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Post by Hooky on Mar 5, 2004 18:18:57 GMT
seems the pledges will be used again next year, and also this indicates a positive stance by the board at the end of their 5 year plan.
Maybe they take the same view as me that 3 years of GT has added 2 yrs to their plan, and they have decided to extend it cos he took so long to drag us out of Div 2 .
FANS' SUPPORT OFFERING SIGNS OF BREAKTHROUGH
12:00 - 05 March 2004
Stoke begin selling cut-price season-tickets tomorrow - and are confident of breaking the 10,000 barrier 12 months ahead of schedule.
The club originally planned to hit the five-figure milestone over a two-year period. But the response to its slashing of season-tickets for 2004/05 - 9,043 fans returned pledge forms -has left Stoke's hierarchy anticipating a possible 10,000 breakthrough for next season.
"Taking into account this response," said sales and marketing manager Tim Gallimore, "and keeping our fingers crossed our recent form will continue, we are hoping to get to that 10,000 mark.
"Considering our original target was over two years, not one, that would be fantastic and send out a strong message to the First Division that we mean business here at Stoke.
"And what a great message that would send out to prospective players thinking about joining us in the summer."
Of the 9,043 pledges returned to the Britannia before the end-of-February deadline, 3,177 came from non season-ticket holders, while the club is hoping the sale of tickets will encourage others to come out of the woodwork.
"Perhaps there were some people a little bit sceptical," added Gallimore, "and understandably so because these things haven't always come off. But now they will see it really is happening and will hopefully join us."
Tickets at the new prices go on sale from tomorrow and Sunday (9am-1pm) and supporters have until April 15 to take up the offer with one payment or an instalment plan.
Stoke are also hoping for a handsome turnout tomorrow after Tuesday's 2-0 win against Ipswich - in front of a modest and frozen 11,435 - made it 27 points from the last 36 on offer. But Watford are running into better form, too, having won three on the bounce before Tuesday's trip to Bradford fell victim to the weather.
Victories at home to Preston and away to Walsall preceded last weekend's 4-0 stroll against a doomed Wimbledon side featuring Ray Lewington's son Adam at left-back for the Dons.
Lewington welcomes back Icelandic striker Heidar Helguson after a three-match ban for violent conduct in the 3-1 loss at West Brom on January 31.
Helguson, a scorer in all three previous appearances against Stoke, is expected to replace Scott Fitzgerald in a 4-3-3 also featuring Paul Devlin and youngster Lee Cook in attack.
Lewington has been operating under severe financial restrictions for some time now, but has been given the green light to broaden his horizons in the loan market.
Wary of Stoke's recent record, he says: "They are a big, strong side and their ground is a tough place to visit at the best of times. That stadium always seems to be a hard place to get anything from.
"I like Tony Pulis. He's one of those who says what he thinks. Some people don't like that, but I do and I admire that quality."
Watford will be seeking to avoid a third straight loss to Stoke after being beaten at home 2-1 last April and 3-1 last December.
They were last at the Britannia in October 2002 when George Burley, Stoke's manager that never was, watched a 2-1 home defeat from the front row of the directors' box before deciding Stoke City wasn't for him.
One to watch: Heidar Helguson - seems to save his best for Stoke.
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