Four Sunderland AFC supporters will receive an extra Christmas present this Boxing Day!
A record-breaking crowd is expected to descend on the Stadium of Light when the Lads take on Bradford City, with the red and white army quickly chasing down the 40,000 target set by executive director Charlie Methven.
Earlier today, sales raced past 37,000 with over a week to go, and the modern-day League One record of 38,256 – set by Leeds United when they won promotion in 2008 – is now within touching distance.
On Wearside and beyond, the club’s support during the 2018-19 season has been unprecedented and unrivalled in third-tier history, with Manchester City’s average attendance record also on track to be demolished when the numbers are crunched at the end of the season.
The ultimate reward for that support would, of course, be an instant return to the Championship come May, but in the meantime a lucky batch of supporters will receive an additional treat on 26 December.
The first SAFC season card holder to renew ahead of the 2018-19 campaign and the 23,000th season card purchaser will be welcomed onto the pitch with their families at half-time on Boxing Day and join the directors in Quinn’s Bar after the game.
And they will be joined by the supporter who purchases the record-breaking 38,257th ticket, as well as the supporter who snaps up the 40,000th ticket, should that lofty figure be reached.
Sunderland AFC’s executive director, Charlie Methven, said: “It will be up Jack and the Lads to send our supporters home with a smile on Boxing Day, but we also wanted to do something special to recognise the fantastic attendance we are expecting against Bradford City.
“We are looking forward to welcoming four families onto the pitch at half-time and providing them with another special moment on what I hope will be a memorable day at the SoL.
“There are only about 1,200 tickets to go to reach the League One record and fewer than 3,000 to go to reach our target, so those who take the plunge in the next few days have got a bit of a chance of winning the prize.”
HOW TO BUY
Online box office (24-hour service)
Telephone: 0371 911 1973 (operating hours replicate the ticket office opening hours listed below.
Calls charged at standard rate, plus your phone company’s access charge. The cost of calls from mobile phones may vary.
In-person: Stadium of Light ticket office, opening hours as listed:
Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm
Matchday Saturday 10am-kick off
Non-matchday Saturday, CLOSED (home tickets available from the Stadium of Light store, 9am-5pm)
Sunday, CLOSED (home tickets available from the Stadium of Light store, 10am-4pm)