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Matthew
Jones |
Bio
I'm Matthew Jones and I've supported Tranmere
since I was five, being lucky enough to see
Rovers in the three F.A. Cup quarter finals and
one League Cup final, as well as countless
wonder matches, including wins over Bolton,
Everton and Southampton.
I live on the
Wirral, but as of September 2009 I've been at
Sheffield Hallam University studying Sports
Development with Coaching. When money allows,
I'm still trying to get to as many Rovers games
as possible and still feel as passionate as ever
about the team.
Favourite
ever player for Rovers: Andy Parkinson -
I grew up watching him terrorise defences with
his pace and skill.
Favourite
Rovers match: Worthington Cup Final; though
we lost, seeing Tranmere play at Wembley, when I
was nine, was just incredible, an experience I
pray I'll get again.
Favourite
Tranmere goal: Andy Parkinson vs.
Middlesbrough |
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22/1/2010
Matty's musings
Clubs paying the
price for expensive tickets
Well, I
write this on the eve of the MK Dons game, and Tranmere have
finally had a league fixture this year! An optomist indeed would
say that we go into the game on Saturday unbeaten in the league
this year!
I was quite happy with the draw at Oldham on Wednesday night. A
defeat would have been a very poor result for us. We'd have been
cut adrift somewhat from the teams above us, especially Oldham,
but a draw kept us in touch with them and we gained a point on
some of the teams above us.
Perhaps we could have won the game if Les had gambled and made a
sub, we'll never know, but by the same token we could quite well
have changed things around and then conceded a goal which would
have cost us the game. For a considerable portion of the second
half Oldham were on top and having several good chances - though
we missed some good ones ourselves - so I think it was the right
decision personally not to make a change.
This week I'm going to mainly talk about money in football
though. In eight days time, Tranmere take on Charlton Athletic
at The Valley in Coca Cola League One, with fans being charged
£25 for the privilege of getting in. This is, in my opinion,
absolutely ridiculous.
Charlton may have been relegated to this division after a very
poor season last year, but attendances have still dropped
significantly. Last year, only two of their home league matches
had less than 20,000 spectators. So far this season, having
already played Millwall and Southampton, only two of their
attendances have been above 19,000, whilst in their last home
game against Hartlepool, there were only 14,636 fans at the
ground. I can't see there being many more than that there for
our game next week.
One would have thought that with such small attendances, the
club are losing out on money significantly. I'm sure a fairly
large percentage of that crowd was season ticket holders for
starters. Perhaps if the club lowered their prices, they would
have more fans at the ground.
More fans may mean more merchandise sold, like programmes and
replica kits, not to mention more money spent on catering inside
the ground.
It just seems ridiculous that a club can charge so much money
for what in all honesty is a below average third division match.
Of course, Charlton aren't the only team with ridiculous prices
in our league. Leeds United have had high prices ever since they
were relegated from the Championship, charging Tranmere fans £26
to get in, whilst Southampton charged £22 and Oldham £20.
Again, you have to question why the teams charge so much money.
It must surely be for the better of each club if they charged
reduced ticket prices, got more fans through the gates and as
such got more money from match day sales.
It's prices like these that are having a significant affect on
attendances at lower league games, and football in general. Fans
simply don't want to pay so much money for bottom of the barrel
matches and as such just stay at home and watch "Soccer
Saturday", or a match live on the TV.
It would be for the better of football in general if prices were
lowered and attendances increased. That is why it was so
refreshing to see new West Ham chairman David Sullivan saying
that if West Ham move to the Olympic Stadium in 2012, then he
would lower prices and bring football "Back to the people",
because as it stands, football is no longer about the fans, it's
just about making the rich, richer. Sadly, in this day and age,
it seems football is all about money.
Of course, this blog won't have any affect on the prices, it
seems nothing at the moment will, as players, particularly
higher up the football ladder, continue to pick up higher and
higher wages, with fans seeing less and less games, but it's
food for thought, and hopefully something that many of you agree
with.
Until
next time,
Matthew
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