Take That fans camp out at Ashton Gate 36 hours before the weekend gigs

The party started early for dozens of Take That fans, who arrived for the band’s two shows at Ashton Gate up to 36 hours before the gates opened.

They are camping together at the entrance to Bristol Stadium in the hope of a prime row seat to the show on Saturday night.

The first arrived on Thursday evening and have since been joined by over 50 others who came on Friday morning straight after seeing the band play in Swansea on Thursday night.

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Anita Morrissey-Booth, who arrived on Thursday, said the group of Take That fans – known as the Thatters – know each other well and a concert is like a reunion. “We follow them around the country,” she explained. “And what’s great is that you can come and meet people you’ve met before in the queue of previous concerts and tours. People will come on their own and soon be with other people, there is a real sense of community and we all look out for each other.

“We had a great night last night, it’s already like a party and as more of us have come from the gig in Swansea today, it’s going to be a great night tonight too,” she added.

The fan base is almost entirely female, though not quite – there are also a few husbands and partners for the experience – and they organize themselves. The first arrivals give their number one, and each new arrival marks their hand with the order in which they joined the “queue” of tents.

This number is then written on the entry wristbands they receive when the gates open at 3pm on Saturday, but there is a two-hour gap between when the stadium gates open and 5pm when access to the pitch and stage opens self. Stadium staff facilitate queues and will usher these superfans onto the field to ensure they get front row seats.

“We’ll all gather from all over the country and see each other in these little camps,” Anita explained. “What’s great is that you get to be front row and watch and all your friends experience it together.”

The Thatters phenomenon means it’s often the same faces in the front row for every Take That gig, which fans say the trio recognise. “I see us every time and there’s a lot of teasing, it’s great,” Anita added.

Rachael Wilkins, from Bournemouth, was number 42 in a row – the number on her hand. She went to the gig in Swansea on Thursday night so only arrived on Friday morning. “We’re counting ourselves, then tomorrow they’ll give us the wristbands and then they’ll let us in two by two slowly so we can pick and choose where we want to sit in the stadium. So the sooner you get here, the better,” she explained. The objective? “To be as close to Mark Owen as possible,” she added.

The location of the makeshift camp is described as “ideal” by Take That insiders. “Where we have to camp in Newcastle is awful,” said one fan, “it’s a dog venue so it’s a bit dodgy. Here we have a nice place, there are many people around, we have Iceland and KFC. , nearby shops and all the temporary toilets for the concert itself are just around the corner,” she added.

Jennifer Jacques is number 38 in line and comes from Wakefield, along with her niece Taylor Paton. Saturday’s show will be Jennifer’s fourth tour to date – she was in Swansea on Thursday and previously saw them this year in Middlesbrough and Leeds.

“I got here at half past six this morning,” she explained. “I’ve been obsessed with them since I was 11, I’ve always loved them. My first concert was in 1993. I will get close to the face or at least the face,” she explained.