KIDDERMINSTER Harriers chairman Lionel Newton has praised the club's fans for the way they have rallied to his call for better support through the Aggborough turnstiles.

Last week he described the gate of 2,471 for Harriers' FA Cup first round clash with Darlington as 'absolutely deplorable', but was heartened by the increased attendance of 3,014 for last Saturday's Nationwide League Division Three clash with former Conference rivals Rushden & Diamonds.

Newton said: "The FA Cup match aside, it appears some of our missing fans seem to be steadily returning to Aggborough which is good news for the team and for the finances.

"I know Jan (Molby) will back me up on this but I can't stress how important our fans vocal support is to the team.

"They were up for it against Rushden and I just hope they're as vocal in our next match, if not more so."

Harriers highest attendance so far this term is the 3,588 who turned up to watch the Third Division clash against Bristol Rovers on November 3.

In a determined bid to boost the gates schoolchildren between the ages of five and 16 have been offered free admission for the rest of the season to Aggborough.

In a deal between the Nationwide Building Society and the Football League aimed at attracting younger people to matches, Harriers business development manager Terry Smith and the club's Football in the Community development officer Nick Griffiths will be going round schools in the Wyre Forest area offering the free tickets.

The pair will also be giving details of coaching courses available to schools.