MELKSHAM Town are hoping the local community will join them in paying tribute to 89 years of Conigre history tomorrow afternoon.

With the Toolstation League Premier Division fixture list throwing up a run of eight successive away matches at the conclusion of Town’s season, this weekend’s clash with Willand Rovers will be the final first team home game at the ground before the club move to their new facilities at Woolmore Farm.

To mark the end of life at their home at the Melksham House site, where they have played since 1926, the club will be allowing fans entry to Saturday’s game by donation as they attempt to beat the highest attendance figure set in the league this term – the 502 that watched Westbury United host Wiltshire neighbours Warminster Town on December 27.

“There will be some more reserve team games and charity matches on the pitch before the end of the season but this is the last first team game – on last day of June, we have to leave the Conigre,” said Town chairman Dave Wiltshire.

“We’ve got the highest average attendance in the league but we want to try and beat the highest individual one there’s been this season. We’ll be letting people in by donation only, meaning they can pay what they want, and we want to try and get loads of youth players in their kit and as many fans wearing club colours as possible.”

Boss Perrin added: “I think it will be an emotional day for a lot of people, including my dad (former chairman Mick Perrin) and Dave Phillips (former secretary), and all the people that have played there and helped out over the years.

“We’d love to have a big crowd there because the Conigre holds special memories for a lot of people.”

Wiltshire confirmed that work on Melksham’s new pitch at the Woolmore Farm site is due to begin next month.

“We’ve got a few more meetings to have and then work should be starting in mid-April – the pitch will be turfed then,” he said.

“We should be playing on it in September, with temporary changing rooms in place whilst all the building work takes place.

“It’ll be quite exciting to be there whilst things are being built around us and then by the end of December or start of January, we’ll be in there properly.”

Melksham are currently six points clear at the top of the table.