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10th Aug 2016

New West Brom owner promises every fan a free drink at first home game

A good first impression

Tom Victor

That’s one way to endear yourself to your new fans.

West Bromwich Albion’s new owner Guochuan Lai has promised a free drink for every home supporter who attends the club’s first home game of the new season.

Lai, the Chinese businessman behind this summer’s nine-figure takeover of the Premier League club, met Albion’s players for the first time this week.

And he has followed his counterparts at Leicester City in making the free drinks pledge ahead of the Premier League home opener against Everton on August 20.

Leicester owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha forked out thousands of pounds to ensure 30,000 beers were readily available as a thank-you gift for fans before the Foxes’ final game of the 2015/16 season.

Lai, who made his fortune through a landscape design and construction firm, spoke of West Brom’s “strong squad, loyal fans and a unique culture,” upon completing the takeover earlier this summer.

“My immediate priorities will be to maintain the Club’s stable structure, respecting its well-run nature and its heritage. I have no intention of changing the Club’s ethos,” he added in a statement at the time.

West Bromwich Albion begin their Premier League campaign away at Crystal Palace on Saturday, before hosting the Toffees in a 3pm kickoff one week later.

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