Guide to the Gardens: Saints v Bristol Bears

• 50% cashless bars 
• Pick up the new 2018/19 home and away kits
• Free face painting and passing challenge in the Supporter Village
• Movember bucket shaking around the ground
• Tickets still available!
• Stadium opens 12pm, kick-off 2pm

Notching up their first European Challenge Cup win in Newport last weekend, Saints now return home to a new competition in the opening round of the Premiership Rugby Cup, with Bristol Bears their guests.

And with the competition all about showcasing young talent, be sure to head to Franklin's Gardens this Saturday (kick-off 2pm) to see some of your Monday night favourites take to the first-team stage.

TICKETS
The brand-new Ticket Office will be open in the Supporter Village at Saturday's game. Situated next to the Village Saints Store, you can head there to book your place at Saints' upcoming games without having to leave the stadium. 

Tickets for the game are still available from £28 adults and £12 juniors, CLICK HERE to book. 

EARLY KICK-OFF
Make sure you're not late for the action this weekend - with the game kicking off at the earlier time of 2pm this weekend, be sure to be at the Gardens with plenty of time so you don't miss the start of the inaugural Premiership Rugby Cup!

WEATHER
With the weather set to be dry but turning cold, Franklin's Gardens will boast the perfect conditions for some exciting rugby on Saturday. 

KEEP WARM AT THE GARDENS
With the main store open from 9am and the Supporter Village Store opening from 12noon, you've got plenty of time to don some new attire before the game kicks off. And with new coats, scarves, hats and gloves available in store, it's easy to stay warm in the stands as winter approaches this weekend!

Both home and away jerseys, as well as the brand-new range of training wear, are also available from the Saints Store. 

CAR PARKING
Car Parks A, B, C and D will all be open as usual to season pass holders. Day passes for Car Park D will be available on the gate for £5. Car Parks open at 11.30am.

Please also be aware that there will be no movement in VIP Car Park from ten minutes before the full-time whistle for 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 8pm on Saturday night, there will be no access to any vehicle left in the Car Parks over the weekend.

If you are in hospitality and parking in the VIP Car Park please use NN5 5BG for satellite navigation devices. If you are in hospitality and parking in Car Parks A, B & C, please use NN5 5AX. For general supporter parking in Car Park D, please use NN5 5JT.

CLUB OF THE MATCH
Saturday's Club of the Match is Leighton Buzzard RFC, who will be completing the Guard of Honour on the pitch before the game. 

Read more about the side and how you can get involved in this weekend's match day programme, available around the ground for just £3.50

U11s LAND ROVER CUP
Saturday will see clubs from all over the county coming together at Franklin's Gardens to take place in the U11s Land Rover Cup. Kicking off at 9.15am and running all the way until 1pm, you'll have plenty of opportunity to see the next generation of rugby players taking to the back pitches at the Gardens before the main event gets underway. 

The clubs will also be completing a parade around the pitch at half-time during Saints v Bristol Bears, so be sure to give them a big cheer and a wave as they pass you in the stands!

And whichever team comes out with the Saints SPIRIT award will hold the Big Shirt as Saints take to the field on Saturday.

BUCKET SHAKE
Join the Saints team and stop men dying too young this weekend. Movember will be present around Franklin's Gardens, bucket shaking for their fantastic cause as well as raising awareness of the many men's health issues they champion.

You can also support their cause by signing up now at Movember.com to grow a moustache, move and commit to walking or running 60 km, or host an event. Your support will change the face of men’s health, raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

You can donate to Saints’ team by visiting Moteam.co/northampton-saints

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS FOUNDATION
As always, the Northampton Saints Foundation will be onsite - with their tent found in the Supporter Village before the game.

And there will be eight EcoCup bins around the stadium where supporters can leave their used cups to donate the £1 deposit to the Foundation. Old EcoCups will be accepted at these bins and the normal Cup Return Points. 

VILLAGE ACTIVITY
With the usual Supporter Village Store and face painting, we will also be joined by Club partners Hyundai in the Supporter Village before the game, as well as fellow partners Kubota by the statue near the Carlsberg Stand reception.

Kubota will be hosting a Guess the Ball competition, where you can guess who many rugby balls are inside their truck - so be sure to head there to try your hand at winning!

We'll also be joined in the Village by a group of six women who have decided to 'Dare to Bare' in their charity calendar - part of which was shot at Franklin's Gardens - so make sure you head to their tent to help them raise much-needed funds for Crazy Hats Breast Cancer Appeal and Kettering's Cransley Hospice.

FOOD & DRINK
Saints will be continuing the 50% cashless system used at all home games so far this season, with four tills in the Rodber Bar and six tills in the Marquee Bar accepting card payments only, to reduce queues and further improve Saints’ supporters matchday experience. The Members Bar will also have a number of cashless sales points for this fixture.

Thanks to our partners Carlsberg, you can enjoy a special drinks offer of 4 Pints for £15 on Carlsberg and Tetley's throughout the season.

SAINTS v BRISTOL BEARS TIMINGS