GUISELEY'S supporters can be forgiven if they have forgotten what it is like to see their side play at home.

The Lions haven't played at Nethermoor since their FA Trophy replay win over Burscough on December 15.

Two lucrative National League home fixtures against Grimsby on Boxing Day and Forest Green on January 16 fell foul of the weather and that has left the Lions on a long run of away treks.

Tomorrow's trip to Lincoln City is their sixth-successive away game – and there are two more to come at Dover in the FA Trophy next Saturday and Woking (February 13) before they return to Nethermoor against Grimsby Town on February 16.

Manager Mark Bower is full of praise for his club's followers. “The fans have been brilliant and we’ve had great support in all of our away games. They always make themselves heard. That is a big lift for the players and we all appreciate the efforts of our supporters.

“But I feel sorry for them because it’s time consuming, expensive and some of the longer journeys are very difficult. The fans were great at Dulwich. We could hear them even though there was a big home presence.

“I just hope we can beat Dover and then finally get a home tie in the FA Trophy to reward them.”

Bower feels that the fixture schedule could have been planned better or at least amended, even allowing for the random nature of cup draws."

The Lions boss added: “It’s a shame for the rest of our fans, the ones who can’t travel. There are a lot of reasons why and sometimes it also affects our squad because it’s difficult with part-time players.

“I think it lacks foresight from the league and it hasn’t been well thought through by the powers that be, but there’s nothing you can do about it. We are also missing home games as a club because all the revenue that generates is not coming in.

“Towards the end of the season it will work the other way but that will be late February and through to March so it doesn’t help now.”

Club chairman Phil Rogerson remains upbeat despite the lack of home games. He said: "Thankfully we have good benefactor in Steve Parkin and we have picked up some prize money from the FA Trophy which has helped address our cash flow issue.

"We still have some of the bigger teams to play at home such as Grimsby, Tranmere and Wrexham which should attract good gates."