Widnes Vikings fans snap up early-bird season tickets

Oct 30 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

VIKINGS supporters have demonstrated their dedication to the club’s cause by snapping up new season tickets.

More than 1,000 early-bird season tickets have already been sold for the 2009 Cooperative National League One campaign.

Alex Bonney, club chief executive, is so far delighted with the response of the Widnes faithful and believes the club is well on the way to reaching its target of securing 2,500 bums on seats by the time of the next competitive home game in February.

He said: “To achieve 40% of our target with still two weeks remaining until our early-bird deadline is a great achievement and I would like to thank those fans who have already renewed for 2009.

“It is also pleasing to note that 7% of these sales relate to brand new purchasers, some of whom came to the Stobart Stadium, Halton in 2008 and liked what was on offer.”

He added: “There will be some exciting announcements in the near future about off-the-field activities as we look to meet the challenges of the next three years in the Co-operative National Leagues and I believe that the response of our fans will demonstrate to the Rugby Football League the potential for the sport here in Halton and the surrounding areas.”

Meanwhile, the Vikings have been well represented at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

Scotland and Vikings coach Steve McCormack was left to rue missed opportunities following the Scots’ 36-18 loss to France in their opening Group B game at the Canberra Stadium on Sunday morning.

McCormack, who selected fellow Vikings Iain Morrison, John Duffy and Lee Paterson in his starting 13 said: “We had ourselves to blame and nobody else.

“We haven’t played for a while and we will get better as the tournament goes on.

“It is a short tournament and we are aware that you have to hit the ground running in World Cups.”

He added: “We didn’t quite do that but I thought we showed enough signs in the game to show that we could be a force to be reckoned with.’’

New Widnes signing Lee Doran was also on the losing side as Ireland suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat at the hands of Tonga in their opening roup C fixture.

Vikings fans who still wish to take advantage of the early-bird season ticket offer should visit stadium reception on Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm or 9am-noon on Saturdays, with the final deadline being 5pm on Friday, November 7.

Prices start at £46 for juniors, which includes admission to all home and away Northern Rail group matches, Co- operative National League One matches and Vikings’ first Carnegie Challenge Cup match.

Concession tickets are £88, adults £130 and a family ticket (one adult and two juniors) £176.

Concession and adult season tickets allow the holder admission to the home group games in the Northern Rail Cup plus the home Co-operative National League One fixtures as well as Vikings’ first Carnegie Challenge Cup game.