Friday Freebie: Should away fans get value for their money too?

Couple of experiences leave you wondering at times

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I had a couple of experiences this week that I want to share with you. Both were as an away fan at National League level where of course segregation exists and it isn’t something you tend to find when you travel lower down the pyramid, well actually the second issue could be found anywhere.

The first trip was to Hayes Lane, Bromley which I will come to later in the piece but first up I went to Eastleigh FC on Tuesday evening. In most cases for the top non-league level buying a ticket in advance works out cheaper, in the case of our Hampshire opponents just a pound was the difference. It’s something that I feel a lot could offer even if it does only knock a pound or two off.

Now, in the away guide published by Barnet there were ticket pricing for both standing and seating, anyone who knows me knows that I prefer to stand, if there is no choice then so be it, just my opinion mind.

Imagine my delight when I went onto the Eastleigh site to get a ticket and the away standing section greyed out. So I went out and back in to try it again, no different. I went back to the Barnet guide to check I hadn’t misread and sure enough I hadn’t.

There was a contact button so I sent an email to the ‘event co-ordinator’, and asked why the terrace wasn’t open. I did get a response, but one that didn’t answer the question, merely to say that if the seating sold out they would open another block, it’s lovely when people really read a question and don’t answer correctly.

Anyway! I got in contact with a couple of Wealdstone fans I know as they visited the previous Saturday and were heading to Hayes Lane on the Tuesday, so we swopped stories! The Stones had both the terrace and a seated block.

Long story short, we ended up taking three fans less than Wealdstone, how that constituted us not being allowed  on the terrace, answers on a postcard please! I can only assume that the Spitfires didn’t agree it was cost effective, but get this, they employed three stewards on the night to stand by a barrier to stop us accessing the terrace, what a waste of money surely? And couldn’t those three just police fans on a small terrace? Maybe just more money than sense at times, who knows.

And then we have Bromley FC. Early bird offer of two pound off £22 booking early, no problem there. But £22 for a fully open terrace with pretty poor sightlines, compare that to The Hive for the same price away fans get the best stand and bar in the ground. That might be a rather lopsided argument, but there are plenty of grounds in the National League that do better for the travelling support.

Watering 3/4G pitches. Really? Maybe someone can point out what difference it really makes, anyway the away end was nicely watered, wind assisted so I can’t put too much blame on the club, but maybe the grounds person or pitch keeper could watch the weather forecast a little more? Especially when Stones fans suffered the same on Tuesday evening, maybe winding up the away fans isn’t the cleverest move.

And to the real gripe. Last year when Barnet visited midweek no lights in the toilets, not exactly ideal and a tad dangerous being unstable portacabins and not a concrete toilet block.

Now this year they went one better and no running water. No idea if that extended to the flushing toilets I didn’t use that particular part. Now health and safety alarm bells are probably ringing for all as you read that part and of course the next day a Premier League match was delayed due to a lack of running water.

Wealdstone fans were well aware of my comment via Twitter and had it confirmed Tuesday evening they were indeed working properly for their visit. Now I had complained via private message to Bromley FC on Monday, it’s been seen and read, and here we are Friday without a response.

Why should away fans be treated with such contempt? For a start they were in contradiction of National League ground grading rule 2.4 which you can see below. Do they not carry out a ground inspection prior to kick off for the basics such as this? They even had more time than usual with a 5.30 pm kick off.

National League Ground Grading for away section toilets

Upon hearing from some Bromley fans I know well home portacabins have the same issue that beggars belief it really does. It’s bad enough to treat away fans like that but your own as well, come on.

I believe that under ground grading rules away fans deserve a covered section somewhere. It’s 2023, get it done, treat people how you would like to be treated, it goes a long way funnily enough.

Bromley have been National League long enough now to have this sorted, the rules are strict when promoted from Step 5 to 4, it’s about time a few tweaks were made to provide better for all.

So, tell me in the comments should away fans be out on an uncovered terrace these days and is it spiteful to want to have the favour returned to them? Should we just be putting up with it? Time for your say…..