SUPPORTERS of the Ridgeons League clubs have put usual rivalries aside to unite in their masses behind Lowestoft Town's bid to be crowned FA Vase champions.

Stuart Watson

SUPPORTERS of the Ridgeons League clubs have put usual rivalries aside to unite in their masses behind Lowestoft Town's bid to be crowned FA Vase champions.

Virtually every club across the league's two divisions have organised some form of transport to Sunday's final at Wembley, either joining the official supporters' train to Liverpool Street or arranging coach trips to the stadium.

Already ticket sales for the Suffolk club are pushing 13,000 and that number could still rise after it was announced that Wembley would be opening up the stadium's west ticket office on the day of the game.

Lowestoft chairman Geoff Price said: “The support we have received from fellow Suffolk and Norfolk clubs has been staggering, it's been great to see everyone getting behind us.”

One club that will be fully behind Lowestoft on the day are Ipswich Wanderers, who have filled a 49-seater coach to Wembley.

Wanderers' community liaison officer Chris Chisnall said: “We have built up a good friendship with Lowestoft ever since we knocked them out of the Vase at their ground two seasons ago.

“They were going through a bad time financially back then and unbeknown to us at the time, it was down to a big tax bill.

“We turned up at the ground in fancy dress as the Blues Brothers and apparently, for a split second, they thought we were the tax inspectors come to chase them up!”

Chisnall added: “It's not only just about getting behind a fellow Suffolk club, but it's an opportunity for us all to promote the Ridgeons League as a whole.

“If the clubs in this league want to attract more funding it is important we stick together on a day like Sunday because this is a great opportunity to get noticed on a national level.”

Elsewhere Kirkley & Pakefield have got an army of fans travelling to the game; numerous players from their youth teams and first team supporters combining to fill ten coachloads of fans.

Kirkley secretary Stuart Baker said: “As a fellow Ridgeons League club we wish Lowestoft all the best.

“Let's hope they can bring the cup back to Suffolk.”

n Train operators National Express East Anglia have announced that all seats have now been sold on the special train running from Lowestoft to London Liverpool Street on Sunday.

500 supporters will descend on Lowestoft station to travel on the non-stop nine coach special train which departs at 9.10am and returns from Liverpool Street at 7.30pm.

Customers travelling on the train are advised that the special train is alcohol-free.

Although the special train is full, any supporters wishing to travel to London on Sunday by the scheduled train services are advised to check train times by calling in at Lowestoft station ticket office, or by calling National Express on: 0845 600 7245, or visiting: www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com.