Coventry City have praised the work done by supporters in relation to the Ticket For Schools scheme.
City supporters Pat Abel and Cheryl Bates launched the scheme, which, has 27 schools in the Coventry & Warwickshire area signed up and a number of the schools who have sold the highest amount of tickets were at the Ricoh Arena for City’s game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Speaking to the club website, Cheryl said: "I believe in this project as some of the children who have taken part had never seen a football match before and so it is great for them and their families. Some of the children have had the players come into their schools and it is a great chance for them to meet their idols. Players go into the school and stay with them for an hour and it is something children will always remember.
"I just want to see the stadium full on a match-day and these are the fans of the future. We can see they enjoy themselves and I think this scheme benefits everybody."
City’s Fan Relationship Manager Mike Meitin said about the volunteers to the club website: “Volunteers are pivotal to the scheme running as smoothly as it does and with 'Tickets for Schools' now expanding into the Warwickshire area, the volunteers work is invaluable to the club.
"We have a couple of volunteers; Cheryl Bates, Pat Abel and Elaine Ward who go out to the schools and work with them to make sure the information gets distributed. Their work ensures the scheme is a success by going out and collecting the order forms.
"They do all of that work because they believe in the work they do and we wouldn't be able to do it without their help. They are invaluable and a credit to the club."