Fans Out Of Pocket?

Today’s Wales on Sunday highlights the massive difference between what clubs in England cost compared to their counterparts on the continent – namely some of Europe’s most successful clubs.

The report shows that fans of Swansea, Cardiff and Wrexham fork out a minimum of £230, £322 and £273 respectively for their season tickets whilst Porto, Real Madrid and Valencia fans have to find just £67, £78 and £175 respectively for the same.

The figures mentioned for the three league clubs will be around the average I would guess for their respective divisions with prices in the Premiership at some grounds being extremely exaggerated on top of those figures.

Talking to the respective supporters of the three clubs, Wales on Sunday were told the following: –

Vince Alm, spokesman for Cardiff City Supporters’ Club, said: "The players are on high wages – they hold the clubs to ransom.

"Football is a working class game and ticket prices are pushing the working class out. I think the bubble will burst in the next 10 years. People won’t go to games because they won’t be able to afford it, and the clubs won’t be able to afford the foreign players."

Terry Heath, a board member of Wrexham Supporters’ Trust, said: "I’m not surprised that European clubs are cheaper, but I’m surprised the differences are so large. It’s a different economic climate over there and a cheaper standard of living.

"I don’t think Wrexham are much different to other clubs in their league, but I don’t know how people afford to support some of the bigger clubs, like Chelsea and Manchester United. I, personally, couldn’t do it.

"I think we should be trying to reduce the prices, especially by giving discounts to the loyal fans."

But Swans supporter and liaison officer for the travel club, Ugo Vallario, reckons the fans get value for money.

"Swansea prices aren’t any higher than any other team in their league. We don’t get as much support as the clubs in Europe – they get far bigger crowds and can afford to bring the prices down.

"It’s an expensive hobby, but it’s the love of the team. Whether they win, lose or draw, week in, week out, you’re there and you’ll pay whatever it is to watch them."

It may well be the case that the three clubs mentioned on the continent do get higher crowds but a difference of over £150 between League Two football and the class that is played in Madrid is vast and does that really justify that kind of price difference.

The clubs themselves also justified the cost

Myra Powells, ticketing manager for Swansea, said: "I think it’s quite reasonable, and compared to other parts of the country, our tickets are much cheaper.

"We’ve sold a record number of season tickets this year – it’s the last year we’ll be at the Vetch before we move to Morfa so people want to be in on the action."

Sean Murphy, ticket office manager at Cardiff City, where they have sold nearly 10,000 season tickets this season, said: "We set our tickets in comparison with other football clubs in the UK. It’s no secret that Cardiff City is currently running at a loss, as are most of the clubs in the UK. The price has to go to running the club."

And Wrexham football secretary Geraint Parry argued: "I’m not surprised you can get some extremely cheap prices, but you can also pay some astronomical prices for pitch-side tickets. You might pay a low price for Ajax, and sit in a wonderful stadium, but you’re probably up in the gods.

"Our prices are more middle ground, and very good value for the good seats.

"But if you want to have a professional football club, playing at a competitive level, it’s got to be paid for.

"What we need is just more supporters. Our season ticket sales have been tremendous this year – we’ve sold over 1,000, which is much better than 800 last season. We can get them to the big games, but we need to get them every week."

Quite when the price difference for admission started to get so wide is not sure as there would have been a time in the past when the figures surely must have nearly married each other. Certainly in the last 10 years there have been regular price increases in the cost of admission to grounds in this country – in some cases the admission cost has doubled and it will count against some sides in the lower divisions with the numbers that they get through the gates.

Liberal Democrat spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport, Don Foster MP, has called for an inquiry by the Independent Football Commission, which monitors commercial issues in the English leagues.

He said: "Football may provide brilliant entertainment, but fans should not have to spend so much to watch.

"I am concerned that the closest some young inspiring players will get to a top-flight football match will be in their living room."

Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, sits on the Culture, Media and Sport select committee. He says part of the reason for the massive difference is the pound.

He said: "If you look at the price of a car, it’s more expensive here. Nearly everything is more expensive and, in part, that’s because we’re not in the euro.

"All the countries that are in the euro have seen prices come down across the board. I think it’s important that sports clubs try to give a good deal, otherwise they risk losing their grassroots supporters."

Whatever the facts of all this, nothing will change and in the cases of some clubs they are happy to take their support further away from the grassroot level and into the arms of the ‘prawn sandwich’ brigade and that is their choice. Personally I also think it’s their loss.

And if someone can explain to me how it will become cheaper if we join the Euro then I will be interested to know as I just don’t see that at all.

But for now, Swansea fans remain out of pocket but 99% would rather pay £150 more to watch their team than contemplate watching Madrid!