Latics in tickets giveaway

ATHLETIC are hoping to attract in a new generation of fans to Boundary Park by giving away thousands of tickets to three matches.

Local schools will distribute 5,000 vouchers entitling children to free admission, so long as they are accompanied by an adult — who in turn will be allowed half-price entry.

Vouchers must be exchanged at the club’s ticket office to claim a free under-16 ticket plus a £10 adult ticket, which can be used for home games against Colchester (October 16), Plymouth (October 30) and Exeter (November 23).

“We feel it is important to try and improve attendances without adversely affecting revenue,” said Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy.

“We are issuing the largest number of vouchers to schoolchildren since the late 1980s and hope we can attract a lot of new, young fans and their parents at these three games.”