Record on cards?

Mar 5 2008 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TOWN are hoping to smash the record attendance for a league game at the Galpharm Stadium when Leeds visit in an all-ticket game on Easter Tuesday.

Going on early indications, the signs are that the 20,741 for the visit of Sunderland for what was then the McAlpine Stadium for a Division I (now Championship) match in October 1998 may be beaten.

Town fans can now buy tickets for the game where reserved seating applies in all areas – and supporters are urged to get their tickets early as none will be on sale on the day.

Town will be operating a strict ejection policy for any away supporters found in home areas.

Leeds’ allocation of 3,001 has already been accounted for, with the Elland Road club announcing on their website: “Tickets have sold out to advance applications.”

Town have defended the decision to avoid a tit-for-tat policy after controversially being given only 1,710 tickets for the December meeting at Leeds, where 32,501 watched.

That led to the club staging a live beam-back to the Galpharm, where more than 2,000 saw Town’s 4-0 defeat on the big screen.

“This is a high-profile match, and our aim is to ensure fans of both clubs can watch what should be a great derby in an enjoyable atmosphere,” explained Town secretary Ann Hough.

“The allocation of tickets to away fans is in line with Football League regulations and to try to limit the number of tickets available to Leeds United supporters would only have encouraged away fans to seek entry to home areas of the stadium.

“That is clearly a situation all parties concerned want to avoid, and we will be working hard to stop it happening.”

Plans for Leeds’ first competitive visit to Town since September 1987, when just 9,085 watched a goalless draw in the original Second Division (now Championship), have been drawn up by the club, the safety team, which includes council representation, the police and the stadium management company.

Because safety factors mean a number of seats cannot be used, the crowd is unlikely to top the stadium football record of 23,678 for the FA Cup third-round clash with Liverpool in December 1999.

Only three football crowds at the stadium have topped 20,000, the other being 21,629 for the FA Cup fifth-round meeting with Derby in February 1999.

Town’s last 20,000-plus gate at Leeds Road, their home until 1994, was against Manchester City in an FA Cup third-round replay in January 1988, when 21,510 turned out.