Guide to the Gardens: Northampton Saints vs Saracens

Foundation Day 2024, supported by Keepmoat, aims to raise crucial funds to support people in the community via the Foundation’s programmes, with the ambitious target of £50,000. We understand that times are tough right now, and appreciate all your support on this day and throughout the year.

WHY SHOULD I DONATE?

• Via its award-winning programmes, the Foundation will support almost 6,500 people during this academic year.
• Every year, the charity needs to raise half-a-million pounds to continue to help people in our community, but creates more than £1.4million in social value. Since 2018, over 22,000 young people have experience the Foundation’s education and social inclusion programmes, with 93% of those making a positive change to their lives.

HOW CAN I DONATE?​

• Bucket Shakes – bring cash for our buckets which will be held by Northampton Saints players and Foundation representatives.
• Text to donate – to donate £10, text SAINTS to 70191. To donate £5, text SAINTS to 70970 (texts will cost your donation amount, plus your standard message rate – please make sure you have the bill payer’s permission).
• Donate online – visit www.northamptonsaintsfoundation.org and click ‘DONATE’, just £5 could provide a confidence-boosting activity for a young person. 
• QR codes – look out for QR codes on posters, screens and banners around the ground which link to our online donations. 
• Donate in the Saints Store – press YES to make a donation to the Foundation, when you pay by card in the Saints Store.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON FOUNDATION DAY?

• Free flags – we’ll be handing out free flags around the ground, thanks to our flag sponsor Approved Business Finance.
• Players around the stadium – look out for Northampton Saints players who will be taking selfies and signing items for a donation. Scan the QR codes to donate.   
• Guess the balloons – we’ve loaded up our cinch van with balloons, but can you guess how many are inside? Entries cost £2 and the nearest guess will win an Easter hamper! The winner will be announced at half-time, and will be contacted via phone by 5pm on Wednesday 3rd April. 
• Raffle – win a night at Flore House, a hot air balloon ride, signed Saints items and a whole host of other prizes in our raffle. Tickets cost £5, look out for our Foundation volunteers and staff around the ground.
• Auction – we have some incredible items in our auction, including framed and signed Courtney Lawes boots, a kicking session with Fin Smith and George Furbank, watch a training session and eat lunch with Phil Dowson, and a Teams call from Angus Scott-Young.  
• Warm-up shirts – Northampton Saints’ players will be wearing Foundation warm-up t-shirts, which will be available to purchase in an auction at a later date.
• Half-time activity – stay in your seats at half-time, as three individuals will be taking to the pitch to take part in a game of ‘rugby pong’ to win a range of prizes.
• Eco Cups – pop your cups into the Foundation’s branded bins, or after the game our volunteers will be standing around the pitch with large bags to leave your cups in. Each cup donated helps the Foundation. Help us beat last year’s total of 1,928.
• Face painting – Donate a small fee to get your face painted on Friday, by visiting Little Faces Face Painting in the Inclusion Hub.
• Polar Events – Polar Events will be kindly donating 10p of every pint of lager sold from their bars in the Supporter Village. 

Please tag the Foundation in your photos on Facebook, Instagram, X, or Linkedin and use the hashtag #FoundationDay2024 

• Tickets for Northampton Saints vs Saracens are completely SOLD OUT – though a limited number of tickets may remain available via supporter re-sale HERE.
• Your match tickets are attached to your purchase confirmation email – please ensure you have these either printed on A4 paper, viewable on your smartphone, or added to your smartphone digital wallet before arriving at the stadium. Screenshots of your tickets are not accepted by the scanners on our turnstiles.
• Meanwhile, 23/24 Season Ticket Holders will be able to access the ground using their Season Ticket cards.

• The Ticket Office will be open inside the Saints Store from 12pm, with the windows opening at 5pm until 15 minutes after kick-off (approx. 8pm).
• Those who have not printed their tickets at home, or are not able to show their barcode on a mobile phone, will be able to have their matchday ticket printed at the Ticket Office for a £2.50 fee.

• Northampton Saints Season Tickets are now available to renew or buy for the 2024/25 season – with the Ticket Office open from 12pm until approximately 8pm on matchday for supporters wishing to purchase or renew in person.
• Prices* start from just £335 for adults and £57 for children – while the waiting list is open once again for the entry-level Pink ticket category (£199 adult / £57 child). 
• For more information on the Season Ticket package, including benefits, pricing and key deadlines, please CLICK HERE.

• The Saints Store is open from 12pm on matchday until kick-off (7.45pm) before reopening for 30 minutes after the final whistle.
• Once you have entered the ground, you will not be able to access the Saints Store but the Village Store will be open throughout matchday.
• There are now two stores in the Supporter Village, with the main Village Store and new Trailer Store open from 5.45pm until 30 minutes after the final whistle.

• Catch the stars of the future on Friday, with the Under-12s Defender Cup taking place on Pitch 2 and 3 from 10.30am. There will be a Parade of Clubs featuring the teams involved around the pitch at half-time – give them a wave as they pass you!
• We’ll be joined by solo-artist Kelly Jane in the Supporter Village pre-match and in Rodber Bar post-match.
• Head along to our Inclusion Hub to have a go at our passing cage and visit our face-painters.
• Friday’s Club of the Match is Ipswich RFC, and the Club will form the Guard of Honour as the teams run out.
• Club Partner Spirit Hyundai will be in the Village on Friday showcasing the new Ioniq 5 – see them to find out more.
• Stick around after the match to see if you can catch one of Saints’ signed balls!

• Are you bringing a mini-Saint to their very first match at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens? If so, we want to make it extra special with a First-time Fan Certificate, so they will never forget their first time watching the men in Black, Green and Gold. Fill out THIS FORM to be sent a certificate via email.
• Kids can also play along with our special ‘Green Game’ MATCHDAY BINGO cards during the match – to make the game even more fun!
• And for anyone whose weekly pocket money is burning a hole in their pocket, we’ve curated a special list of items for just £10 and under available from the Saints Store on matchday.

• A wide selection of bars and food stalls are open within the Village and stadium throughout matchday – please see the map above for full details of all the Food & Drink outlets around the Stadium.
• You can also find food units from Saul’s of Spratton and West Cornwall Pasties in the Rodber Bar throughout matchday.
• New for the 2023/24 season, Loaded Fries will be available as a hot food option within the Members Bar.  
• Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are all available around the ground. 
• Please be aware that cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a cashless stadium; all bars and food outlets will only accept card payments.
• There will be a staggered bar closure around the stadium, ending in the Rodber Bar at 10.30pm.

• All Season Ticket Holders and Saints Members will earn 15 Saints Rewards points for attending this fixture.
• You can also earn an additional 30 points for entering the ground within one hour of the gates opening at 5.45pm.
• Link your payment card to your Saints Rewards account (instructions HERE) and spend at the bar and food outlets around the ground to earn even more points on your account.

• Car Parking (in Claret Car Park, NN5 5JT) will be available for £7.50 on the day via contactless payment upon arrival. Car parking tickets are not available to purchase in advance. Car Parks open at 4.45pm, with the stadium opening its gates at 5.45pm.
• Please also be aware that there will be no movement in the VIP Car Park from ten minutes before the full-time whistle for approximately 25 minutes. As usual, traffic management will be in place in Car Park D, Claret Car Park and on Edgar Mobbs Way. 
• After the Car Parks close at midnight on Friday, there will be no access to any vehicle left behind until Tuesday morning.
• Given that cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens sits in a residential area of the town, Saints strongly urge all supporters to use the Club’s car parks. Should they choose not to do so, supporters must park with due care and respect for the needs of local residents and businesses.

• cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a NO SMOKING stadium. Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is not permitted anywhere in the stadium or Supporter Village pre, during or post-match. 
• Supporters wishing to smoke will be allowed to exit the stadium during half-time to use one of the designated smoking areas outside Gates 1, 2, 3 and 4 – stewards will be on hand to direct you and will manage exit and re-entry into the stadium.

• Please note, refunds on EcoCup deposits will now ONLY be made to over-18s – please do not encourage children to collect EcoCups that do not belong to your group, or ask other supporters for their cups.
• Refunds on EcoCup deposits will ONLY be made contactlessly (via card) – cash refunds are no longer issued. 
• Refunds on EcoCup returns will be available at at least one till unit in all bars across the stadium.
• Alternatively, EcoCup deposits can be donated into one of the Northampton Saints Foundation’s branded bins around the ground – Northampton Saints Foundation will receive a donation for every cup deposited, with funds raised supporting life-changing programmes for children across the county. To see where you can donate your cups, please CLICK HERE.

• As the teams run out onto the pitch on Friday, there will be a pyrotechnic display in front of the Carlsberg Stand – please be advised this may include a series of loud bangs/crackles.
• ​The Club requests that supporters refrain from standing at the side of the pitch to watch the warm-up to prevent congestion. Please watch the warm-up from your seat.
• As cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a front-loading stadium, Northampton Saints asks supporters to refrain from moving around the stadium while the match is in play to avoid blocking the view of your fellow supporters. Please note, you may be held back from returning to your seat by our stewards until there is a break in play.
• Whether it’s your first time coming to a match or you’re a seasoned supporter, please take a minute to read our Ground Regulations – which include information on what you can and cannot bring into the stadium – and our Supporter Charter.