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More shoddy season ticket treatment of fans

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Liverpool AnfieldFURTHER to an article that I wrote last week about the supporters union, Spirit of Shankly, taking the club on regarding rising season ticket costs, the club have managed to find themselves on the end of fan criticism yet again this week as they move the season ticket deadline to the 28th May.

Unusually for me, this is something I have no defence for the club with.

“Accounting reasons” are what has been given (unofficially) for the date of the move, and I am no accountant so I don’t know how the club would gain from this or what the disadvantages of the date staying the same would be.

However, one disadvantage I am all too aware of: by moving the deadline forward, the club have yet again proven how they don’t care about their season ticket holders. This is yet more irrefutable proof that the club have stopped caring about the life blood of the club. Four weeks, one month, may not seem a lot to the average fan so please allow me to explain why anger has surfaced over this issue.

Already amongst the most expensive season tickets in the Premier League outside of London, our ticket prices have gone up again this year, some by as much as £70. I’m lucky, mine has “only” increased by £25. I’m also lucky this year that I have had a recent bit of good fortune that means I am able to buy my season ticket up front. But as a collective, season ticket holders are now effectively a month behind.

This is particularly important because of the exorbitant costs of going to Anfield at the moment. Unless you are in the privileged position where you can buy your season ticket up front (this is the first and probably last season I have been able to do this) then you need to save up over a period of time in order to be able to cough up at the right time.

For as long as I know of, and certainly for the 8 years I have been a season ticket holder, that deadline has always been at the end of June, perhaps early July on a few occasions. However, this bombshell from the club is going to leave people short.
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That’s not going to be a small sum of money missing either. If we say that the average fan saves £100 a month towards their season ticket then they are effectively £100 down. And in hard enough times as it is, that’s not what anyone needs.

The club have failed their paying customers, yet again, with a breathtaking lack of duty of care. But why would they care? If I can’t magic the money up, then there are thousands of people ready to take my place. The club get the money irrespective. There’s no thought or consideration to me.

The club will point to the monthly payment plan but this is counterproductive because you end up having to pay more money for an already over expensive season ticket. Also, there’s no facility to pay a deposit down and minimise the cost of monthly payments.

I’m not knocking the scheme because I’ve used it myself in the past – but it should not be recommended as a viable alternative when the club’s lack of thought is the reason people could be short of money.

Above all, would a little bit of notice have gone amiss? Had the club announced the date is being moved forward approximately a month earlier in the year then I doubt there would be so much resentment and animosity. Would it really have hurt to commence this reshuffle in 12 months with some advance notice?

I’d guess at no – but it’s irrelevant anyway. Football is a business now, and I accept that, but I’m afraid that this is a football club rapidly selling its soul and showing a complete lack of respect or consideration for the match going fans, especially those of us who are there every week.
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I'm a fully trained journalist who shunned a career in the profession due to my disillusionment with the tabloid press, instead hoping to become a professional author. I've written for The Liverpool Way for 7 years and am a regular on the forum using the name Agt Provocateur.

A passionate member of supporter group Kop Faithful, I've been a season ticket holder of 8 years and a regular match goer since 1995.

When not criticising diminishing refereeing standards in football, I can be found at Langtree Park, the home of St Helens Rugby League Club being highly critical of non existent standards of refereeing in Rugby League. I'm is also a massive Lancashire and England cricket fan.

8 comments

  • Carl says:

    You should look at ticket prices in North America, Toronto FC are not even close to a 2nd division Team and Toronto Maple Leafs you have to sell your house for good seats I could go on…..You want LFC to compete etc. they have to compete on all levels inc. business….. In North America a lot of season tickets are held by corporate and individuals such as yourself over here don’t get season tickets, also tiered seating/pricing has existed for a long long time here.

    You have been sheltered and now reality is taking over, most people go a few times a year over here because that’s all they can afford, I took my son to watch the LFC reserves last year in Toronto….It cost $300+ for the tickets and the cost of the hotel and gas (petrol) and food etc. We don’t live in Toronto and we may never see them play live again!

    the last time before that game, I watched LFC play from the boys pen, the safest place to see them play.

    I pay Appx; $15 a month for a specialty TV channel just so I can watch LFC play and sometimes I have to try and stream because no one is covering the game on TV, that’s the price I pay to follow my team it’s fun it’s a pastime so stop whining, go make yourself a chip butty and a cuppa tea!

  • RD says:

    Carl..
    While I think the inflation is necessary, and the fans with lower incomes, especially those who have been following the club for ages, are undoubtedly going to fell hard done by.

    This is especially so because matches aren’t screened on local channels so as to boost ticket revenues, which i find to be a ridiculous practice.

  • Jmc says:

    The poor treatment of long holding season ticket fans is showing around anfield we used to be one of the loudest grounds in the game now your lucky if half the fans know the words to YNWA or sing at all

  • Dave says:

    This is disgrace they have no respect for the fans but know they will get a away it because u don’t go with what there doing you’ll lose your ST its a horrible situation but one well have to live with I know I’ll b struggling even more so to pay for mine this season and all so the yanks can their money a month early A JOKE

  • ss says:

    hand it in i want a season ticket if its too much hastle for you.

  • Derekw says:

    The unjustified price increase is in line with the shoddy service supporters get from LFC (try getting through to LFC by ‘phone) reflecting a lack of concern for long-stranding fans. It’s nearing the point where subcribing to SKy, ESPN, etc or going to a nearby pub becomes more attractive.

  • Graham says:

    O for god sake…!! I have been a season ticket holder for 30+ years and hear the same complaints year after year, however, last year was infact the first increase in two years (no complaints then I guess).
    The whole structure of the game has changed, we LFC fans want to see the team competing at the highest level and winning trophys, how many times have we said or heard the words ‘we need quality players’..!! Top quality players equal big money signing on fees and wages, to compete at the top we need the funds to do that and this is where we (fans) season tickets holders contribute towards this. And please don’t quote Man City or Chelsea – there are no Russians or Arabs who are going to buy the club if there where it would have happened by now, so get over it..
    The question we needs to ask ourselves is ‘do we want to support a club who will be able to compete at the highest level’; if so then this is the price we have to pay……. If not you’re probably need to supporting a mid table team..

  • Tommy says:

    FSG are here for our money .nothing else

Comments are closed.