Sturt offers 800 free tickets to this weekend's game

STURT Football Club will give away 800 tickets to this Sunday's clash with South Adelaide as it moves into the next phase of its "debt demolition'' campaign.

STURT Football Club will give away 800 tickets to this Sunday's clash with South Adelaide as it moves into the next phase of its "debt demolition'' campaign.

The club will hand out the tickets on a first-in-first-served basis at the gates on the day.

Double Blues board member Mike Francis said the tickets were available to anyone who asked - Sturt, South or neutral supporters.

"The whole idea is just to get people in there enjoying the game," Mr Francis said.

"Hopefully we can convert some new people to Sturt, but more importantly to football."

However, there is a catch. Fans will be asked to chip in $10 each at the game to go towards the debt busting campaign, which the club launched in May last year.

"A lot of our supporters and members have come to us saying they want to help, but couldn't afford the bigger amounts that the corporates have been (giving)," Mr Francis said. Sturt aimed to halve its $2.2 million debt in 12 months but to date has raised only about $400,000 from private benefactors and businesses.

Despite falling well short of its target, Mr Francis said the campaign had helped the Double Blues get back on track.

"We believe the Sturt footy club is turning the corner,'' he said. "After significant loses in recent years we believe we're going to report at least a break even."

Unley Council is developing plans for an $8 million upgrade of Unley Oval.

Sturt players will take the field in special guernseys carrying the names of supporters who paid $1500 for the privilege - raising $30,000 for the club.

Mr Francis said the club had been touched by donations of $2500 from 50 schools.

Sturt vs South Adelaide, Unley Oval, Sunday, September 1, 2.10pm.