FANS of Gloucester City are being urged to roar on the Tigers from the famous T-end in the FA Cup tomorrow night.
Because the Blue Square Bet North club can only afford stewarding for two stands at Cheltenham Town's ground, fans can't usually stand at the Prestbury Road end.
But for the re-arranged first round clash with Leyton Orient, that standing end terrace of the Whaddon Road ground will be open.
Before the club was flooded out of Meadow Park in 2007, standing behind the goal at the T-end offered fans the chance to make plenty of noise close to the pitch. An FA Cup tie last came to Meadow Park in 1989 with a second round replay against Cardiff City.
Supporters club chairman Lee Mills hopes the promise of the T-end will encourage city folk to get out and support their team.
"It's been many years since Gloucester City have had a cup match of this profile and while we were all disappointed that the original tie was postponed, evening games always have a special atmosphere especially when our choir, "the T-end', is in full voice," he said.
"If you're proud to be from Gloucester then I would urge you to support these lads playing for the name of Gloucester in this country's premier club cup competition.
"Despite being exiled from the City, the football club are surviving and thriving and it would be fantastic to add to what is already a dedicated support."
The club has received good luck messages from The Wanted star Nathan Sykes, and former Forest Green Rovers striker and city fan Stuart Fleetwood in the run up to the tie which was postponed due to heavy rain 10 days ago.
Official club statistician Tim Clark is hoping to welcome Bryan Barnfield as guest of honour at the game - he is 81-years-old ands one of three survivors of the only other occasion Gloucester City played Leyton Orient, in a 4-1 friendly defeat at Longlevens on January 26, 1953.
He played 120 games for Gloucester City between 1951 and 1955. In the 1952/53 season the club entertained Swindon Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Torquay United, Brentford, Watford and East Fife. The Orient match was played in front of 1,650 spectators, and Tim's hoping tonight's tie will crack the 1,000 mark.
"It is a mighty frustration that we cannot really maximise the potential in Gloucester whilst playing away from Gloucester," he said. "This fixture as well as the league game against Chester on Sunday are vital pay days in the circumstances we find ourselves in and therefore the more people we can encourage to come and watch us the better."
Admission is £15, £6 for concessions and free-of-charge for under 11s.
