Early Bird project ‘best alternative’ for Portadown over season tickets

Portadown have confirmed plans to introduce an ‘Early Bird Scheme’ in place of season tickets for the forthcoming Danske Bank Premiership campaign “amid the ongoing uncertainty caused by Covid-19 restrictions”.
Portadown's Paddy McNally with the NI Football Awards Bluefin Sport Championship Player of the Year trophy.Portadown's Paddy McNally with the NI Football Awards Bluefin Sport Championship Player of the Year trophy.
Portadown's Paddy McNally with the NI Football Awards Bluefin Sport Championship Player of the Year trophy.

Season ticket holders from last season should contact club secretary Bill Emerson via [email protected] or 07729804542 by Friday, October 16 to register for the restructured plan, with the general fanbase in a position to sign up following that deadline.

“This has not been an easy decision for the club and is one the Board have thought long and hard about, however, taking a number of factors into account, including the current Covid-safe capacity at Shamrock Park as imposed by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, the current fluid and evolving restrictions around crowds of any capacity at sporting events as well as in the extreme event of a similar situation to the conclusion of last season’s campaign, it was thought the best course of action for everyone concerned was not to make season tickets available,” confirmed a Portadown statement. “We will instead be selling individual match tickets for every Premiership fixture at Shamrock Park on a weekly basis, which will be accessible online to supporters.”

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Signing up to the ‘Early Bird Scheme’ at the cost of £10 for the season will secure members priority booking - limited to one ticket ahead of each Shamrock Park game - before general sale.

“We feel this scheme is the best way to help ensure that only Portadown supporters have access to games at Shamrock Park during this period of reduced capacity,” confirmed the club. “The scheme will operate with ‘Early Bird Scheme’ members receiving a link to purchase their tickets three days before the general sale, once the priority booking access period has expired then any tickets which have not been purchased by members will go on general sale.

“At the moment the ‘Early Bird Scheme’ is only available to 200 supporters, however, this will increase if and when Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council feel it appropriate and safe to increase the Covid-safe capacity at Shamrock Park.

“We appreciate that these circumstances aren’t perfect but, having considered all options and arrangements for the season ahead, we believe the ‘Early Bird Scheme’ is the best alternative to season tickets during this difficult period.”

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