SUNDAY morning outfit Holt FC are attracting home gates many Screwfix League sides would be happy to play in front of.

Holt, currently lying second in Division Four of the in the Chippenham Sunday League, re-formed in the summer after folding in 1997 due to a lack of support.

And the village outfit's rise from the ashes is due in no small part to Mike Smith, landlord of the Old Ham Tree Inn.

Smith introduced a VIP season ticket at a cost of £50 at the start of the campaign, entitling the holder to a half-time bacon sandwich and cup of tea or coffee, a free pint at full time and ten per cent off all meals at the Old Ham Tree during the season.

The novel idea has been embraced by the village and crowds have swelled past the 100 mark on a number of occasions already.

And on Sunday the club attracted their biggest gate of the season when more than 200 spectators saw their 4-2 Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup defeat at the hands of Premier Division pacesetters Corsham FC.

Devizes Town are the only Screwfix Direct League club in the county to match that figure so far this season and Smith has been delighted with the success of his venture so far.

He said: "From day one we've had 50 or so attending, but we leaflet-dropped the whole village before Sunday's game and had 200 there.

"Everyone who turned up before the kick off were given two numbers in a half-time draw for a magnum of champagne and it was a great turnout."

The village outfit are thought to be the fourth oldest football club registered with the Football Association and were originally founded in 1864. Notts County, the oldest club in the country, were formed the year before.

Their proud tradition was one of the main reasons Smith wanted to re-establish the club after becoming landlord of the Old Ham Tree four years ago.

He said: "The old team went because of a lack of interest but one of the first things I wanted to do when I became landlord of the pub was to get it going again.

"The idea was to try and get everyone interested and I've been pleased with the support we have received.

"I would say 70 per cent of the players are from Holt and the others from the surrounding area, so that helps as well, and credit must go to our manager Adam Chequer.

"He was only 17 at the start of the season and we reckon he could be one of the youngest managers in the country."

Chequer, now 18, has assembled a promotion-chasing squad in his first season in charge and Holt are just a point behind league leaders Somerford FC in the Division Four title race.

Malcolm King, player-manager of Holt's cup opponents Corsham FC, felt the massive home following on Sunday had actually helped his side.

He said: "It was a bit shocking at first. I thought we'd come to the wrong place. It is something you don't usually see in Sunday League football.

"We played in a cup final a couple of years ago and there weren't that many there and we only get 10, maybe 15, at our home games.

"But I think it inspired us in the end because we are top of the Premier Division and didn't want to lose face.

"There was a very friendly atmosphere and it wasn't hostile at all. I can remember playing them on Saturdays and it is nice to see them back."

Holt led twice before going out 4-2, with the winning goals not coming until the final five minutes.

Holt took a deserved lead on 14 minutes through Mark Slade, but five minutes later Holt goalkeeper James Veale gifted Corsham their equaliser when he dropped Malcolm King's weak cross to the feet of Simon Young.

Holt regained the lead in the 57th minute through Mark Slade, but Andy Sibbick equalised.

Kevin Brown put the Premier Division leaders 3-2 in front in the 86th minute and a minute later Nick Turton added a fourth.