- Stadium opens 12pm, kick-off 2pm
- Get the stadium early to grab one of the free flags on offer at the turnstiles!
- Cobblers kick-off at 3pm at Sixfields, so please leave plenty of time to get to the stadium
- Guitarist Duncan Craven will be serenading us in the Supporter Village before and after the match
- Please be aware cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is now a 100% cashless stadium
- You will not be able to cross in front of the tunnel around KO and FT, please take an alternative route!
- Drop your EcoCup in one of the marked bins to make a donation to the Saints Foundation
Northampton Saints take to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this weekend to welcome London Irish for round three of the Gallagher Premiership.
Saints home record against the Brentford-based side falls strongly in favour of the men in Black, Green and Gold, with Boyd’s charges having won five of the last six ties on Northampton soil; and Saints will be looking to continue in that fashion in front of a partisan crowd.
COMING TO THE STADIUM
We can’t wait to welcome you all to the stadium this Saturday! But there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of before you arrive at the cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens....
1. COBBLERS AT HOME
As Saints welcome London Irish, our neighbours at Northampton Town FC are also welcoming supporters through their gates for their home tie with Sutton United.
This weekend, Saints kick off at the earlier time of 2pm but please make sure you leave plenty of time to make it into the stadium ahead of kick-off as there will likely be some congestion on the roads close to the stadium and around Sixfields.
2. COVID GUIDANCE
While we’re very excited to have a roaring crowd inside the stadium again, we must ask all supporters to continue to help keep everyone within the stadium safe.
All attendees are strongly encouraged to both wear a face covering at all times while inside the stadium, and complete a negative lateral flow test before arriving at the ground on matchday – even if you have already had one or both jabs of a Covid-19 vaccine. Please note, there is no legal obligation to wear a face covering or provide a negative lateral flow test before entering the stadium, so the Club are reliant on supporter discretion within the ground.
If you are displaying any Covid-19 symptoms and/or are required to self-isolate, please DO NOT travel to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. And if you feel unwell after arriving at the stadium, please return home immediately if you are able, or contact your nearest steward and you will then be directed to our medical team.
3. MATCH TICKETS
This Saturday’s clash with London Irish is included within your 2021/22 Season Ticket package, Season Ticket Holders can present their new Season Ticket cards at the turnstiles and head to their usual seats.
Tickets are still on sale from £20 adults / £8 child* – if you haven’t already secured yours, CLICK HERE to purchase now. Please note, ticket prices will rise by £3 per ticket on matchday.
Please note, all match tickets are e-tickets for this fixture – we are, unfortunately, unable to offer physical tickets at present. Your match ticket can either be printed on A4 paper or viewable on your smartphone. Click here for a step-by-step guide of how to download your ticket(s).
4. NEW PAYMENT CARDS
You will be able to use your new payment-enabled Season Ticket or Membership card at the bars and food outlets around the stadium, as well as within the Ticket Office and Saints Store.
Be sure to activate your card for payments before arriving at the stadium, and you will need to complete a chip-and-pin purchase before using your new card for contactless payments. Your pin can be found within the payment area of the Fanza Sport app.
Please note, it can take up to 30 days for any Saints Rewards points earned either at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, or elsewhere, to appear on you account.
If you have any problems activating your new card, please email [email protected] and a member of our team will help you.
5. STAFFING
Please be aware that, due to a shortage of matchday staff – an issue which is significantly impacting sporting venues nationwide as a knock-on effect of the pandemic – we are operating with fewer numbers than we would prefer.
We believe this is a short-term issue, and the Club and our catering partner Levy/Compass is leaving no stone unturned to rectify this. But whilst we fully appreciate that long queues and slower service in our bars and Village is very frustrating, please remain patient with our staff.
SMOKING
- cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens is now 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 and 3 – stewards will be on hand to direct you and will manage exit and re-entry into the stadium.
PRE-MATCH
- The Ticket Office windows will be open from 9am on matchday until approximately 4.30pm. Those that 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. Click here for a step-by-step guide of how to download and print your ticket(s). Please note, ticket prices will rise by £3 per ticket on matchday.
- The Main Saints Store is open from 10am on matchday until kick off (2pm) and will reopen at full time whistle until approximately 4.30pm. Once you have entered the ground, you will not be able to access the Main Store, so be sure to do all your shopping when you arrive or as you depart. Our Saints Store Kiosk (located inside the Village) will open at 12pm until approximately 4.30pm, the Saints Store Trailer (located just outside of the Supporter Village) will open at 12.30pm until kick off (2pm).
- Please note that crossing in front of the tunnel will not be possible shortly before kick-off, because a small Red Zone area is in force between the pitch and tunnel. You may be asked to wait at any time when players are coming on and off the pitch (e.g during the warm-ups). To avoid disappointment please ensure you’re in your seat early, or alternatively, please wait for this area to clear before attempting to get to your seat.
- We’re delighted to welcome live solo-guitarist Duncan Craven to the Supporter Village before the match on Saturday; Duncan will begin his set from 1pm so head along to be treated to some tunes before the action on the pitch gets underway.
- You’ll also be able to catch a glimpse of the stars of the future in our Matchday Festival out on the training pitches; on Saturday we welcome teams of Under-9s from across the region to Northampton from 10am.
CAR PARKING
- 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 11am, with the stadium opening its gates at 12pm.
- 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 8pm on Saturday night, there will be no access to any vehicle left in the Car Parks until Monday 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.
AROUND THE GROUND
- Pre-match, the Club requests that supporters refrain from standing at the side of the pitch to watch the warm-up to prevent congestion and to reduce any risk of transmission – please watch the warm-up from your seat.
- A wide selection of bars and food stalls will be open within the Village and stadium throughout matchday, including the Real Ale bar in the Supporter Village. Please be aware that cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is now a cashless stadium, all bars and food outlets will now only be able to accept card payments.
- Supporters will be able to use their vouchers from ticket refunds around the ground at both food and drink stalls and within the Saints Store. Please present your vouchers to a member of staff at the point of ordering to use.
- Don’t forget, you can drop your EcoCup in one of the Northampton Saints Foundation’s branded bins around the ground – the 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.
POST-MATCH
- Don't rush off after the match, Duncan Craven will be back in the Supporter Village after the game to treat us to some more tunes from about 4.30pm!
- After what we hope is an enjoyable afternoon of rugby, you will be able to exit the stadium as normal. But please note that crossing in front of the tunnel will not be possible directly after the full-time whistle, because a small Red Zone area is in force. You may be asked to wait at any time when players are coming on and off the pitch.
- You will be able to exit the stadium via Gate 4 (between the Church’s and Barwell Stands) or alternatively, please wait for this area to clear before attempting to exit the stadium this way.
- Both the main Saints Store and Village Store will remain open until approximately 4.30pm, so you can grab a bargain on your way out!
- There will be a staggered bar closure around the stadium, ending in the Rodber Bar at approximately 5.15pm.
- Please be aware that under current guidance from Premiership Rugby, players from both Northampton Saints and visiting teams are not permitted to stop pitchside for autographs or selfies. So, for the time being, we politely discourage supporters from approaching the players.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION HUB
- New for the 2021/22 season our Diversity & Inclusion Hub launched in the Supporter Village last week, and this Saturday you can pop along to the Marquee to hear about all the Community programmes on offer.
- With World Mental Health Awareness Day approaching on 10 October, Saints’ Community team will be joined in the Hub by a Looseheadz ambassador, who will be available to advise how grassroots clubs and coaches can join the Looseheadz mission to have a mental health ambassador at each and every club, as well as how to tackle the stigma around mental health.
- The Inclusion Hub is also the place to obtain information around many of our inclusive community programmes, such as Wheelchair Rugby, as well as find out how eligible disabled supporters can apply for a free match ticket as part of the Victor Harris Ticket Pool.
- You can find more information on the Hub as well as links to useful support organisations HERE. Or to get more information on Inclusion at Northampton Saints, please email [email protected].
