Sheppey United attract their biggest attendance of the season for their Isthmian South East match against Erith & Belvedere at Holm Park –Ernie Batten’s side finish campaign at East Grinstead

Sheppey United attracted their biggest crowd of the season on Saturday as supporters took advantage of the club’s generous offer.

A ‘pay what you want’ admission fee led to a crowd of 1,575 turning up - more than watched their historic FA Cup first round match against League 2 side Walsall in November.

Sheppey’s first game of the season in Isthmian South East attracted just 177 fans to Holm Park.

Director of football Matt Longhurst described the show of support as “phenomenal” and has been delighted with the way the community have backed the club in recent months.

Longhurst said: “Part of the reason for me being brought in was to engage with the community, the kids, the youth section etcetera and it was a good day on Saturday.”

The Ites enjoyed themselves on the pitch, too, with a comfortable 3-0 victory over relegated Erith & Belvedere.

With one game to go, Sheppey will finish inside the top eight and Longhurst said: “It’s the second season in the division, crowds are up, the youth section has grown, we have a new chairman and you just have to look back at the start of the season, where the manager and the chairman left, on the dawn of the season.

“The stadium sponsor went with the chairman. We had finance go, manager go, chairman go, so for the club to recover from that and finish in the top seven or eight and get a great FA Cup run, on the TV, revenue generated, increased the youth section and the crowds, across the club, it’s been a fantastic effort.”

Sheppey will now be working hard to take the club to the next level.

Longhurst added: “Chatham Town are the real blueprint because they have had success at the same time (as increased crowds). They have done it and got promoted and are in the play-off hunt for this