WORCESTER City manager Richard Dryden believes the ever-increasing crowds have played a crucial role in his side’s home form this season.

Attendances failed to get above 650 in the first five matches at St George’s Lane but the numbers have since swelled dramatically with 1,062 witnessing City’s brave effort in the FA Cup third qualifying round replay against AFC Telford.

There were also 737 present at the victory over Dover Athletic and 823 for the 4-1 thrashing of Weston-super-Mare.

Dryden is now hoping the fans will return for the Blue Square South double-header against Welling United tomorrow and Chelmsford City on Monday and generate much-needed money for the club in the process.

A large gate is anticipated tomorrow with the club’s supporters’ trust staging activities as part of the Kick It Out anti-racism campaign.

The manager, whose side have four home games this month, said: “We have been creating a lot of chances at home and it’s important we carry on that form with the crowd behind us.

“We have tried to entertain and the response we have got this season has been fantastic.

“The backing we have got even when we haven’t won games has been great.

“Even though we lost to Telford the fans appreciated the effort we put in and I know the players appreciate that, as do I and the rest of the staff. The crowd has been a massive factor for us.

“We have two games in three days. Hopefully we can start off with a good performance on Saturday and the fans will come back on Monday.

“Two games in three days gets expensive for supporters in the current climate just before Christmas but hopefully they will keep coming back. We had more than 800 against Weston and the atmosphere was great.

“The board will like the money side of it and the players enjoy playing in front of a big crowd.”

Meanwhile, supporter Niels Eiriksson will hand a petition and letter to chairman Anthony Hampson at Monday night’s game against Chelmsford demanding Dave Boddy stand down as a director.

Eiriksson has been canvassing opinion on the terraces and internet opposing the former chairman’s role in the proposed stadium move to Nunnery Way.

Former chief Boddy has strongly defended his actions, saying the board “did our best under the circumstances we had available”.