Traditionally seen as a game that attracts lower than average attendances, the Saturday fixture before Christmas suffers from being on the last major shopping day before the big occasion and without the kind of family turnout that normally ensures a good turnout in the games between Christmas and New Year.
A hangover from Friday night's partying may also be a factor so to act as a kind of footballing alka-seltzer, Coventry City and Gillingham have both reduced admission for their League One home matches on Saturday 20 December.
The Sky Blues have cut prices for the game against Fleetwood at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday 20 December to £10 adults, £5 concessions and £1 children.
Similar prices apply as the Gills host Chesterfield, £10 for adults, £5 for under-18's and £1 for under-12's.
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
Monday, 24 November 2014
Free Conference Football at Eastleigh Next Week
It's not reduced prices and it's not even a 'Pay What You Want' game.
Eastleigh's Vanarama Conference clash with Dartford at 7:45pm on Tuesday 2 December is completely free for home and away fans.
A simple statement on the club website merely says: 'The club has been delighted with attendances both home and away this season and would like to thank the fans for their continued support.'
Tickets are avaliable at the turnstiles on a first come first served basis.
Eastleigh's Vanarama Conference clash with Dartford at 7:45pm on Tuesday 2 December is completely free for home and away fans.
A simple statement on the club website merely says: 'The club has been delighted with attendances both home and away this season and would like to thank the fans for their continued support.'
Tickets are avaliable at the turnstiles on a first come first served basis.
Saturday, 22 November 2014
December’s Affordable Football
Christmas is coming and there’s plenty of reasons to avoid the shops…
1st Brighton & Hove Albion host the first of three under-21 games to be staged at the Amex Stadium this season when they entertain Arsenal with a 7pm kick-off. Season ticket holders can attend the game for free, admission otherwise is £5 for adults and £2 concessions.
5/6/7th The Second Round of the FA Cup takes place so check out your local team for any offers. Scunthorpe United, for example, have reduced prices to £12 (seating) and £10 (standing) for adults and £2 for under-16's as they host Worcester City.
6th Hitchin Town’s home game against Poole Town (3pm) is a ‘Pay What You Can’ fixture and kicks off after a march in the town aimed at highlighting the potential sale of the club’s historic Top Field ground.
10th Bristol City host Coventry City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and, like their FA Cup tie against Telford three days earlier (Sunday 7th, 2pm), are offering 'Kids for a Quid' tickets for under-12's.
13th The first of three Mansfield Town home games that are part of a special cut-price ticket offer is against Cheltenham Town. Matches versus Exeter City in January and Northampton Town in February are also available at just £7 each.
17th After attracting 10,000 to their last under-21 fixture at Carrow Road, Norwich City will again be hoping for a big crowd when they take on Liverpool (7pm kick-off). Tickets in the Jarrold Stand are available free of charge at the official club website, on the telephone or in person.
20th Shrewsbury Town’s two Christmas home games against Morecambe and Wycombe Wanderers (28th) are covered by a special ticket deal with a reduction in matchday prices when bought together.
20th Coventry City The Sky Blues have reduced prices for the match against Fleetwood at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday 20 December to £10 adults, £5 concessions and £1 children in a bid to get a big pre-Christmas crowd supporting the City.
20th Barrow AFC have a Christmas ticket offer in place which covers the games against Boston United (20th), Harrogate Town (28th) and AFC Fylde (1st Jan) and which gives a £5 saving on usual admission prices.
26th Sheffield Wednesday's first home Boxing Day clash since 2009 has been designated as a 'Kids for a Quid' fixture meaning all under-16's can attend for just £1.
1st Brighton & Hove Albion host the first of three under-21 games to be staged at the Amex Stadium this season when they entertain Arsenal with a 7pm kick-off. Season ticket holders can attend the game for free, admission otherwise is £5 for adults and £2 concessions.
5/6/7th The Second Round of the FA Cup takes place so check out your local team for any offers. Scunthorpe United, for example, have reduced prices to £12 (seating) and £10 (standing) for adults and £2 for under-16's as they host Worcester City.
6th Hitchin Town’s home game against Poole Town (3pm) is a ‘Pay What You Can’ fixture and kicks off after a march in the town aimed at highlighting the potential sale of the club’s historic Top Field ground.
10th Bristol City host Coventry City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and, like their FA Cup tie against Telford three days earlier (Sunday 7th, 2pm), are offering 'Kids for a Quid' tickets for under-12's.
13th The first of three Mansfield Town home games that are part of a special cut-price ticket offer is against Cheltenham Town. Matches versus Exeter City in January and Northampton Town in February are also available at just £7 each.
17th After attracting 10,000 to their last under-21 fixture at Carrow Road, Norwich City will again be hoping for a big crowd when they take on Liverpool (7pm kick-off). Tickets in the Jarrold Stand are available free of charge at the official club website, on the telephone or in person.
20th Shrewsbury Town’s two Christmas home games against Morecambe and Wycombe Wanderers (28th) are covered by a special ticket deal with a reduction in matchday prices when bought together.
20th Coventry City The Sky Blues have reduced prices for the match against Fleetwood at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday 20 December to £10 adults, £5 concessions and £1 children in a bid to get a big pre-Christmas crowd supporting the City.
20th Barrow AFC have a Christmas ticket offer in place which covers the games against Boston United (20th), Harrogate Town (28th) and AFC Fylde (1st Jan) and which gives a £5 saving on usual admission prices.
26th Sheffield Wednesday's first home Boxing Day clash since 2009 has been designated as a 'Kids for a Quid' fixture meaning all under-16's can attend for just £1.
Friday, 21 November 2014
'Pay What You Like' Hits Scotland's Top-Flight
As part of a whole raft of offers and initiatives to get more people through the gates of the Tulloch Highland Stadium, Inverness Caledonian Thistle have designated their top-flight fixture against St Johnstone on Wednesday 21 January as a 'Pay What You Like' game.
At the time of writing, Inverness sit proudly level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership but they have always faced a struggle to boost attendances.
One Caley Jags fan, writing on the Daily Record website this week, suggests that the slightly inhospitable nature of the stadium may put people off but a bigger factor may be the club's rapid rise from their formation in 1994 as a result of a merger between two Highland League sides and the difficulty that then ensues trying to build a fanbase when loyalties in the local area already lie elsewhere.
The club have also announced the following: Saturday 13 December v Partick Thistle - season ticket holders can take up to 2 under-16's to the match free of charge.
Sunday 4 January v St Mirren - season ticket holders can bring a friend for a fiver while under-16's (max 2 per adult) can attend for free.
Saturday 31 January v Ross County - all under-12's (home and away fans, accompanied by a paying adult) can go free.
Last season in Scotland saw Albion Rovers enjoy great success with a 'Pay What You Like' fixture and their decision to extend that to season tickets in the summer has seen attendances rise by around 40% at Cliftonhill.
“Things are going well and there is a great feelgood factor in the community and around the club," said player/manager Darren Young with his side in the hunt for promotion from League Two.
At the time of writing, Inverness sit proudly level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership but they have always faced a struggle to boost attendances.
One Caley Jags fan, writing on the Daily Record website this week, suggests that the slightly inhospitable nature of the stadium may put people off but a bigger factor may be the club's rapid rise from their formation in 1994 as a result of a merger between two Highland League sides and the difficulty that then ensues trying to build a fanbase when loyalties in the local area already lie elsewhere.
The club have also announced the following: Saturday 13 December v Partick Thistle - season ticket holders can take up to 2 under-16's to the match free of charge.
Sunday 4 January v St Mirren - season ticket holders can bring a friend for a fiver while under-16's (max 2 per adult) can attend for free.
Saturday 31 January v Ross County - all under-12's (home and away fans, accompanied by a paying adult) can go free.
Last season in Scotland saw Albion Rovers enjoy great success with a 'Pay What You Like' fixture and their decision to extend that to season tickets in the summer has seen attendances rise by around 40% at Cliftonhill.
“Things are going well and there is a great feelgood factor in the community and around the club," said player/manager Darren Young with his side in the hunt for promotion from League Two.
Update: March for Hitchin Town Before Some Free Football
We looked last month at a planned 'No Pay Day' in the battle to save Hitchin Town and their historic Top Field ground from plans to sell up to property developers.
The 'No Pay Day' will now take place on Saturday 6 December for the game against Poole Town which kicks off at 3pm. It will be preceeded by a march to raise awareness of the campaign.
The 'No Pay Day' will now take place on Saturday 6 December for the game against Poole Town which kicks off at 3pm. It will be preceeded by a march to raise awareness of the campaign.
Update: Oxford United Pleased With Ticket Offer Response
We looked last week at a pleasing initiative from Oxford United in which the U's were contacting around 700 lapsed season ticket holders from last season were being offered a free ticket for the AFC Wimbledon game tomorrow (22 November).
Around half of that number have contacted the club to book their place and, quoted in the Witney Gazette, Kevin Smith, the man responsible for sales and marketing at OUFC, said: “It won’t change the attendance massively, but hopefully the 300 will remember why they used to come every fortnight and even those who haven't take it up will appreciate it.
"We could’ve done nothing and we can’t do that. I think this is the right thing to do."
Around half of that number have contacted the club to book their place and, quoted in the Witney Gazette, Kevin Smith, the man responsible for sales and marketing at OUFC, said: “It won’t change the attendance massively, but hopefully the 300 will remember why they used to come every fortnight and even those who haven't take it up will appreciate it.
"We could’ve done nothing and we can’t do that. I think this is the right thing to do."
Monday, 17 November 2014
Can Norwich City Break Crowd Record Again?
As a perfect example of how under-21 football, marketed properly and with a family-friendly kick-off, can be a win-win for clubs and supporters, Norwich City take a bow.
Free entry to their October clash with Tottenham Hotspur saw 10,405 come through the gate at Carrow Road, a record crowd for a Barclays Under-21 Premier League clash.
An exciting 3-1 victory for the hosts followed and the initiative is being repeated when Liverpool are the visitors on Wednesday 17 December for a 7pm kick-off.
Tickets are available now from the club via the official website, over the phone or in person at the ticket office.
Free entry to their October clash with Tottenham Hotspur saw 10,405 come through the gate at Carrow Road, a record crowd for a Barclays Under-21 Premier League clash.
An exciting 3-1 victory for the hosts followed and the initiative is being repeated when Liverpool are the visitors on Wednesday 17 December for a 7pm kick-off.
Tickets are available now from the club via the official website, over the phone or in person at the ticket office.
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