Hartlepool United confirm ‘restricted’ fan return numbers for Weymouth match with new ticket prices

Pools will host Weymouth on the final day of the 2020-21 National League season with home supporters being allowed to attend for the first time since March 2020.

Due to coronavirus restrictions and the club’s matchday protocols, a limited attendance of around 1,700 will be permitted entry to Victoria Park for the Weymouth match.

And with roughly 1,500 season ticket holders already permitted to attend, standalone tickets will be incredibly limited and therefore in very high demand as Pools look to secure a top three finish.

It is likely that Dave Challinor’s side will also be hosting a play-off match at Victoria Park at some point in June which will take place under the same guidelines.

Tickets will be priced at an inflated rate of £25 per adult and £20 for all concessions. The club justified this by stating: “Due to the higher cost of hosting a game under current measures and because of the restricted capacity, unfortunately to cover costs and mitigate losses in a difficult financial environment for the club, ticket prices have had to be increased proportionally.

"Additionally, in order to ensure the Weymouth fixture was rearranged to a date to allow fans to access the game, the club is covering a significant financial contribution for the away team’s travel costs – further adding to the significant expense of putting on the fixture.

"The Weymouth fixture and a potential home playoff fixture are under exceptional circumstances with regards to Covid measures and restricted capacities, and these increased ticket prices are not something that will be carried forward to games under normal measures.”

Pools were initially set to host Weymouth last month but the fixture was moved to allow all clubs to kick off at the same time on the final day of the season and allow fans to return to The Vic.

With Weymouth initially reluctant to move the fixture, Pools offered to cover The Terras’ travel costs in order for the fixture to be moved.

Fans will be allocated seats for the match via a paper match ticket opposed to their pre-existing season ticket cards.

With only roughly 200 tickets going on sale, season ticket holders for the 2021-22 season will be given a priority purchasing period with details of the sales procedure being announced early next week. Limited hospitality ticket packages will also be available and the same process will apply for the potential home play-off fixture.

Hartlepool’s 2021-22 early bird season ticket offer ends at 6pm on Friday, May 14.

On the return of fans, United boss Challinor told The Mail: “It’s a great time for fans to come back.

“It’s a pity there can’t be more of them in here but it will be great to have them back and great to say thank you to them because we haven’t had the chance to do that over the course of the season.

"Primarily, we need to put in a performance and get a result to thank them in the right way and hopefully look forward to potentially bigger games further down the line in terms of a play-off game here and make sure it’s a big occasion for everyone.”

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