YouTuber Ellis Platten, known for his AwayDays channel with nearly 600,000 subscribers, is aiming to set a new attendance record for a Step 10 football match in England. Platten previously helped Witham Town draw a record crowd of 1,205 for their Isthmian North fixture against Gorleston earlier this year. Now, he is focusing on Suffolk-based AC Mill Lane, a team competing in the Anglian Combination Division Three South, as they prepare to host a local derby against Shrublands.

The match is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Wellesley Stadium in Great Yarmouth. It forms part of a double-header day, with Great Yarmouth Town facing Stowmarket Town in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division at 1 p.m. AC Mill Lane typically attracts only around 20 spectators, according to the club’s secretary and vice-chairman, Steve Hemp, but hopes are high to surpass the attendance record of more than 1,000 fans set at a Watton United versus Norwich City XI match nearly four decades ago in 1985.

Platten, who will play alongside two fellow AwayDays contributors for AC Mill Lane, has promised to shave his head if he fails to score during the game. He emphasized the significance of breaking the long-standing record, not just for the milestone itself but also for the financial boost it could provide to both clubs involved. “The money we can make for the day for the clubs involved is huge. We can help out these clubs for the future massively,” he said.

Hemp expressed enthusiasm about the event, acknowledging the extensive preparations underway to manage a crowd of this size, which is unprecedented for the Wellesley Stadium. “We’ve already got 500 ticket sales – it’s not something we’re particularly used to. It’s crazy really,” he noted. The excitement extends to the players, with many anticipating a memorable occasion regardless of whether they make the matchday squad.

Tickets covering both fixtures on the day are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for those under 16 and over 65. The clubs and organizers hope this event will not only break the attendance record but also raise the profile and finances of grassroots football in the region.