MANY Worcester City supporters expressed surprise when the capacity for their FA Cup first round clash with Torquay United was set at just 3,000.

After all, 17,000 once packed into St George's Lane to see their FA Cup clash with Sheffield United in the 1950s.

But City say that the decision was based purely on safety considerations.

The club is currently licensed for a capacity of just 3,500, but decided a 3,000 limit would be more convenient for segregation purposes.

Director Alan Wills said: ''We had to give Torquay 15 per cent of the gate, which fell in nicely with 300 behind the goal and 150 in the end block of the main stand.

''If we had given them any more, we would have had to open up another area for the away supporters and we might have had another situation where we had to give them the whole of the Brookside, like we did for the Yeovil game last year.''

One additional bonus for City reaching the first round was that they will receive a £7,500 pay-out from the FA Cup pool. The FA insist that the money is spent on ground improvements and City intend to use it to repair a wall on the Cavalier terrace -- the area between the main stand and the canal end of the ground.

''Because of the wall, the capacity of that area is zero -- if that is done, that would increase the number of away supporters and increase the capacity of the ground in general.''

City were also allowed just 660 seats in the stand through safety regulations, even though it can seat 1,000.

''We will be looking to increase the capacity in the stand when we can get new steps there, although we may have to look at putting them going up the back of the stand.''

City are on the FA Umbro Trophy trail on Saturday when they travel to London to face Dr Martens Southern Division side Fisher Athletic in the second round.

They visit Bilston Town next Tuesday for the second leg of their Dr Martens Cup first round tie, the sides having drawn 1-1 in the first game.

All that could change if City draw with Fisher -- the replay would be at St George's Lane on Monday and the Bilston game would be postponed.

City's reserves entertain Kidderminster Harriers in the Central Conference tonight (7.30).

Wednesday, November 18, 1998