Wednesday 30 December 2015

Stourbridge FC Reminder

The Glassboys featured on these pages earlier in December to highlight the reduced prices for their annual Community Day which takes place on Saturday 2nd January.

It's £5 Adults, £3 Seniors and 16-18 Year-Olds and free for accompanied Under-16's but one important thing to add is that Stourbridge will be holding a bucket collection for their opponents on the day, Ramsbottom United, after extensive flood damage to their Harry Williams Riverside Stadium.

Stourbridge's board of directors have also pledged to make an additional donation to the Rams from club funds.

http://www.stourbridgefc.com/news/bucket-collection-in-aid-of-ramsbottom-united-1545611.html?

Tuesday 29 December 2015

Ten Matches To Kick Off 2016

2nd: It is ‘Pay What You Want’ day at Ryman League Hendon FC, who host Wingate & Finchley, with virtual admission available for those who can’t make it.

Stourbridge FC
mark their Annual Community Day with the visit of Ramsbottom United in the Evo-Stik Norhern Premier League. Prices have been reduced to £5 Adults, £3 Concessions and free for Under-16’s.

4th: Manchester United U-21’s take on Tottenham at
Leigh Sports Village and admission is free for the 7pm kick-off.

The Reds’ youngsters are scheduled to play at the same venue on Monday 18th against Southampton and Monday 25th against Sunderland while Blackburn Rovers take on Leicester City on Monday 11th. Register at the Leigh Sports Village website for free entry to all of these fixtures.


9th: The Third Round of the FA Cup takes place. £10 Adult tickets are available at
West Bromwich Albion (against Bristol City) and Huddersfield Town (against Reading) with reduced prices in operation at most other clubs.

Barnsley take on Fleetwood on the same day in the Northern Area Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with all tickets at Oakwell reduced to £5 if purchased before the day of the game.

Chelmsford City host Weston Super Mare in National League South and, in association with the Supporters Club the game has been designated as a ‘Pay What You Want’ fixture according to the calendar on the club website, although I've not seen anything more about it as yet.

14th: Millwall host Oxford United in the first leg of their JPT Area Final. Admission to the New Den is priced at £10 Adults and £5 for Over-60's and Under-16's.

16th: Wolverhampton Wanderers have a half-price ticket offer for their home match against Cardiff City which means Adult prices start from £12 and Under-12’s admission will be £2.50 in the Family Area.

And Hitchin Town have designated the game against Frome as 'Pay What You Want' with any money generated above the club's budget going into the newly-launched Floodlight Fund at Top Field.

Sunday 27 December 2015

Hitchin Town FC

A welcome return to the pages of Affordable Football for Hitchin Town after their battle to keep playing at the Top Field ground featured heavily last season.

Although the club are looking into the possibility of a new stadium, their stated wish is to remain at Top Field and a Floodlight Fund is to be launched at the game against Frome Town on Saturday 16 January to start the process of raising enough funds to match a grant from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund and replace the 50-year-old floodlights currently in use.

For that reason, and to encourage more people to come along and see what the club is all about (building on the community involvement that was to the fore in the fight to stay at Top Field), the Frome fixture will be 'Pay What You Want' at the gate with all money raised above the budgeted figure going into the Floodlight Fund.

Saturday 26 December 2015

January Sale at Wolverhampton Wanderers


Attendances over the festive period tend to take care of themselves, almost regardless of league position, but matches in January can sometimes need a bit of selling and many clubs do try out offers during this period.
 
Molineux is the venue for a Championship clash between Wolves and Cardiff City on Saturday 16th January and the Old Gold are looking to generate some early interest in the fixture.
 
All tickets for the game are half-price which means Adult prices start from £12 and Under-12’s admission will be £2.50 in the Family Area.
 

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Merry Christmas!

A very merry Christmas to anyone who has ever read the blog or seen us on Twitter.

Enjoy the day itself and, more importantly, enjoy your football on Boxing Day whatever level the fixture is that you are attending.

The calls for a winter break are never going to go away, certainly at the top level, but one of the joys of the game in the UK is the sheer depth and breadth of it.

So, from the Highland League to the Western League and all points in between, let’s hope it’s Game On!

Sunday 20 December 2015

Ilkeston FC, Swindon Supermarine, Stenhousemuir FC

As 2015 draws to a close, a look back at some of the clubs we have featured on Affordable Football over the course of the year in relation to offers that are ongoing throughout the 2015/16 season.

Ilkeston FC took the decision back in the summer to reduce admission prices to the minimum allowed by their respective league, the Evo-Stik Northern Premier.

That means entrance to the New Manor Ground is priced at £6 Adults, £4 Concessions and free for children with the next home game being the visit of Matlock Town on 28th December.

Swindon Supermarine also reduced matchday prices ahead of the season after a sponsorship deal with the Brunel Shopping Centre.

Admission at the Webbswood Stadium is priced at £5 Adults, £3 Concessions and free for Under-11's.

Mangotsfield United are the next visitors in the Southern League Division One South & West, on 2nd January.

Stenhousemuir made an offer of reduced price entry to the season ticket holders of the other nine SPFL League One clubs when they visit Ochilview.

The £10 price is equivalent to the price that home supporters pay for each game through their season ticket and is an attempt to generate bigger crowds, a louder atmosphere and a better deal for all fans, something the club say 'is what Scottish football needs'.

The Warriors host Stranraer on Boxing Day.


Saturday 19 December 2015

Harrogate Town AFC

Harrogate Town threw open their doors of the CNG Stadium for their National League North game at home to Brackley Town on Saturday afternoon and a superb crowd of 1,534 saw a late winner for the home side to cap an enjoyable day.
 
The club’s ‘Festival of Football’ continues tomorrow (Sunday) with Harrogate Town Ladies Day which includes a free match at 12pm between West Riding Combination U-18’s and Sporting Recruitment U-18’s and a Q & A with Liverpool Ladies skipper and England international Gemma Bonner.

Thursday 17 December 2015

One More Match Before Christmas

Time for just one more?

On Friday night there is free football at Derby County's iPro Stadium where the Rams entertain in the FA Youth Cup. Kick-off is at 7pm.

Braintree Town host Wrexham in the National League and admission to the 7:45pm kick-off has been reduced to £10 Adults and £5 Concessions. Details of a free season ticket offer for Under-18's is also on the club website.

On Saturday, it is 'Kids for a Quid' at West Bromwich Albion against Bournemouth in the Premier League and £10 Adults, £1 Children for Coventry City's home clash with Oldham Athletic in League One.

Banbury United have 'Football for a Fiver' as Cinderford Town visit the Spencer Stadium in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West (Under-16's free) and it is 'Pay What You Want' at Great Yarmouth Town when they host Halstead Town at the Wellesley Recreation Ground.

A special mention to Harrogate Town AFC who are offering free admission to all for their National League North game against Brackley Town, part of a Festival of Football weekend at the club with a free Ladies match taking place at 12pm on Sunday.

On Monday night there is free football at Carrow Road (7pm) where Norwich City Under-21's meet Liverpool and on Tuesday 22nd, Macclesfield Town play a re-arranged FA Trophy tie against Ashton United at 7:45pm. Prices have been reduced to £5 Adults, £3 Over-65’s and £1 for Under-18’s and Students.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Football For A Fiver: Barnsley FC


The idea for this blog came out of Coventry City’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy run of the 2012/13 season when the Sky Blues offered £5 tickets for their home ties and attracted over 30,000 to the Ricoh Arena for the Northern Area Final against Crewe Alexandra (we’ll gloss over the result).
 
So it is good to see that Barnsley, who won their Area semi-final at Wigan Athletic recently in a game where all tickets had been reduced to £5, are doing the same for the first leg of the final against Fleetwood Town.
 
All tickets, in all areas of the ground, are a fiver if purchased in advance (£10 on the day) and with the match scheduled for a Saturday (9th January at 3pm) there should be a cracking atmosphere at Oakwell.
 

Tuesday 15 December 2015

FA WSL Season Tickets

FA Women’s Super League Clubs are starting to sell season tickets for the 2016 campaign with two early bird offers that I have seen so far at Notts County Ladies and the current champions Chelsea.
 
Both offer entry to all home WSL matches (eight in 2016 as the top league expands to nine teams) and any FA Cup and Continental Tyres Cup home games as well.
 
At Notts County, buy before 2nd January for prices of £40 Adults, £20 Concessions and £100 for a family while at Chelsea, purchase before the end of January and it is just £25 Adults and £10 Concessions.
 
Other clubs should be up and running soon with their season tickets and the main FA WSL page has links to each individual website and, when the season starts, a match centre with good information about tickets on a game-by-game basis.


Sunday 13 December 2015

This Week's Affordable Action

On Monday evening at 7pm, Manchester United Under-21's take on Leicester City at Leigh Sports Village. As always there is free entry to this one if you register at the LSV website.

Admission has been reduced for Tuesday night's Staffordshire Senior Cup tie between Leek Town and Port Vale. Adults will pay £5 and Concessions £3 for the quarter-final, which kicks off at 7:45pm.

On the same night, Hartlepool United host Salford City in an FA Cup 2nd Round replay. Tickets have been priced at £10 Adults and £5 Concessions while season ticket holders who attended the first fixture can claim a free ticket for the replay.

And Truro City replay their fixture against Hemel Hempstead Town, the original game having been abandoned for reasons outside of the club's control in mid-November. Tuesday's game will be free admission to all.

Derby County host West Ham United in the FA Youth Cup at the iPro Stadium on Friday, 7pm and there is free entry to all supporters.

And on Saturday, a number of clubs have offers in place to keep people away from the shops!

Coventry City's League One clash with Oldham Athletic is priced at £10 Adults and £1 for Under-16's.

It is 'Pay What You Want' at Great Yarmouth Town when they host Halstead Town at the Wellesley Recreation Ground and Football for a Fiver at Banbury United (Under-16's free when accompanied and a host of activities taking place) for the visit of Cinderford Town.

West Bromwich Albion (whose FA Cup tie against Bristol City has been priced at £10 Adults and £5 Juniors) are running a 'Kids for a Quid' deal when they host Bournemouth.

Saturday 12 December 2015

Belated Mentions To Spartans FC and Cirencester Town

Two belated mentions from games that have already taken place.
 
Spartans FC ran their ‘Donate At The Gate’ initiative for the fourth successive year at today’s home match against Selkirk in the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League with supporters able to claim free admission with a donation to the Academy’s Charity Foundation Food Bank Appeal.
 
Spartans are next at home on Saturday 2nd January, a local derby against Edinburgh City
 
And Cirencester Town FC offered free admission to the midweek game against Kettering with 225 people coming through the gate and raising over £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Care.
 
They are in home action again this coming Tuesday when Paulton Rovers are the visitors to the Centurion Stadium in the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division.
 
 

Friday 11 December 2015

Stourbridge FC

An exciting season already for Stourbridge, having made it to the Second Round of the FA Cup and hosted the BBC’s ‘Football Focus’ programme live from their ground last week.

Attention now turns to the possibility of promotion from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Premier Division with the cup run having left the Glassboys with games in hand on most of the teams around them.


The home fixture against Ramsbottom United on 2nd January has been designated as the club’s Annual Community Day and prices for this have been reduced to £5 Adults, £3 Seniors/16-18 Year-Olds and free for Under-16’s when accompanied by an adult.

http://www.stourbridgefc.com/news/merry-christmas-and-thank-you-1538401.html

Thursday 10 December 2015

Football For A Fiver At Banbury United

A very busy pre-Christmas afternoon is planned at Banbury United for Saturday 19th December.

That is when the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West clash with current leaders Cinderford Town takes place and all Adult tickets will cost just £5 for the 3pm kick-off.

Under-16's can get into the Spencer Stadium for free when accompanied and a number of other activities will be taking place on the day including the chance to meet mascot Rory the Lion and an Xmas raffle.

http://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/news/festive-offer-football-for-a-fiver-1537236.html

Five FA Trophy Matches For The Weekend

The First Round Proper of the FA Trophy takes places and, similarly to the Third Round of the FA Cup, a number of the bigger clubs at this stage of the competition are offering reduced prices for their matches.

Aldershot Town host Eastleigh in an all-National League game and prices have been reduced to £12 Adults, Concessions and Juniors. Keep hold of your ticket stub if you go and you will get the same prices for Aldershot’s home league game the following Saturday against Guiseley.
AFC Telford United take on Chester FC with prices reduced to £9 Adults, £5 Concessions and £2 Under-16’s for this one. An added attraction (certainly for me) is the presence of Somersby Blackberry & Cranberry Cider in the Learning Centre Bar and the stadium bars at the ground.
Grimsby Town welcome Solihull Moors to Blundell Park and have reduced prices to £10 Adults, £5 Concessions and £1 for Under-14’s
And it is Tranmere Rovers at home to Wrexham at Prenton Park with tickets priced at £10 Adults, £5 Concessions and £1 for Under-17’s.
On Sunday, Torquay United host FA Cup giantkiller Chesham United. The Gulls have moved the fixture and reduced prices in a bid to attract a decent crowd. Prices are £10 Adults, £5 for Concessions and Under-18’s and Under-12’s can attend for free with a paying adult.

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Northwood FC

Evo-Stik Southern Division One club Northwood featured in this week’s edition of the Non League Paper with secretary and treasurer Alan Evans talking about their offer of £30 season tickets.

Although the initiative was announced just before the start of the current season, Mr Evans said: “We’re quite pleased with the results. We are up to nearly 100 season ticket holders now. Last season we had ten so it’s a much improved position for us to build on."

With a newly-refurbished clubhouse to help tempt people away from live football on TV in their own homes, he added: "If those 100 come just every other game it would be a big boost for the club."

Northwood host St Ives Town at Chestnut Avenue this coming Saturday (12th December).

http://www.northwoodfc.com/

Monday 7 December 2015

Aldershot Town, Hartlepool United

Two home games coming up for Aldershot Town at the EBB Stadium, starting with the FA Trophy tie against Eastleigh this coming Saturday.

Admission has been reduced for the all-National League tie to £12 Adults, £10 Concessions and £4 Juniors and anyone attending will get the same prices for the league game against Guiseley the following Saturday.

Under-11’s admission remains free with a paying adult.

Hartlepool United, meanwhile, will attempt to see off Salford City at the second attempt when they replay their FA Cup tie on Tuesday 15 December at 7:45pm

Ticket prices have been reduced to £10 Adults and £5 Concessions (Over-60, Under-16 and Student) while Season Ticket Holders who travelled to the first game will be given a complimentary ticket for the replay on production of their stub.



Sunday 6 December 2015

Start The Week With A Match

Four fixtures for Monday night which may be of interest.

Ryman League North club Barkingside FC host Thamesmead Town at Cricklefields and the 7:45pm kick-off is 'Pay What You Want' for spectators.

This follows a crowd of 130 coming through the gates when Barkingside tried the initiative for Non League Day against Maldon & Tiptree.

Grimsby Town look to cause an FA Cup upset when they host Shrewsbury Town in the Second Round. Under-14's can get in for £1 with a paying adult while early-bird ticket prices are available until 6pm on the day of the match.

Hull City Under-21's are in action at the KC Stadium as they host Leeds United in a 7pm kick-off. This one is free for Season Card holders while general admission is £4 and £2.

And there is free entry to Leigh Sports Village for the Premier League Under-21 clash between Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, also a 7pm kick-off.

Premier League Update: Everton

Just a line to add to the recent article on the Premier League, Everton and Newcastle have a reciprocal pricing deal in place as well which means that Toffees supporters’ travelling to St James’ Park on Boxing Day will pay £25 Adults (saving £11), £10 Over-65’s and Students and £5 Under-18’s.

Thursday 3 December 2015

Ten For December

There's a lot going this month and lots of clubs are making efforts in various ways to get people through the gates.

These are just a taster, follow us on Twitter for more updates.

Pay What You Want: At Barkingside FC against Thamesmead Town on Monday 7th December and also at Great Yarmouth Town when they host Halstead Town at the Wellesley Recreation Ground on Saturday 19th.

Free Entry: To two games that were abandoned for different reasons recently. Buxton FC meet Bradford Park Avenue in the FA Trophy on Tuesday 8th December after bad weather meant the original tie could not be finished. Meanwhile, Truro City take on Hemel Hempstead Town on Tuesday 15th for the second time following a power failure in the first game

Reduced Prices: For Coventry City's League One fixture against Oldham Athletic at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday 19th December with tickets priced at £10 for Adults  and Kids for a Quid. For Wigan Athletic's JPT tie with Barnsley, this Saturday, the 5th where all Adult tickets are £5. And for the FA Trophy clash between Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham at Prenton Park on Saturday 12th when admission is priced at £10 Adults, £5 Concessions and £1 for Under-17's.

Kids For A Quid: At Kidderminster Harriers this Saturday (5th) against Gateshead and season ticket holders can also bring a friend for £10 (£5 Concessions) to this National League clash. In the Premier League at West Bromwich Albion when they host Bournemouth on Saturday 19th and in the Championship as Charlton Athletic take on Wolves on Monday 28th.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Southampton, Watford, West Brom: A Dip Into The Premier League

The Premier League doesn’t feature too often on these pages, mainly because game-by-game offers don’t tend to happen too much at that level of the game.

But there are good things happening, particularly with regards to away supporters and either the reciprocal deals that clubs are doing between themselves or the methods used to make the most of the money clubs receive to subsidise away travel and/or tickets.

Southampton, for example, are using the money they have received to subsidise two away trips in five days during the busy festive period so tickets for the matches at West Ham United and Norwich City after Christmas are reduced by 50% across all categories and will cost £22.50 for Adults.

A reciprocal deal between Watford and Sunderland means that Hornets supporters travelling to the Stadium of Light on Saturday 12 December will pay £20 Adults and £10 Over-65’s and Under-16’s. Watford have also reduced the price of official coach travel to the game to just £1.

And a word for West Brom, where the pre-Christmas home fixture against Bournemouth is ‘Kids for a Quid’ for Under-17’s while Adults will pay Category B prices which, at the Hawthorns, means £27 or £25.