Hundreds of fans queued up at Bootham Crescent today (Monday, May 5) as the first tickets went on sale for York City’s home play-off leg.
City, who finished the main season in seventh position, will play fourth placed Fleetwood Town on Saturday, May 10, kick-off time 7.30pm.
The first batch of tickets were available to season ticket holders only, with the rest going on general sale tomorrow.
Eager supporters began arriving at the ticket office more than an hour before the official on-sale start time of 11am.
All the talk in the May sunshine was of the Minstermen’s incredible finish to a season that had threatened, in the dark autumn and winter months, to end in despair.
By the time the box office windows flew open, the queue was more than 250 strong and tailing down Grosvenor Road.
Three hours later, with more than 1,000 tickets for Saturday’s match already sold, the remaining queue had been joined by the Bank Holiday late-risers to swell the queue to nearly 400.
An ebullient and relieved club chairman, Jason McGill, was busy personally thanking ticket-buyers for their continued support.
If City can overcome Fleetwood over the two games, the prize is a big one: another trip to Wembley. The League Two play off final is on Monday May 26 at 3pm.
How to get tickets
Saturday’s match, the first leg of the League 2 play-offs, is all ticket.
Season ticket holders (including mini season tickets) will have priority until 11am on Tuesday (May 6), after which tickets will go on general sale and telephone sales will be accepted.
Fans who cannot get to the ground will be able to pay by credit card – from 9am on Tuesday for season ticket holders, and then all remaining supporters from 11am.
From Tuesday, the ticket office will open as normal between 9am and 5pm.
The away leg
York City travel to Fleetwood on Friday, May 16 for the second leg of the play-off, kick off 7.45pm.
Tickets – restricted to one per person – will go on sale on Thursday, May 8 at 11am.
The club is also offering free travel to and from the game.
With each ticket purchased for the match, fans will be given the option of receiving a voucher for free coach travel via its official travel providers, York Pullman.
“After our supporters have travelled in large numbers to away fixtures from August to May, the York City board of directors and manager Nigel Worthington have agreed that the best reward for this magnificent commitment is to offer free travel,” a statement from the club said.
“Supporters who wish to travel independently may, of course, still do so.
“All supporters who travel on the free coaches will be given a free packet of Minstermen Munchies to enjoy during the trip across the Pennines to the North Lancashire coast.”
York City have been allocated 1,056 tickets for the match at Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium.
Ticket prices will be confirmed in due course. They go on sale to season ticket holders on Thursday, May 8 from 9am until 5pm.
Tickets go on general sale on Friday, May 9 from 9am. They will also be on sale from 11am until kick off on the day of the first leg, Saturday, May 10.
Telephone sales will be available at these same times.