CLANDEBOYE Park is the only place to be this Friday night.
That is the opinion of Bangor manager Lee Feeney as he prepares his side to face Knockbreda under the floodlights in the Championship (8pm).
In a week which saw the Seasiders subject to a potential buy-in from a group of investors from America and Canada, the Bangor boss has urged fans to continue the feel good factor by once more turning out in their numbers to support his side as they take on the league’s bottom team.
The average attendance across the Championship has increased by 85% this season, and the Northern Ireland Football League have attributed that rise largely to the addition of both Portadown and Bangor to the division, with the Seasiders boasting an attendance of over 1,300 for the north Down derby in August.
“Our supporters have been a breath of fresh air for the league, and everyone has been so complimentary about the crowds we bring,” enthused Feeney.
“We have a good record at Clandeboye Park and the players enjoy being at home because of the support they get.
“The supporters have been super ever since I took the job and the crowds have got bigger and bigger. There have been some huge turnouts this season,” he added.
“That’s down to the atmosphere around the club and the entertainment that the players produce on the pitch. We go out to win games and I think the supporters respect that and look forward to getting behind the team each week.
“Starting this Friday night, we’ve now got a run of five matches at Clandeboye Park and it’s important that we all collectively make our home ground a fortress so that other teams don’t enjoy playing us.”
Neither side were able to play last weekend, with Knockbreda’s home tie with Newington postponed while Bangor’s trip to Wilgar Park was washed out just an hour before kick-off.
That late postponement was a source of frustration for everyone involved, but it was the right call in the opinion of the Bangor manager who straight away turned his side’s focus to this Friday’s match.
“We were disappointed the game was called off as we were looking to keep a bit of momentum and carry on our good form,” admitted Feeney.
“But the weather was appalling and it would have had a negative impact on the game and made it a very scrappy affair, so in some ways it was no bad thing.
“As soon as the game was postponed, we straight away started to talk and prepare for our match with Knockbreda. They have been really competitive lately and they have started to pick up points.
“Even in games they have lost, it has been by the odd goal or a late goal so they are definitely a side we need to respect in our preparations and attitude,” he explained.
“I’ve told the boys that it will be a tough game and that they need to turn up with the right attitude and desire so that we can get three points.”
The basement club find themselves 10 points behind second bottom Dergview but Colin McIllwrath’s side recorded their first win of the season when they beat the County Tyrone men at the end of November, while they picked up their first point of the season against Ards earlier that month at Clandeboye Park.
