SALISBURY FC are now close to selling out for Saturday's all-ticket FA Vase semi-final second leg against Hereford FC, with around just 150 tickets left for sale. These are for the terracing at the PB Asher Stand end of the ground and the Partridge Way side/end terracing for home fans only and they are expected to be sold today.
Due to segregation and the configuration of the ground arrived at in conjunction with the police and local safety authorities, it has proved impossible to alter arrangements agreed with them and so unfortunately we are unable to offer any more tickets to Hereford FC beyond the original allocation of 657 out of the capacity set at 3,364.
The only way that could have happened was if Salisbury FC were unable to sell the original home allocation of around 2,507 tickets, the other 200 places available being reserved for officials of both clubs, sponsors, dignitaries and media. Then, the segregated area for visiting supporters could have been extended. However, due to the high volume of sales this week it is not possible to extend the away area beyond the sizeable 'sterile', unoccupied area that has to exist between the two sets of supporters.
This unoccupied area has to be the size it is due to the terms of the new club's safety certificate. Our current capacity has also been set at below the Ray Mac's previous much larger capacity as we are a new club.
We have been delighted with the response of our supporters this week to the game at Hereford in wanting to fill the home areas of the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. It is only right that they should have been given every opportunity to buy the tickets available for this historic match and they have taken it.
We hope Hereford FC supporters understand. We know they are a big club with a big following but we feel sure that in similar circumstances, as they did last Saturday, their club would want as many of their own fans to be given first option on tickets, in our case for as long as possible.
We would also point out that the allocation of 657 tickets to Hereford FC is around 20 per cent of the available capacity - five per cent above FA guidelines.
We would urge fans of either side without a ticket, particularly Hereford FC supporters, not to travel to the game on Saturday. Without a ticket, you will have had a wasted journey. We would also ask Hereford supporters who may have been tempted to acquire tickets for home areas, not to travel and if they do, not to enter the ground as they do risk ejection.
We have agreed with the FA and Hereford FC that TV coverage of the match can be beamed live to Edgar Street and we hope that away fans without tickets will take advantage of that, along with live commentary from Radio Hereford FC that is also available.
For all those with tickets, we look forward to welcoming you to the Ray Mac and hope that everybody has a great day in the true spirit of friendly footballing rivalry.
No matter who wins or who loses on the day, these are two new clubs who are back in business and back at the centre of the lives of their supporters and their communities. That is more important than the result of any one football match and it is worth us all bearing that in mind at the end of what we hope will be another wonderful occasion.