vital, bearing in mind the impending loss of six points following Chester City’s expulsion. The Lambs had completed their only double of the season against the Blues.

“It was a result that was much needed,” said Gee. “It was a game that if we are going to get the club away from near the bottom of the league we needed to win.”

The Lambs will have midfielder Jay Smith and Jake Sheridan back for today’s clash with promotion-chasing Rushden after they were missing in midweek.