Preston offer solution to Kop stand season ticket holders

1:07pm Thursday 1st May 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Preston North End officials say they have found a solution to concerns of season ticket holders who feared losing their usual seats in the Bill Shankly Kop stand following a change to the ground admission system next season.

The club had proposed that the Bill Shankly Kop stand be fully unreserved for the 2008/09 season to allow fans to pay for tickets in cash at the turnstiles.

But some season ticket holders were unhappy at losing seats they had occupied since the stand returned to a reserved area six years ago.

However, under new plans the stand will be partially reserved and the club will introduce a new style matchday ticket.

The new ticket will have three stubs rather than two which will allow both adults, juniors and senior citizens to go through the same turnstile together and therefore families going through will get a ticket together.

This will allow those who decide they want to come at the last minute to pay cash on the gate and those who buy a season ticket to know that they will have the same seat they have always occupied.

Preston chairman Derek Shaw said: "I am asked at every fans meeting, every AGM and get a letter from a different person every month asking why they can't pay cash on the gate and we wanted to accommodate that, but at the same time we want to look after our valued season ticket holders.

"With all the rules and regulations about reserved/unreserved seating and losing 10 per cent of your spaces along with all the safety aspects it was a complicated and emotive decision and having talked to a number of Bill Shankly Kop regulars I hope this will make it a solution that pleases all.

"I think we have demonstrated that we listen to our fans with the reduced 60 age limit for men and women, the young adult pricing and the family tickets. This change is simply another example of us trying to make sure that all our fans' wishes are catered for."

The club have also added a senior citizen rate in the Premium area of the Sir Tom Finney Stand, with Shaw adding: "We have just finalised our pricing for our four corporate areas and decided to offer a senior citizen and junior rate for the first time in these areas. We only felt it right, therefore, that we also added a senior citizen rate to our new family pricing policy, which allowed a junior concession in this area for the first time."

The cost of a senior citizen season ticket in the Sir Tom Finney Stand and Invincibles Pavilion Premium sections will be £350.

Season tickets go on sale on Tuesday May 6 for all parts of the stadium, with reduced prices available until June 7.