ALASTAIR SMITH has outlined York City’s target to maintain strong crowds at the LNER Community Stadium this season after Monday’s record-breaking attendance.

A crowd of 6,833, including 1,660 away fans, packed into the Monks Cross ground to watch York’s 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic earlier this week.

The figure surpassed City’s record for a regular season Vanarama National League match and was also the highest home crowd seen for a non-play-off, cup or friendly match since the 2004 clash with Huddersfield Town.

“It was a great occasion with two great sets of supporters,” enthused chief executive Smith.

“The Oldham fans came in good numbers and made a lot of noise and the York fans came in fantastic numbers and made a lot of noise.

“It made it feel like a (Football) League game again. It’s great to be able to host these huge games and hopefully the York fans that came enjoyed it and will want to come back for more.

“This gives us something to build on. What we need to try and do now is try and keep some of those fans who haven’t been coming regularly to come along again and again and help us build and grow as a club.

“Then, those type of days, if we can get back in the (Football) League, would become much more frequent.”

The million dollar question for York, and every other club at their level, is how they can ensure the casual fan, who may only attend matches against eye-catching opposition, becomes an ardent supporter.

“I guess the most important thing is the results and the performances on the field,” was Smith's view.

“Ultimately, as fans, that’s what brings us back again and again, success.

“That’s what we want to see and what we live for. We want fans to have a great day out, see their side win and want to come again.”

Smith, a life-long York fan and former chairman of the York City South supporters group, believes the Community Stadium atmosphere can also rival that of their former home.

“At Bootham Crescent we had an open end away stand whereas here the Oldham fans were able to make a lot more noise because it’s an enclosed ground,” he said.

“I think at the Stadium, the acoustics are really good for creating an atmosphere like that.

“For me, it was actually better than those Bootham games because of the sheer noise.”

With a number of well-supported former Football League clubs still to visit the city, more big occasions are hoped for.

“We’ll get similar followings later this season, I’m sure," Smith asserted. "There was no trouble inside or outside the ground, as far as I’m aware. It was great to get such a big away following and prove that we can cope with that.

“I’d expect Chesterfield to bring what Oldham brought. That’ll be a great occasion, as will Notts County and Wrexham. They’re likely to bring equivalent figures.

“If we can break some more crowd records this season that would be brilliant. That’s a really impressive target we’ve set ourselves now and beating it will be difficult.

“But if we can be successful towards the end of the season, who knows?”