FREE season tickets will be distributed by Swindon Town to local schools in the coming weeks as part of the club’s plan to improve its engagement in the community.

First-team manager Richie Wellens and members of his squad will visit schools and communities to distribute 200 season tickets to people that have merited reward through hard work and achievement.

With less than a month remaining until Town start their 2019-20 League Two campaign with a trip to Scunthorpe United on August 3, Danny Lee – head of ticketing at the club – also confirmed a fan zone will be introduced this season from 1pm on home matchdays behind the Don Rogers Stand.

An inflatable pitch, a live DJ, plus food and drink outlets will be installed in the hours leading up to kick-off at the County Ground.

And Lee, whose previous professional experience includes working in the NFL, is confident the club’s refreshed approach to community engagement can help exceed last year’s season ticket sales.

He said: “The relationship between the club, our fans and the press hasn’t always been great.

“We want everyone to be on the same page – the manager (Richie Wellens) is a big part of that and so are the players.

“I think the fans appreciate what Richie is saying. He will say if the team is poor and he has outlined what he wants to do in the community.”

Lee, in particular, wants to target Swindon’s youngsters – converting them into Town fans before they dedicate their loyalties to Premier League giants such as Manchester City, Liverpool or Chelsea.

To help achieve this, Lee travelled to Norway earlier this year to establish how Town’s interaction with fans – particularly on matchdays – can be improved.

He added: “We experienced a huge fan park, mixed with home and away fans, in Norway – it was like a festival.

“That’s what I want to establish at Swindon. The day should be about more than just 90 minutes, I want people to feel they are getting value for their match ticket price.

“A big part of my strategy is to engage with younger kids before they decide what team they want to support. We want them in Swindon kits – not Real Madrid or Barcelona kits.

“If they can find an idol in the squad, that is the way forward.

“Kids want to see players and the game regardless of results – for adults it’s different. But adults bring their kids.”

Town resume their pre-season friendly programme away against local Southern League side Swindon Supermarine at the Webbswood Stadium on Friday night before travelling to La Manga in Spain for a training camp on Monday.