Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: We want bums on seats
THE Daily Echo has joined forces with Dorset-based speedway promoter Matt Ford in a bid to help bring back the crowds to Cherries’ Dean Court.
Our ‘Bums on Seats’ campaign will give Cherries supporters an opportunity to mark the achievements of Bournemouth’s table-topping football and speedway teams.
Eddie Howe’s heroes continued to defy the odds by claiming top billing in League Two following Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Lincoln City.
And the Bournemouth Buccaneers – who Ford promotes along with Poole Pirates – celebrated their debut season by finishing top of the pile in the National League.
The Buccs now face a play-off for the silverware and Ford is offering Cherries supporters free entry to their semi-final, first leg against Weymouth a week tomorrow.
To qualify, fans simply need to have either a season ticket for Dean Court or a match ticket for Cherries’ League Two clash with Burton Albion on September 26.
And by producing either at the Wimborne Road box office, they will be given entry free of charge. Admission prices on the night are £10 for adults and £3 for children.
Ford, formerly a Cherries director, told the Daily Echo: “Everyone is talking about the club and we all need to play our part to help.
“Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see a scramble for tickets for every home game.
“Clearly, the stumbling block that is being put in front of the club – the transfer embargo – is not going to change overnight without as much help from the local community as possible.
“We all want to give Eddie Howe every opportunity to hopefully dip into the transfer or loan market during the course of the season when he’s desperately going to need that help.
“It would be great to see everybody locally supporting an emerging team and one which is bringing a lot of pride to the town and pushing our name across the footballing fraternity.
“The Bournemouth Buccaneers have done well to finish top of their league in their first season and Cherries have stunned the football world by achieving what they have on a shoestring.
“It’s a wonderful time for the town and people should be upbeat and buoyant. We need to make hay while the sun shines and everyone should be supporting the club.”
Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell said: “This is a great gesture by Matt Ford. I’m all for anything which helps our supporters enjoy themselves free of charge.
“We want to sell as many tickets as we can for every game and any initiative which helps can only be good for the club.”
