Non League: Hull United pay fans to watch

Non League football needs all the help it can get and one enterprising club have tried something very different. Jamie Waltham, Hull United AFC's new manager and chairman, gambled on offering £2 to every person who came to watch the match. His reward, over 400 fans watched fledgling club, Hull United AFC win their first home game.

Hull's newest non-league club were roared on the pitch at Dene Park by more than large crowd who went to see them beat Hedon Rangers 4-1.

The former North Ferriby United player defended his strategy of paying people to come to watch the game.

"Some people have said it is a gimmick, but it's much more than that," he said.

"Obviously it's given us some great publicity, but the way I see it is that a lot of people are being priced out of watching Premier League matches and they need an alternative."

The story was first revealed in the Hull daily Mail last week Mail and within hours had gone around the world, capturing the imagination of national newspapers, European football websites and social media.

"The reaction we've had has been amazing and the number of people that have come down and given us support is really encouraging.

"Hull deserves a strong non-league team and, considering that we have only been doing this for seven weeks, we've made a great start."

JB