AFC Telford United aiming for record crowd

Officials at AFC Telford United are bidding to smash their Blue Square Bet North crowd record for the visit of fellow promotion hopefuls Guiseley to the New Bucks Head next week.

The Bucks were this afternoon hosting Corby Town in the FA Trophy, but a huge operation is already underway behind the scenes to attract hundreds of new young fans for the league clash a week today.

It is the brainchild of commercial manager Anton Gunter, who is arranging the day to pay tribute to club sponsors Capgemini.

The Telford-based firm are now established as the longest-running sponsors of senior football in the town - and fans are being asked to attend the game in their blue corporate colours as a tribute.

"We want to turn the stadium blue in recognition of our relationship with Capgemini," said Gunter.

"We want to encourage a new generation of fans to come to a game and are handing out free tickets to every school in Telford & Wrekin.

"Every school that comes to the game will win five computers from Capgemini and so far 15 schools have taken up the offer."

Gunter is hoping to smash Telford's current Blue Square Bet North record of 3,226, which was set for the 3-1 win over Harrogate in April 2008.

But they would have to go some to break the club's overall attendance record- which stands at 5,710 for the visit of Burscough in a crunch UniBond League clash back in April 2007.

* Ex Wrexham winger Josh Johnson, who signed on non-contract terms back in September, is no longer training with the club.

"Josh is still registered with us but we don't see him forcing his way into the squad at the moment," said assistant manager Darren Read.

"We've come to an agreement that we can call him up when we have squad games but he's training with another club and hopefully can get some matches there."