BRIGHTON, England — Players from Brighton & Hove Albion are stepping up to cover match ticket costs for their fans who are heading to the Arctic Circle for Thursday night’s UEFA Conference League playoff clash against Norwegian team Tromso.
The Premier League club announced on Wednesday that all 407 fans making the journey will receive refunds for their tickets, along with scarves and t-shirts as a token of appreciation for their loyalty.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk stated the players wanted to acknowledge their supporters’ dedication.
“The fans were unaware of their destination until the last moment. It’s quite a long journey for them, especially given the short notice to arrange it,” Dunk shared on the club’s website. “We thought it was important to kick off the season positively for our fans and show our appreciation by refunding their tickets collectively.”
Finishing eighth in the Premier League last season qualified Brighton for a two-legged playoff in Europe’s third-tier club competition.
Tromso secured their spot to face Brighton by achieving a 7-1 aggregate victory over Romanian club Cluj last Thursday.
The match in northern Norway marks the beginning of Brighton’s competitive season, with the club assuring fans that refunds will be processed in the days following the match.
“We hope the fans appreciate this gesture from the players, and it serves as a positive start to the season for all of us as we share this journey,” Dunk remarked.
Brighton will kick off their Premier League campaign at home against Aston Villa on August 23.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.