City offer troops cut-price tickets

Stuart Brennan

November 06, 2009

CUT-price tickets are being offered by City for serving soldiers on leave.

The move comes amid the row over Premier League clubs displaying poppies on their shirts to show their support in the run-up to Remembrance Day.

Last night Bolton caved in to mounting pressure and announced they will wear an embroidered poppy for the game at Aston Villa tomorrow.

City and Wigan are among 18 top-flight clubs who have now agreed to the public display of support, while United and Liverpool have not, as yet, opted to follow the majority.

United insist they do support the armed services, pointing to the club's unpublicised 12-month programme designed and dedicated to help our soldiers, airmen and sailors.

City's initiative, meanwhile, will see some ticket prices cut by more than a third for Blues fans who are serving their country. All current Armed Forces personnel will be eligible for the discount, which will come into play for the home game against Sunderland on December 19.

The discounts will then apply for all Premier League home games for the rest of the season, with the cheapest tickets available for £17 - down from £28.

City have announced the scheme as they prepare to honour Britain's Armed Forces at tomorrow's home game with Burnley, ahead of Sunday's national Remembrance Day.

After the game the Blues' poppy shirts will then be auctioned via the club's website to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Asked whether he felt United should have a poppy embroidered on their shirts, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the M.E.N: "I think that's got to be a decision for the clubs.

"I think it's important we all commemorate Remembrance Day any way we can."

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Shaun Goaters Magic Shin Pads, Salford (06/11/2009 at 09:32)

Good to see that City is supporting our troops!

bardsleyblue (06/11/2009 at 10:00)

Should be free Mr Cook.

United:The team supported by the majority of mancunians (people from Salford, Stretford & Eccles) (06/11/2009 at 10:03)

IS IT REALLY 33 YEARS: "TALK ABOUT DESPERATE!"

It's nothing of the sort and you know it. It's about helping our brave forces because they can afford to do it, unlike your pathetic lot who won't even put a poppy on their shirts!

(And yes it's 33 years but it'll never be 37.)

david moran (06/11/2009 at 10:03)

TALK ABOUT DESPERATE! IS IT REALLY 33 YEARS, TAMESIDE
6/11/2009 at 09:42

United only do things if they can make money out of it. So keep on your own web site you idiot

Well done to the service staff all over the world

jo alves (06/11/2009 at 10:05)

is it realy 33 years tameside, its better than making them pay up front at a higher price !!! CFL BELEIVE.

The Colin - Leeds, Over the hills and far away (Mancunian Reject) (06/11/2009 at 10:09)

Malcolm G - Of all the low comments that you've made that is probably the lowest.

Tosser.

mark jones (06/11/2009 at 10:19)

is it really 33 years-hear we go again with your bitter jealous rants you really need to STOP it will make youy ill.

£700m and rising......, Sale (06/11/2009 at 10:24)

It's not asking a lot is it? City done it in previous years but come on Rags show some patriotism and remember the fallen.

Paul6143, Manchester (06/11/2009 at 10:47)

Well done again City for rightly supporting the troops during this difficult time for us. As a born and bred Manchester soldier for 22 years I will not be able to take club up on this splendid offer, but like many of us, massively appreciate the offer. I am deploying to Afghanistan on 30 Dec for 6 months and will not be back until the end of the season, but I will be following the lads and will be with them in 'spirit' through the rest of the campaign. Remember the fallen and lest we forget.

Reidus, Cambridge (06/11/2009 at 10:53)

Good luck in 'Stan Paul

Rick, Glos (06/11/2009 at 11:03)

Maybe Gordon Brown should start ensuring our troops have the right kit and infrastructure around them, if lads are brave enough to put their lives on the line, a country like ours should ensure they are the best equipped in the world and that no expense is spared in maximising their safety.

Dibble (06/11/2009 at 11:07)

Paul6143, Manchester
Best of luck

PO (06/11/2009 at 11:10)

Stay safe Paul6143, we appreciate what you and our other service personnel do for our country.

Sam Haggar-Mark Hughes is the Man (06/11/2009 at 11:28)

even with our rich owners we still cut prices and are tickets are proberly one of the cheepers in the premiership not like some teams like United and Chelsea. There prises are over the top there some people who cant afford tickets for United and Chelsea.

STONEY Mancunia (06/11/2009 at 11:36)

Well done City great gesture.Best wishes Paul.

Wear your poppy with pride.

Bert Trautmann's FG42 , The Eastern Front of Manchester (06/11/2009 at 12:07)

I think it says a lot about our Muslim owners that they've given the green light to this - they didn't have to. I know Garry Cook says Abu Dhabi allows them to run the club themselves, but there's no way this wouldn't have been put to Sheikh Mansour (via Mubarak) first. Some idiots still think this is a "War on Islam", yet aren't we fighting alongside ANA troops over there and wasn't a British soldier killed recently while trying to recover the dead body of his Afghan comrade from the battlefield?

Shame on Salford Athletic. Don't believe their excuse about red poppy on red shirt not being visible. They could easily stitch it on that ridiculous black V.

The Big Easy, (06/11/2009 at 12:17)

Paul6143, Manchester

Good luck too all of you do this country very proud,we all hope everyone of you come back safely. Just make sure you watch yours and everyone one of your colleagues backs in that god awful country

bobbydazzler (06/11/2009 at 12:32)

sam hagger

united have already beaten you to this cut price tickets have already been offered to our troops.

you might not like to face up to it but city offer these bargain basement deals because the most loyal supporters in all of the world who live within spitting distance of the council house HAVE to be given MASSIVE incentives to get their arse in gear and fill in some of those empty blue plastic seats.

2 for 1 and there were still 10000 empty seats at your last game depite you fielding a very strong side.

in contrast united put out a team of the stiffs and up and coming kids charge you through the nose for the privelege ( not compulsory ) and still get 50 odd thousand.

if city could fill all those empty seats at top whack prices they would do so they can't so they resort to virtually giving them away.

david allen (06/11/2009 at 12:35)

Surely these guys have suffered enough!

mark jones (06/11/2009 at 12:50)

is it really 33 years- you are really the scum of the earth with these comments rag scum

Blue Pete, Manchester (06/11/2009 at 12:54)

IS IT REALLY 33 YEARS: "TALK ABOUT DESPERATE!" - wonder why your club is hated nationwide?

Good luck Paul6143 may you and any other blue service man or woman return home safe and sound. (And all other service people from around the country by the way)

barca99, Salford (06/11/2009 at 13:02)

even with our rich owners we still cut prices Sam Haggar-Mark Hughes is the Man, 6/11/2009 at 11:28 - Even WITHOUT your rich owners you used to cut ticket prices, its not being generous, its what clubs do when they can't fill there ground, talk about gullible

BlueSte (06/11/2009 at 13:39)

If United are failing to "comply" with the sentiments of wearing a poppy on their shirts then that is fine, ultimately, its their choice and they shouldn't be forced to. I just find it strange that they dont see their own hypocracy when others have been forced to respect their tragic losses in Munich. Seems public shows of respect for MUFC are only applicable if its about MUFC. Sums them up really.

Mark Hall (06/11/2009 at 13:44)

Paul as i am still a serving solider working out of the ACIO Rochdale once your back you can use my season ticket of any game you want.
Good luck for you upcoming tour and please keep your head down,move fast.

remember the fallen on the 11/11

SDS (06/11/2009 at 14:40)

agree it is a good gesture, however the reason for this is basically because our troops are down trodden do not receive decent pay and respect and support from the government, so it is left for others to make gestures of this type, it is the same really with all welfare charities,we should not have to look after war veterans with hand outs like poppy day etc, the governement who waste billions and billions on stupid laws and bad management should have adequate funds to compensate those that have served their country. children the eldery and our armed forces should be covered 100% by the governement from the taxes we pay, these groups covered by charaties simply let the government off the hook for what they should be responsible for. If we want to have a subtantial army then we have to finance it from start to finish and that includes decent salaries for our troops and aftercare when needed.
as i say its a good gesture but in reality it should not be needed.

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