Felixstowe & Walton chairman Andy Wilding is hoping for another bumper gate this morning when the Seasiders take on Ipswich Wanderers in a Suffolk derby. (11am kick-off)

The club attracted 417 people through the gate earlier in the season as the club pulled off an FA Cup shock, defeating Bishop’s Stortford, 2-1.

And Wilding would like to see a similiar-sized crowd today, and is hoping that bigger attendances will become the norm at the ambitious Thurlow Nunn Premier Division club.

Work is well underway on the Seasiders’ new clubhouse (The Felixstowe & Walton Community Social Club), which is hoped will attract new faces from the local community, as well as nearby villages such as Trimley and Kirton.

With building work started, the club has already applied for promotion to Step Four football (Ryman North) and Seasiders’ officials will meet after the game with Wanderers to discuss the best way forward.

“We are hoping to emulate the game against Bishop’s Stortford and we would like to see 500 through the gate,” said Wilding.

“It’s a derby game with an early kick-off, so people can still get back for their lunches, and hopefully it will be a big occasion.”

The Seasiders are once again in the top-five and are targeting a top-three finish as they look to continue growing on and off the field.

“Our application (for Step Four) is being processed and we are having a get together on Boxing Day to iron out some of the requirements,” explained the Seasiders’ chairman.

“As far as the work at the club is concerned, we are doing this for the community of Felixstowe and surrounding areas and we already have 407 members at the social club.

“We are hoping to attract people to come in and use the social club and hopefully support the team as well.

He added: “There are lots of people living on the peninsula and around 1,000 go to Portman Road for Ipswich Town home matches.

“While our attendances have most improved and interest is growing, we want those people to come to the Goldstar Ground when Ipswich are not playing and, by and large, when we are at home, Town are away, and vice-versa.”