Fans' Information | Gillingham (H)
Having waited nearly 18 months to be able to welcome a full contingent of the Green Army back to Home Park for a competitive game, we cannot wait to see you back at the Theatre of Greens this weekend.
It will be the first time since March 2020, and a 3-0 victory over Macclesfield Town in Sky Bet League Two, that the Theatre of Greens will play host to an unrestricted crowd for competitive action.
It promises to be an emotional experience for all involved, for a number of reasons, and the club will be marking this significant moment by holding a minute’s applause for our key workers, those we have lost in the past 18 months, and the momentous occasion of fans’ return prior to kick off.
In addition, club legends Gary Sawyer and Luke McCormick will undertake a lap of honour of Home Park at 2.45pm, giving the Green Army the opportunity to express their gratitude to two club servants whose playing days wound down during the behind closed doors period.
In order to help supporters get the most of their match-day experience, as well as ensuring the safety and security of fans, players, officials and staff inside the stadium, we have compiled a handy guide below ahead of the fixture against Gillingham.
Supporters are also advised to read the updated 21/22 Code of Conduct before attending Home Park. Click here to do so.
Family Fun from 11am
Our outstanding Argyle Community Trust team will be providing a whole host of free family friendly sports and games just outside the stadium, beginning at 11am.
Activities include inflatable football, dodgeball, tennis and archery, and the event can be accessed outside of the Devonport End, very close to the entrance to the seated family area in Block 6, and adjacent to the main car park.
Families interested in participating in these free activities can simply turn up from 11am and get involved. However, for specific queries or further information, you are welcome to email community@pafc.co.uk.
From 1pm, dance troupe the Groovement Project will be performing street dance routines and offering free dance workshops to fans of all ages, while magician Joseph Cooper will also be located in the Family Zone for a different kind of match-day magic.
Free Argyle flags will be available for supporters to wave during the game and take home as a souvenir from the visit to Home Park.
If it is your first time visiting the Theatre of Greens, please click here to check out our first-time fans guide.
Match-Day Programmes
Copies of our award-winning match-day programme, The Pilgrim, are once again available around the stadium for purchase at £3, while a limited number will also be available to purchase from the Argyle Superstore.
Crowdfunder supporters are reminded that their thank you message will be printed in the Gillingham edition of The Pilgrim, and they can collect their complimentary programme from the Argyle Superstore, but not from individual programme vendors.
The Superstore will be open from 9am on match-day until 30 minutes after full-time.
Crowdfunder supporters who are entitled to a shout-out over the public address system at Home Park are also reminded that they can send their requests in to media@pafc.co.uk to be redeemed at any of the Greens’ Sky Bet League One home games.
Disabled supporters
For any accessibility or match-day support queries, our dedicated Disability Liaison Officer can be contacted on nikki.francis@pafc.co.uk.
Turnstiles and ticketing
Turnstiles will open 90 minutes before the game, and supporters are advised to enter through the turnstile identified on their match ticket. However, if neighbouring turnstiles have shorter queues, supporters are permitted to enter these to speed up access to the stadium.
However, please note that transit between stands is not permitted once inside the stadium, and so supporters must always enter the stadium via a turnstile in the stand they hold tickets for.
There will be pay on the day functions for both home and away supporters on Saturday.
Home supporters can get their tickets from the Home Park Ticket Office, which will be open from 9am right the way through until kick-off, while Gills fans can pay at the away turnstiles.
However, we encourage supporters to purchase digital tickets wherever possible, reducing queuing times at the Ticket Office, as well as the impact of ticket production.
Supporters can purchase tickets from their mobile devices right up until kick-off, selecting the ‘print at home’ option, and clicking add to wallet when they receive their confirmation email.
Should supporters arrive late for the fixture, there will be one late turnstile open in the Lyndhurst Road stand, and it will remain open until half-time.
Call 01752 907700, visit the Home Park Ticket Office, or click here to purchase tickets.
Refreshments and facilities inside Home Park
Concession kiosks will be open, serving a range of food and beverages.
Meanwhile, toilet facilities will continue to operate with a one-way system. In order to avoid large queues at peak times (e.g half-time), we advise supporters to plan ahead for toilet breaks, using facilities when they are likely to be less busy.
Security
Supporters should be prepared to be searched by our security team as they enter the stadium. The club will ensure that any searches are undertaken by security members of the same gender.
As with all major sporting events, bringing bags to the stadium is actively discouraged. However, fans arriving at Home Park with a small personal bag (for example, medical bags or handbags) capable of being stowed under seats is permitted. Please note, supporters should expect this to be searched before entry.
We ask that supporters arrive in plenty of time to avoid queues forming as kick-off approaches.
For more information on what we are doing to keep you safe, and how you can help make attending Home Park a great experience for all, please check out our Return to Stadium Guide.
COVID-19 guidance
Despite the changes to government guidance on coronavirus, we will continue to encourage all supporters in attendance to wear a face covering while traversing through turnstiles, concourses and enclosed spaces. These can be removed once in the stadium bowl and seated.
While this is not a condition of entry, we ask those attending the stadium to consider the health of fellow supporters, as well as Argyle staff, all of whom will be wearing face coverings for supporters’ benefit, when deciding whether or not to comply with this request. As per government guidance, supporters are reminded to try and remain in their social bubbles wherever possible.
We would also ask all supporters to consider taking a COVID-19 lateral flow test before attending Home Park – these can be ordered online here. Again, while this is not a condition of entry, club staff are committed to undertaking regular tests to ensure that we play our part in making Argyle matches as safe an environment as possible for our supporters. We ask that our fans contribute to this effort.
The Argyle Superstore will take the same approach, with retail staff wearing face coverings. However, the capacity of the Superstore will be raised to a maximum of 30 supporters at any one time.
We are keen to reiterate that the above considerations are not conditions of entry, and will not be enforced by our match-day operations team. However, we do consider it our duty to provide the safest possible environment for supporters, and we ask fans to contribute towards this goal by following guidance.
For more information on what we are doing to minimise risks at Home Park, and how you can help make attending Home Park a great experience for all, please check out our Return to Stadium Guide.
We can’t wait to welcome you back on Saturday.
