DAVID HODGSON will cast an expectant eye across the terraces on Boxing Day after telling fans: "It's over to you."

Hodgson has been left mystified by poor crowds at the Williamson Motors Stadium this season, despite the acquisition of several former Premiership stars and their steady rise up the League Two table.

However, it is hoped the Boxing Day clash with Rochdale will attract extra support after chairman Stewart Davies sanctioned a number of initiatives.

Most notably, Under-16s will be admitted to the game for free. In addition, entry to the stadium car park is free before 2pm. From noon until 2pm beer and lager will be £1 a pint in the Tin Shed Bar and the Corner Bar.

Hodgson said: "I hope we can attract a good crowd, but what more can we do? The chairman is bending over backwards to make it a better club.

"We've been making every effort to make the club more fan-friendly and there is a really good feeling at the moment.

"There hasn't really been a better time for people to come along and support their club."

Despite last week's defeat at Boston, Hodgson hopes fans will look at the bigger picture, with Quakers just one point outside the play-off places.

He said: "Some might look at last week's result at Boston and think 'I won't bother' but anyone who was there will tell you we played them off the park.

"We had complete control of the game and I don't think were was ever a point where they were in the game.

"Boston did their homework and we have to give credit where it's due. They soaked everything up and they did us on the break. We have to take responsibility and say that we fell foul to that.

"On the day I thought we were well below-par defensively and we were exploited.

"If we can perform like that week-in, week-out, we will win more games than we will get beat. It's up the fans to play their part by coming through the turnstiles.

"We're still in the top ten, which is where I said we had to be after Christmas. The Rochdale game is massive because we need to stay in touch with the teams at the top."

Hodgson has no fresh injury worries and has yet to make a decision on whether to hand a recall to Neil Wainwright or keep faith with the side that performed so well at York Street.

Ryan Valentine was a late replacement for Wainwright after the winger was struck down with a virus.

Rochdale striker Paul Tait serves a one-match ban for the visitors with Taiwo Atieno most likely to deputise. Atieno will partner 16-goal leading scorer Grant Holt in attack. Holt has been linked with a move to Championship side Plymouth Argyle. Dale boss Steve Parkin is keen to bolster his attacking options and failed with a loan bid for Stockport County striker Jon Daly yesterday.

Dale are boosted by the return of Gareth Griffiths and Ernie Cooksey following one-match bans.

Less than a week after Boston boss Steve Evans made reference to "big spending" Darlington in his programme notes, Parkin appears to be under similar illusions.

"The Boxing Day game at Darlington will possibly be the most difficult of the season," admitted Parkin. "They are flying at the moment and have got two strikers who are scoring. They also seem to have wealth.

"Armstrong, Hignett and Wijnhard - their three wages must be as much as my team. That will be a difficult game, but I also feel that while we'll have to defend if we're at it attacking-wise it could be a great match."

Hodgson could perhaps argue that he has not paid a penny in transfer fees in 2004, while Dale laid out a nominal fee to Sheffield Wednesday for Holt in January and Boston lured Paul Gascoigne to York Street earlier this season.

"Our wage bill is about £500,000 less than Boston's," revealed Hodgson. "They've bought players, we haven't."

* A signed Darlington football is being raffled at Cleveland Bridge Social on Neasham Road before Sunday's game. All proceeds go to Darlington Football Club.

Read more about the Quakers here.