A generous football fan has dipped into his own pocket to buy 1,000 tickets for a game – and intends to give them all away.
Scunthorpe United have been given a new lease of life after being taken over by local businesswoman Michelle Harness. The North Lincolnshire club, who were in the Championship as recently as 2011, have endured an awful few years, tumbling all the way down to National League North, the sixth tier of English football.
Harness assumed control from David Hilton, who only took over himself at the start of the year. Hilton had made a number of unpopular decisions, including banning supporters who had been critical of him on social media. He then announced he was withdrawing his funding and looking to sell the club amid fears it could go out of business.
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However, the takeover by Harness – a former commercial manager at the club – has lifted spirits at Glanford Park with the club aiming for an immediate return to the National League. Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Boston left them second in the table.
And in a bid to get the whole town behind the club again, supporters including Dan Stamp are rallying around. Stamp, who runs Scunthorpe’s Smoking Goat restaurant and takeaway, has purchased 1,000 tickets for the upcoming home game against Gloucester City on November 11 – and is planning to give them away.
What do you think of the gesture? Tell us in the comments section below
He announced on X (formerly Twitter) with an image of a wad of tickets: “‘How can we get more people through the gate?’. I’ll start the ball rolling… I’ll be giving away 1000 tickets for our next home game so keep tabs on the goats socials on how to get hold of them. Blue light and armed forces only. And yes I’ve paid for them out my own pocket.”
The gesture has naturally gone down well with fans. One said: “What a fantastic gesture Dan.” A second agreed: “This is awesome. Exactly what the club needs is people who are prepared to do things for the greater good. I’ll have a brainstorm on a few ideas.”
A third added: “Well done @Danstamp1, an amazing gesture. I have a blue light card and a veteran but would rather put my money into the club at full price so someone else may be able to use instead.”
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