Following on from yesterday’s superb victory over Sale Sharks the excitement is building as the Falcons aim to fight-back and keep Aviva Premiership rugby in the North East.
The last fortnight has seen some significant changes to the coaching set-up with the appointment of Gary Gold as the club’s new director of rugby and Mike Ford as defence coach.
Their first home Aviva Premiership game is against London Irish on Saturday 18 February (kick-off 3pm).
The fight-back is well and truly under-way but the survival bid is as much about our fans as it is the players and coaches.
Kingston Park needs to become a fortress where visiting teams fear the trip north and while the coaches and players will be putting the hard graft in on the pitch, a large, loud, passionate Falcons support is crucial to the revival.
Four home Aviva Premiership games remain so back the fight-back.
To help attract a capacity crowd for the Irish game, Falcons’ owner Semore Kurdi has written to all Season Ticket Holders inviting them to bring as many friends and family as possible to the game with a fantastic offer, exclusive to all Season Ticket Holders, of £10 for adults and £5 for juniors for tickets in all areas of the stadium.
As well as this great offer for Season Ticket Holders the club will be hosting the hugely successful Falcons Cup which invites teams from local rugby clubs at under-7s and under-8s age groups.
Already more than 40 teams have reserved their place meaning at least 400 youngsters from the local rugby community will be at the game and bringing along their parents, friends and family.
There will also be the certificate presentations for all the young players that have taken part in the Falcons Community Foundation Half Term Coaching Camps. More than 150 youngsters have already booked their place on the camps with more expected to book over the next two weeks before the schools break up. As part of the Coaching Camps, all participants will be given a ticket to the Falcons v Irish game where they will come onto the pitch at Kingston Park to receive their certificate from a Falcons player.
The Irish game will also see the Falcons supporting the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital through their charity CHUF. North East entrepreneur and Sage founder Graham Wylie will be hosting one of the Corporate Suites at Kingston Park, where he aims to attract 300 guests for a fundraising lunch with ‘money can’t buy’ auction prizes and raffles.
Prizes will include a round of golf with Lee Westwood at Close House (this summer), be a 'mascot' at a Falcons game, VIP hospitality at the Grand National in Graham Wylie's personal box; with VIP passes to go into the parade ring and behind the scenes. One lucky bidder can even bid for some Falcons players to cook dinner for 12 people in their home. Every penny will help the unit with life saving equipment.
Tickets are £110 each or £1,000 for a table of ten which will include a drinks reception and three course meal before the London Irish game. Money will also be raised on the day throughout the stadium and you will get the chance to donate in to the bucket collections taking place with as little or as much as you want to donate. If you would like to book a seat or a table at the afternoon function or find out how you can bid for the prizes please email julie.stone@chuf.org.uk /0191 212 5140
These offers and activities have already received a great response with over 4,000 tickets already issued for the Irish game and the best crowd of the season so far is expected at Kingston Park to cheer on the Falcons as Gary Gold aims to lead them into the great fight-back.
Tickets are now selling fast for the game with the East Stand seats already sold out, but with availability in all other areas of the stadium. We would advise fans wanting to come to the game to get their tickets as soon as possible to ensure they do not miss out.
Plenty of match day entertainment for the game will be announced in the coming weeks as the build-up continues to what will be a great occasion at Kingston Park.
Tickets are available for the Irish game by calling the Falcons Ticket Hotline on 0871 226 6060 or click here to purchase online.
