Encouraging foreign fans

SCANDINAVIAN fans who follow Premier League football are being encouraged to make Athletic their 'second' team in England.

A fleet of fans arrive from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland to visit Premier League matches in the North-West area and Athletic are bidding to attract them to Boundary Park.

On production of a passport, these fans can gain admission for £5 as well as gaining a 20-per-cent discount in the club shop.

"When I was working recently in Scandinavia, I saw how vast the interest in English football is," said Athletic director Mike Newton, whose brainchild the scheme is.

"There are huge numbers who come over for Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool games, many of which are on a Sunday, and we would like to encourage people to come and watch us on the Saturday.

"We are a traditional club in a traditional stadium and can offer our guests from Scandinavia a chance to see the type of good, old-fashioned game that has largely gone away elsewhere in England."



ROCHDALE'S Football in the Community team are looking for teams to compete in the annual five-a-side tournament at the Soccer Factory in memory of ex-Athletic player Ernie Cooksey.
The event, staged to raise funds for Factor 50, takes place on Sunday, December 4, from 2pm until 6pm. The cost is £40 per team. Details from Keith (0795 8593121) or Graham (01706 659111).



ATHLETIC picked up £18,500 in prize money as a result of the 3-1 home win over Burton Albion in the first round of the FA Cup. The cash the club has accumulated so far gathered in the run to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy area semi-finals amounts to around £10,000. None of the JPT Area semi-finals will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.