Fans once again at the bottom of the pile
Time for non-league football to benefit from greedy owners
There are plenty of times when social media throws up something that you just think is going to make a very good debateable blog for people to read and this one I spotted late last night gave me the writing material I need.
A few weeks ago I did blog about the cost of living crisis affecting non-league football and that looked at a range of different options and problems that are likely to be an issue for clubs, players and supporters.
Cast your mind back just a couple of years at this time, a majority of the country were sitting at home watching Premier League footballers back to work playing inside empty stadiums with the sounds and noise just rattling around these plush arena’s.
It was eery, it wasn’t right and countless mentions were made in every game at the time and in reports that ‘football is nothing without the fans.’ Now we all know that right from the top to the very bottom no matter how much money clubs have, you can’t buy an atmosphere.
Many chose to head to a non-league game once they were allowed fearing safety was more appropriate in a ground with less people and some haven’t returned to the higher levels seemingly seeing this as a more affordable and enjoyable choice.
It wasn’t long before disregard for fans, travel and moving kick off times reverted back to that of three years ago, no care for them, only for the money involved to dictate Newcastle for example can head to London on Saturday for a 12.30pm fixture.
Whilst the one thing you can commend the PL have done in capping away fans prices at £30, home fans are being fleeced especially when the big boys come to play. Whilst I know there has been tiers of pricing amongst the top sides for many years those prices have risen while wages haven’t moved anywhere near in line with it.
What prompted this blog was the pricing set by newly promoted Fulham who host Liverpool in their opening home league game. The prices absolutely fry my brain, the family zone as you can see below is the only section where pricing is sensible, but you take your kids until they grow up and then you look at the other section prices those kids can no longer afford to go or find it hard to justify shelling out that much cash to watch their club.
£100 to watch a game of football?!?! It’s outrageous! I don’t care it’s a brand new stand and needs paying for, you are fleecing your own supporters instead of finding commercial ways to foot the bill. Now I know this is just one snapshot of 20 PL clubs, but we all know it’s way overpriced throughout and in an age where gate receipts are pocket change to almost all of those clubs dwarfed by huge TV deals then why not give something back to the people who make the game what it is.
My own club Barnet I feel charge far too much for National League football, £22 is the most expensive ticket in the league and it’s certainly not been reflected in performances on the pitch in the last two years. This year Tony Kleanthous has to be credited for his offer on season tickets, Buy One, Get One Free on all pricing.
I don’t recall seeing that being offered before, happy to be corrected if someone knows otherwise at National League level. I’ll praise or criticise Tony either way based on his decisions, so far nothing but praise to him for backing Dean Brennan and now doing us a deal to back the boss as well.
That isn’t to say every non-league club needs to run some kind of offer, keeping pricing sensible is the best way of making it work, but there is an ever growing consensus that below the professional game clubs are able to attract and retain support and as we all know at the moment the pound coin needs to be stretched further.
People will always need their football fix and I think as time goes on more will have to settle for following from afar but getting what they need from the non-league game. I don’t think it’s right but there is plenty you can get from watching these levels of football and that £100 spent on one game could see you attend five games or even more knowing that money is gratefully received.
The fact the whole game had the chance to make a huge statement about looking after supporters since the empty stadiums were seen has been missed by most and it’s non-league who can benefit completely from this, we saw last season attendances rise nearly everywhere and I hope more people start to attend and enjoy some good honest football………
I would guess that due to the vast amount of money in Premier League football that owners can’t understand why the ordinary working/retired person can’t afford tickets.
Even the lowest cost for an adult with a child is not going to help many who may wish to go to all of the home games. £50 even 10 times a year is £500 that many can’t afford, even before transport and burger costs.
If the clubs are selling all the tickets at these high prices, one could argue that they understand the market and maximising revenue. A good business decision!
I don’t think anything will change, and hopefully lower league clubs who really do need entrance ticket money to survive, will see an increase in supporters.