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Southampton are set to face off against their fierce south coast rivals Portsmouth on September 14, the first time they will face each other in the Championship since 2012.
While this one game will not decide the season for either club, as they have their own ambitions, with Southampton looking to achieve promotion and Portsmouth aiming to maintain their Championship status.
However, both sets of fans will be looking to this as a chance to have bragging rights over their local rivals.
Ahead of this fixture, Southampton will be without their teenage star Tyler Dibling, as a deal was struck with Everton; however, the club have been lining up several players as a replacement, with the most high-profile being Finn Azaz from Middlesbrough.
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Southampton ‘turned down’ a reciprocal pricing arrangement with Portsmouth
According to the Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust (PST), it has been revealed Southampton ‘turned down’ a reciprocal pricing arrangement proposed by Portsmouth, as reported in The Portsmouth News.
It would have seen away fans pay less for their match-day tickets at both of this season’s south-coast derbies.
Any Pompey fan aged 18 or above will be expected to pay an extra £10 on the price of their ticket due to Saints’ decision to make the game on Sunday, September 14, a ‘Category A’ fixture.
As a result, an adult will have to fork out £40, with equivalent Stoke fans visiting St Mary’s today for their respective Championship fixture charged £30.
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Portsmouth supporters let their feelings be known on the decision
The decision from Southampton to reject the proposal has not been well received by the Portsmouth fan base, as the decision could have benefitted them now while then helping Saints fans later in the Championship campaign.
The PST said: “We encouraged Portsmouth Football Club to offer Southampton a reciprocal pricing arrangement, whereby the clubs would jointly agree on a lower matchday ticket pricing structure for visiting fans. This strategy has been used successfully by other clubs in the Championship to bring costs down for their travelling fans.
“This offer was put forward by Portsmouth Football Club, but disappointingly Southampton Football Club opted to turn down the proposal. As a result, Portsmouth fans will pay more when they travel to St Mary’s in September, and Southampton fans will pay more when they travel to Fratton Park in January.
“We understand that Portsmouth Football Club are now considering the ticket pricing for January’s home fixture in light of Southampton’s refusal to bring prices down for the September fixture.”