First Solent kicks off partnership with Portsmouth Football Club for a second year

First Solent, by First Bus South, has announced the renewal of its corporate partnership with Portsmouth Football Club (Pompey) for a second consecutive year.

The Portsmouth bus operator will continue to work with Pompey for the 24/25 season, encouraging supporters to make use of public transport and to providing them with an easy, sustainable way to travel to games at Fratton Park.

Kicking off this year’s partnership, Pompey will help First Solent celebrate Catch the Bus Month*, an initiative which runs throughout September, promoting bus usage as the most accessible form of public transport.

To celebrate, Portsmouth Goalkeeper, Will Norris, is helping with First Solent’s match day ‘ticket hunt’, giving passengers a chance to win tickets to the Portsmouth vs Sheffield Utd game on 28 September.

To be in with a chance to win, fans travelling on the Service 1 to Fratton Park on 15 September need to say ‘Catch the Bus Month’ to their driver. Three lucky winners will win a pair of tickets each.

**WATCH Will get in on the action for First Solent’s ticket hunt!** First Bus x Portsmouth FC (youtube.com)

As part of Catch the bus month, every weekend in September, customers can also travel for free in the Portsmouth City boundary. This means fans who are attending the home games on 15 and 28 September can travel for free on First Solent’s Service No 1 direct link to Fratton Park, which also now benefits from brand new electric buses on the route.

In a further benefit, during September, First Solent is offering Group Day tickets for five people for £10 (usually £16), allowing five people to travel across First Solent routes in Hampshire for just £10 for the day.

First Solent Commercial Director James Eustace, said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Portsmouth Football Club. The past year has been incredibly successful, and we are proud to support the club and its passionate fanbase. Together, we aim to provide an exceptional travel experience while promoting sustainability within our community.”

Portsmouth FC Director of Sales, Mark Judges, said: “It is exciting to announce the renewal of our partnership with First Solent for another three seasons, building on last season's successful collaboration. First Solent offer greener and more sustainable travel options both on match day and non-match days across Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport which in turn plays a key role in reducing traffic congestion around Fratton Park and surrounding areas.”

• Go to Portsmouth FC | First Bus, or follow on X.com (@FirstPortsmouth) and Facebook (First Bus Solent) to see how to take part in the ticket hunt.
• WATCH Will get in on the action for First Solent’s ticket hunt! https://youtube.com/shorts/pA4gT-b1Ayc?si=Fp4UcsMIRXJSB32G 
• WATCH First Solent’s Catch the Bus month video https://www.firstbus.co.uk/portsmouth-fareham-gosport/catch-bus-month-2024