CHAIRMAN Anthony Hampson believes the support Worcester City have received on their FA Cup adventure proves there is an appetite for the club to return home.

More than 3,000 City fans were at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday as Carl Heeley’s side produced the shock of the first round to knock out League One Coventry City 2-1.

Victory, which edged their overall takings in the competition close to the £100,000 mark, was met by scenes of euphoria as players raced to celebrate with the huge following, who danced, cheered and sang their way through the historic occasion.

Hampson feels such support underlines the urgency for the Blue and Whites to end their exile at Aggborough, now into its second season.

Designs for a new stadium at Perdiswell are at an advanced stage and are waiting to be seen by Worcester City Council planners.

Despite petitions of protests from local residents, there has been plenty of positive backing for the supporters’ trust project among regular fans and Hampson hopes that number will now increase significantly.

He said: “It proves to me that there is the dynamics for supporting a club in Worcester going on into the future, particularly with the planning permission for Perdiswell and the new stadium that we’re hoping to build there.

“I think there’s going to be a great support in the future for the club.”

City’s exploits against the Sky Blues bagged £18,000 in prize money, on top of the £12,500 for television coverage and an estimated £30,000 in gate receipts.

With Worcester having already banked £24,500 in prize money from the three qualifying rounds, any money they make from their second round match at Scunthorpe United - which will be played over the first weekend of next month - would see their takings hit six figures.

Hampson continued: “It’s a huge boost for the finances, it gives us a much better profile and it shows that there is great support for Worcester City.

“It means we will be able to stay playing at this level, which was always my worry. Success breeds success, we will get more support and I’m sure of that.”

The City chief added: “I’m so proud of the boys, they fired on all cylinders. They were 2-0 up and looked as though it might be three or four nil up. I couldn’t believe it, they played fantastically.”