Kilmarnock fans have been turned away after travelling a 240-mile round trip to secure away stand tickets for their clash with Arbroath on Friday.
The Arbroath ticket office put in extra safety precautions for buying tickets to the big game on Friday after home stand tickets at Rugby Park sold out.
The potential title-decider is set to be one of the highest-attended Championship games of the season.
Potential title-decider
A lot is a stake for both teams – a Killie win will seal first place for the Ayrshire side. However, an Arbroath win or a draw will set up a nervy finale with Arbroath at home to Morton and Killie away to Raith Rovers.
A home sell-out has led to determined Killie fans travelling for more than two hours each way in a bid to get their hands on tickets.
In response, tickets to the clash are now only available to buy in person from the Arbroath FC shop in the Abbeygate shopping centre.
The club decided to put in the measures to ensure the safety of all fans during the game.
It is feared Kilmarnock fans standing in away stands may lead to trouble among the opposing sides.
Ticket office staff have been checking punters’ addresses to ensure they live locally.
‘Safety is our priority’
Paul Reid, Arbroath FC commercial director, said the club has been working closely with officials at Kilmarnock as tickets draw close to selling out.
He said: “When you start to have a limited amount of tickets left people will try any way they can to secure a seat.
“We made a decision that as of yesterday [Wednesday] we would make our tickets in the club shop pick-up only just in the potential of home fans trying to buy tickets in the away end.”
He added: “We’ve just had to police it, we don’t want to be killjoys but safety is our priority and we have to make sure fans are safe.
“When people come in [to buy tickets] we’ve had to look at various factors such their address – if it’s a local address then it’s fine, if it’s address down in Glasgow or in the west we have to look into it.”
Since putting in the additional measures, Paul said the club have had some Kilmarnock fans travelling the distance in a last-ditch attempt to secure tickets.
“We’ve had a few supporters trying to come in from Kilmarnock but it has been in good humour,” Paul said.
“I’ve seen it at previous clubs – it’s not a new thing.
“A lot of the guys will be desperate to see their team in trying to win the league, it’s not like they’re going to be causing trouble.
“We have to just keep an eye on it and make sure the game does pass in the stands as quietly and positively as possible.”
‘Huge buzz around the town’
Paul said the response from fans in the lead up to the game has been “amazing” and although there are still away seats left at the game, the club have had to provide more tickets to keep up with demand.
He said: “We were keeping an eye on how many tickets we were selling and have had to go back to Kilmarnock to get more tickets because there has been so much demand.”
He added: “There is a huge buzz around the town, I don’t think there will be many people left in Arbroath tomorrow night.
“We’re conscious that not everyone can make it down there but we’re so thankful for everyone that will be tuning in abroad, in the pub and at home.”
‘Overwhelmed by fans support’
Paul said the club have been “overwhelmed” by support from fans throughout the whole season.
“On behalf of everyone of the club I just want to thank the supports for the backing they’ve given us and that’s everyone young and old,” Paul said.
“They have really been that 12th man wh really helped us get to this point where we could go on to make history.
“We’re all in this together and if the guys get the result on Friday it’s a team effort from everyone, staff, reporters, players, management, directors it’s us all.”
Keep an eye out for exciting coverage of the game in The Courier on Friday.
