New third kit revealed

The third kit was revealed in early August and will be available to purchase in the club Superstore as of 1st September. Changing our supplier has been a positive move with good feedback on the kit designs as they have each been released.

The fit of the shirts is part of this design and is a little slimmer than we have seen previously, which may mean a change in size for some supporters. We have approached Umbro to see if they can supply a 4XL size as we would like to cater for all supporters who wish to buy a shirt and are waiting to hear from them on this. In addition, we have ordered women’s shirts in the away and third kit and these are expected to be in store mid to late November.

Away Coach Travel

The additional pick-ups and reduced cost of away coach travel have proved popular and, following feedback from our focus group, Bluebird are now set to introduce a club class coach for use by our travelling Cherries fans. Look out for further details on this in the coming week.

A reminder too that toilets are available to travelling fans pre-set off from Vitality Stadium and on return, and that the Kings Park Café opens its doors early on our away matchdays to cater for our travelling fans.

Security at Vitality Stadium

If you have visited in the last couple of days you will have noted that we have limited vehicle access onto the external concourse around the stadium for security and safety reasons.

The club has free parking for short stay visitors to the AFCB Superstore and ticket office in the bays usually reserved for players on a matchday and security personnel have been asked to make sure this is relayed to visitors wanting to park outside the Superstore. We will also arrange for signage to be printed to direct supporters for use on non-matchdays. 

Where we have a home game, access will continue to be restricted onto the external concourse and, while the players’ parking area will not be available on a matchday, car park staff will manage early visitors to the ground. While we recognise there may be some inconvenience, these measures are part of an ongoing consultation with various agencies aimed at maintaining Vitality Stadium as a safe and secure venue and we appreciate your assistance with this.

Posting out Birmingham City Cup Tickets

The cut-off for purchase of tickets to be posted for our away Cup tie next Tuesday will be Friday 18th August at noon. Thereafter tickets will be able to be purchased in person from Vitality Stadium or if buying online, fans can pick up from the ticket office prior to the coaches leaving on Tuesday afternoon. Where this is not possible, we have arranged with Birmingham City for tickets to travel with our coach and be available from the ground, next to the away turnstiles.

Disabled Raised Viewing Platforms

While both the central Vitality East Stand platform and new Champions viewing platform in the Vitality Main stand were in use for the friendly games against Valencia and Napoli, the two new platforms at each end of the Vitality East Stand will be in use for the first time on Saturday. 

We would encourage wheelchair users to try the raised platforms as feedback from those who have already done so have been very positive. With dedicated stewards and a food and drink delivery service, it’s a great place to experience a home matchday. To book your place, please email [email protected] or telephone 01202 726311.

Our First Home Game of the 2017/18 Premier League Season

We are looking forward to welcoming Watford on Saturday and would encourage supporters to arrive early, especially those unfamiliar so far with entry via our new automated turnstile system.

Turnstiles will open from 1.30pm onward with the exception of turnstile B which will open one hour before kick-off to facilitate the use of the concourse by our young supporters in the Junior Fanzone. Just in case you managed to miss the Fletch and Glass video guide to entry, click here to view. Posters will be around each turnstile and staff will be on hand to assist.

Another new feature is our outside bar which arrived recently and will now be able to serve hot dogs as well as the usual range of alcoholic, soft and hot drinks. Thanks to everyone who submitted suggestions for its name. There were some innovative entries, Howe Refreshing for example, but in the end the popular choice was The Great Escape. We will get the bar branded up for the Brighton game but, from now on, the Great Escape it is!

Everyone here is looking forward to getting our home Premier League games underway as we are sure are all Cherries supporters and we look forward to welcoming you on Saturday.