7:18
Brighton & Hove Albion
Albion blast FA's ticket ruling
By Andy Naylor
Albion are angry with the FA for flying in the face of a campaign to attract more youngsters to matches.
The governing body has raised the admission prices suggested by the Seagulls for children and OAPs for next Saturday's FA Cup tie against Northwich Victoria at Withdean.
Albion asked the FA to intervene when Mike Connett, chairman of their Conference opponents, rejected proposals to charge the same rates as for the Seagulls' Carling Cup tie against Boston in August and then a slight increase put forward by chief executive Martin Perry.
continued...
The FA have sanctioned Perry's revised figures for adults, which equate to a £10 reduction across-the-board, but he said: "Sadly they have increased our recommendations for children and senior citizens, which is totally contrary to Football League policies."
Connett's stubborn attitude has backfired. Perry revealed: "The biggest increases imposed on my recommendations are on the away fans, so the Northwich chairman has hurt his own supporters most of all."
Season ticket holders can secure their seats at the ticket office today from 10am to 5pm or by phone tomorrow from 9.30am to 3pm. Call 776992.
Tickets go on general sale from Monday and will be available online from Tuesday.
The ticket office will be open from 9.30am to 7pm next Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 2pm on the day of the match.
Perry said: "This is the fourth home cup tie we've had this season, which is very unusual, and we are doing as much as we can to encourage fans to come.
"We are on a little run and we want to see the crowds back at Withdean."
Albion are advising fans to retain ticket stubs for both the FA Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy to ensure priority for future rounds. The Seagulls find out their southern section quarter-final opponents in the latter competition today.
10:33pm today
Argus Online
By Andy Naylor
Albion are angry with the FA for flying in the face of a campaign to attract more youngsters to matches.
The governing body has raised the admission prices suggested by the Seagulls for children and OAPs for next Saturday's FA Cup tie against Northwich Victoria at Withdean.
Albion asked the FA to intervene when Mike Connett, chairman of their Conference opponents, rejected proposals to charge the same rates as for the Seagulls' Carling Cup tie against Boston in August and then a slight increase put forward by chief executive Martin Perry.
continued...
The FA have sanctioned Perry's revised figures for adults, which equate to a £10 reduction across-the-board, but he said: "Sadly they have increased our recommendations for children and senior citizens, which is totally contrary to Football League policies."
Connett's stubborn attitude has backfired. Perry revealed: "The biggest increases imposed on my recommendations are on the away fans, so the Northwich chairman has hurt his own supporters most of all."
Season ticket holders can secure their seats at the ticket office today from 10am to 5pm or by phone tomorrow from 9.30am to 3pm. Call 776992.
Tickets go on general sale from Monday and will be available online from Tuesday.
The ticket office will be open from 9.30am to 7pm next Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 2pm on the day of the match.
Perry said: "This is the fourth home cup tie we've had this season, which is very unusual, and we are doing as much as we can to encourage fans to come.
"We are on a little run and we want to see the crowds back at Withdean."
Albion are advising fans to retain ticket stubs for both the FA Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy to ensure priority for future rounds. The Seagulls find out their southern section quarter-final opponents in the latter competition today.
10:33pm today
Argus Online
I,ll be there.
