Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley wants more fans to come to the Brewery Field – not just to watch his team, but also to support chairman Brad Groves.

Moors, who are fifth in the Vanarama National League North table, have played some excellent football this season, but only 295 fans – albeit on the worst day for weather in the season so far – turned up for the 4-0 home win over Barwell in the Trophy last Saturday.

Ainsley said; “We have some fantastically loyal fans who have followed the club home and away for many years, and we are grateful for them.

“But where was everybody last Saturday? We are flying high in the league, just a few points off the top of the table, scored eight in the previous round of the trophy – and less than 300 turned up.

“This is a time when people should come and support Brad, and not just the team.

“Brad has been the driving force behind the club moving up the national system from the Northern League to the National League North in just a few years, plus we’ve been to the FA Vase final, the FA Cup first round and the quarter final of the FA Trophy.

“He has put in a huge amount and effort into this club. He has improved the infrastucture no end and given the town a football club to be proud of. The club is in the highest league position it’s ever been in and we’ve had an unbelievable run of success. He has just paid for some pitch covers so then we don’t have the same problems with the pitch as we had last season.

“So, for all that, he deserves more support. I don’t know what he must have thought when less than 300 people turned out. I know that it’s Christmas and there are a lot of distractions, but it would be a great to see a much bigger crowd come to the game this Saturday. Let’s not make him feel as if he’s wasting his time.”

Full back Stephen Brogan has a hamstring injury and centre half Rob Atkinson comes back into the squad for this afternoon’s game, and Ainsley said; “We’ve been playing some great football home and away this season. We had a bad home game against Stockport recently, but we bounced back last Saturday.

“Boston will be really tough opponents. They’ve had a high turnover of players, so it will be difficult to know what to expect. They beat York last time out in the league – they’re the first in a tough run of fixtures.”

Boston are currently ninth in the table and have won four and drawn two of their ten away games this season.

In the EvoStik League Premier, South Shields are at Lancaster City, and Whitby are at home to Gainsborough.

In the EvoStik League East, Marske United go to bottom of the table AFC Mansfield.