WITNEY Town must be wondering what they have to do to capture the imagination of the football public.

Lying fifth in the Eastern Division of the Dr Martens League and likely to be even higher in the next few weeks, they have seen their attendances at Marriotts Stadium slump.

It makes me wonder just what the so-called supporters need to get them out of their armchairs and along to the ground.

The level of football provided by Town is second to none in the county. Yet for their last home game, albeit on a icy cold and windy day, the attendance was just 112.

The previous Tuesday, in the Dr Martens Cup, only 61 paying customers were inside the stadium, while the previous "gate' against Newport isle of Wight was just 108. Attendances have dipped from an average of 150 a game earlier in the season, to what is now barely over a hundred - a drop of a third.

So where have the fans gone? Worsening weather and Christmas shopping might account for some of the shortfall, but I'm amazed Witney's public can't give their successful local club much more support.

There's a chance to correct matters at the next home game, on December 11, when Chelmsford, who are also well placed in the league, provide the opposition.

One way local shops and businesses can help is by displaying posters advertising the forthcoming games in their premises. If you are able to help, call Dermot Gallagher or John Bircher on 01993 705930.

WITNEY Town commercial manager Dermot Gallagher had his moment of glory on Saturday night - and it wasn't on the football field!

Dermot, one of the country's top referees, appeared on the ITV show Hidden Talents Of The Rich And Famous, making a guest appearance alongside host Ian Wright and the pop group Steps.

Dermot took part in a magic trick in which he was made to disappear. Appearing from behind a curtain, the Premiership ref was seen talking with four of the five Steps members, before the group made him vanish and revealed the fifth member in his place. "I got a phone call from Ian Wright's agent asking me to go on the show, but I missed it as I was in Sunderland," Dermot told my colleague Mark Edwards.

"I didn't even know it was being shown on Saturday night, as I filmed it on October 4."

Although it was just a one-off for Gallagher, it shows just what celebrity status our referees are becoming.

"It is one moment of stardom, but at the end of the day I'm a football referee," Dermot added.

"TV would be a wonderful world to go into, but I have no plans to do so at the moment."

Watch this space!

I CAN hardly let the week go by without a mention of England's inept performance against Scotland. The Scots were great; England were predictable and ineffective.

Kevin Keegan has a lot to put right, but he must start by leaving out Alan Shearer and looking for a new partnership up front.

Michael Owen may not have played any better than Shearer against the Scots, but he showed at Sunderland that as he regains fitness he will become the striker England can't do without.

So, with three friendlies coming up, Keegan should try three permutations . . . Owen and Heskey, Owen and Fowler, Owen and Cole.

One pair ought to gel in time for the Euro finals - otherwise England are in real trouble!

Story date: Saturday 27 November

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