Wigan Athletic and 188BET are delighted to be able to welcome some of the nations armed forces to our next Home fixture against Liverpool.

The Club and our principal partner have backed Tickets For Troops and we look forward to being able to welcome Our Boys for this monumental clash on Monday 8th March.

Tickets For Troops is a brand new and independent, charitable organisation dedicated to offering free tickets for big events to our soldiers, sailors and airmen. All serving military personnel and any veterans who have been medically discharged through injury since 2001 qualify for tickets.

Tickets for Troops executive director, Jonathan Mervis, whose son Lieutenant Paul Mervis, of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed in action in Afghanistan in June said: "We are delighted that Tickets for Troops appears to have caught a wave of support across the country" . Lord Marland added "Tickets for Troops has benefited from a huge wave of generosity. Our ticket donors and patrons have wanted to demonstrate their appreciation of and support for the dedication and commitment of the marvellous men and women from our forces. I want to pay tribute to our troops and also say a huge thank you to all those supporting us."

Gary Lineker said: "As a country we seem to have suddenly gained a respect and a pride in our armed forces, which in many ways, is long overdue. Tickets for Troops recognises these very special people for the extraordinary things they do every day of their lives."


Andrew Flintoff said: "I know exactly what the troops are going through from my recent experiences of travelling to Afghanistan to meet them. I was extremely moved by the whole experience and met some incredible people while I was out there. The Tickets for Troops scheme will hopefully help them and make them realize how grateful we are for their efforts."

A spokesperson for Tickets for Troops said: "We do not believe there is any better way to show our nation's thanks and recognition for the work that our Armed Forces routinely do and for the sacrifice that they are making for us. This is a small way of saying thank-you. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received and the huge number of offers of tickets for major events."

Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courage in Iraq, said: "This is a fantastic idea and it is heartening and uplifting for any serving soldier or ex soldier to know that people really appreciate the work they do and this is a brilliant way of demonstrating the respect of our Armed Forces."

For more information see www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk.