ACCRINGTON Stanley are expecting a bumper crowd of 2,000 to roar them on to glory tomorrow.

Stanley will be promoted to the Nationwide Conference if they beat Altrincham and second-placed Barrow fail to win at Ashton.

If the Reds draw and Barrow lose they will also be up barring a mathematical miracle.

On-edge chairman Eric Whalley said the champagne was already on ice.

He added: "Even though Rovers are at home we're expecting a huge attendance. We just have to win the game and hope Barrow slip up.

"There will be some added spice because Altrincham are traditionally our bogey team. But it would be great to go up at home in front of our own fans. They've been marvellous this season and we've built up an away following of over 300.''

There is intense media interest in "the world's most famous non-league team''. Futball Mondial is doing a report to beam around the world and BBC's Look North will also be reporting from the Crown ground.

Whalley said: "I have had more stress than at any other time in my football career.

"When we have got promoted before we have always sneaked up from behind but this season we have been at the top all along and all the other teams have tried to knock us off our perch.

"It's been really hard work and I will be glad when it's all over and I can go watching cricket.''

But the chairman's rest will not last long for he has revealed he is already making plans for next season.

He said: "I have talked to a lot of quality players who are currently with Football League clubs.

"We're thinking of more than just consolidating. We want to make sure the set-up is right so we can make a real assault on the Conference. The ground is up to standard and we'll be going full-time the season after next.''

Whalley would not reveal the players he is trekking but Burnley's veteran midfielder Paul Cook is one who has been strongly linked with a move to the Crown.