This article was written by Edward Seaman.
Students from around Lincoln turned up in force at Sincil Bank last night to watch Lincoln City’s Skrill Premier match against Tamworth.
462 students from the University of Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste University took up the offer of a free match ticket for the Tuesday night match, which ended in a goalless draw.The football club offered 1,500 free tickets in the Co-Operative stand, to those who signed up at the respective universities Fresher’s Fayres.
The student support helped boost attendances in the home areas of the ground. 2,587 Lincoln fans were present, compared to 2,267 in their last home game. 16 visiting supporters edged the overall attendance to just over 2,600.
The scheme must be considered a success with the Imps’ average home gate, including away support, standing at 2,389, the 5th best in the league. However, it did not set a season’s best gate which currently is from the match against Salisbury, where 2,643 fans supported the Imps, with only 32 of them being visiting supporters.
Stephen Andrew, a second year student at the University of Lincoln, believed the scheme was a good idea. “It brings the students closer to the local community and gives them a taster of local football, which without the scheme they would not be able to afford on a regular basis with the ticket prices being so high. Without the scheme I would not have known anything about the club.”
However, he believes the Sincil Bank club need to do more to help entice student support to the club on a regular basis. “I am aware that the club does discount prices for students at every match but the tickets are still expensive for the standard of football. However, the club could do with raising more awareness by offering more free initiatives like tonight’s match.”
The club does offer a student season ticket, which includes four match tickets for the price of £25. This works out at just more than six pound a match.
There is hope for the club though as students, such as Stephen, have been tempted to go again. “I would definitely think about going to another match soon. I had a good time and enjoyed the atmosphere at the ground. It was a good night out with my friends.”
In a game of very few chances, Lincoln were denied a late winner after a goal mouth scramble ended in the Tamworth defence clearing off the line.