MELKSHAM Town handed the Conigre a perfect early send-off as a record crowd poured through the gates for the last-ever first team game hosted at the ground last weekend.

A bumper crowd of 521 – the highest attendance figure set in the Toolstation League this season – packed into the Conigre, which is set to be demolished to make way for part of the town’s new community campus this summer, to watch Melksham lock horns with Willand Rovers on Saturday.

The match itself failed to match the pre-match fervour as the two teams played out a goalless draw but Melksham manager Darren Perrin was nonetheless taken aback by an emotional afternoon for everyone associated with his club.

“It was a fantastic day. I know that the attendance was 521 but it felt like the numbers were a lot higher because the local Melksham community really got behind us,” said Perrin.

“We had all the youth players and eleven mascots for the game. We probably couldn’t have asked for a better team to be the last visitors to the Conigre than Willand because they were great too.

“The ground was packed and the only shame is that the game probably didn’t live up to the occasion. Gary Higdon missed a glorious chance to win it for us right at the end and you’d usually put your house on him scoring.”

Supporters were allowed to pay by donation as they paid their respects to the Conigre and chairman Dave Wiltshire was thrilled with last weekend’s farewell party.

He said: “We were very pleased with the outcome and I think it exceeded all our expectations.

“It was a really colourful day and we had youngsters, regulars to the ground and the people that come along because we’re doing well all there on Saturday.

“The reserves have still got games there and there are a few charity matches to be arranged but it was great and we’re looking forward to the end of the season.

“Third is our best-ever finish in the Toolstation League (Premier Division) and the team could match that or even do better – that’s a great achievement with the way that we do things.

*Former Weston-super-Mare striker Jake Harris has linked up with Melksham whilst Perrin has also dual-registered Chippenham Town winger Luke Ballinger.