The missing 2/3 thousand.

[CarlMcBlade]

We have good support in terms of numbers but poor support in terms of vocal backing and getting behind the team. At least at Bramall Lane anyway.

BDTBL always seems to get voted in top 3 for atmosphere.........whichever division we’re in.

 

[grafikhaus]

We have good support in terms of numbers but poor support in terms of vocal backing and getting behind the team. At least at Bramall Lane anyway.

The days of mass, unquestioning home support have long gone. Teams like Fulham, Leicester, Huddesrfield, Watford and even Manchester City 'manufacture' their support for the cameras - flags on seats, fucking clackers etc. Even Man. U and Arsenal are like libraries. Don't confuse the 'pashun' of away fans compared to the home fans. Travelling away is - and always has been - about having several drinks before, during and after.

 

[Davalon]

The days of mass, unquestioning home support have long gone. Teams like Fulham, Leicester, Huddesrfield, Watford and even Manchester City 'manufacture' their support for the cameras - flags on seats, fucking clackers etc. Even Man. U and Arsenal are like libraries. Don't confuse the 'pashun' of away fans compared to the home fans. Travelling away is - and always has been - about having several drinks before, during and after.

Spot on.

Nothing wrong with people wanting to improve the atmosphere at the Lane, but the constant whining about us being some of the worst home fans by comparison is utter bollocks.

 

[alcoblade]

Spot on.

Nothing wrong with people wanting to improve the atmosphere at the Lane, but the constant whining about us being some of the worst home fans by comparison is utter bollocks.

Very true. I’m all for a singing section at the back of the kop though.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Very true. I’m all for a singing section at the back of the kop though.

If having a crafty fag puts you on a par with someone crazed with crystal meth and gets you the pepper spray treatment, then expect repercussions for that too in the not too distant future. Maybe tasering?

 

[essexblade73]

There's a lot of things in life that are unaffordable even if you're not on minimum wage. I can afford a season ticket but I've owned a hundred quid phone for the past 5 years instead of chasing the latest iphone, don't have tattoos at £100+ a pop plastered all over me, never bought a new car on finance at stupid interest rates and if I can't afford a holiday abroad every year I don't bother or worry about it. Football isn't the lowest common denominator nor should it be otherwise we'd still be standing in the shit tips of 40 years ago.

Thats the attitude..cant afford it then tough..typical selfish attitude of today. So poor people cant enjoy the simple pleasures that their forefathers could like watching a footy match? Bollox

 

[Sean Thornton]

Thats the attitude..cant afford it then tough..typical selfish attitude of today. So poor people cant enjoy the simple pleasures that their forefathers could like watching a footy match? Bollox

Watching football is a lifestyle choice. It always has been. It's no different today. The poor of yesteryear would have had the same issues and the man who could afford to go decided that's how he would spend his spare cash.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Thats the attitude..cant afford it then tough..typical selfish attitude of today. So poor people cant enjoy the simple pleasures that their forefathers could like watching a footy match? Bollox

Read it again carefully. I forego other pleasures to be able to afford to go to football matches so that hardly makes me selfish. I've simply carved the cake up into what I can and cannot afford. I'm sure reference to the "poor" will get you lots of likes though.

 

[essexblade73]

Read it again carefully. I forego other pleasures to be able to afford to go to football matches so that hardly makes me selfish. I've simply carved the cake up into what I can and cannot afford. I'm sure reference to the "poor" will get you lots of likes though.

The point is going to a football match should not be deemed a luxury and should be accessable to all.

 

[essexblade73]

Watching football is a lifestyle choice. It always has been. It's no different today. The poor of yesteryear would have had the same issues and the man who could afford to go decided that's how he would spend his spare cash.

No they didnt. I grew up in a 1 parent family with the only parent being on benefits. I could afford to go in the 80s despite being poor.

 

[snootyfenooty]

The point is going to a football match should not be deemed a luxury and should be accessable to all.

My point is the amount of disposable income you have is finite and football is one of a number of choices you have to spend your money on. None of them are an entitlement outside the basics you need to live.

 

[Sean Thornton]

No they didnt. I grew up in a 1 parent family with the only parent being on benefits. I could afford to go in the 80s despite being poor.

That was a choice then. Poor suggests not having enough to make ends meet.

"Forefathers" also suggests a time long before the eighties btw. When people were genuinely "poor".

 

[essexblade73]

My point is the amount of disposable income you have is finite and football is one of a number of choices you have to spend your money on. None of them are an entitlement outside the basics you need to live.

And my point is that football shouldnt be so abhorrently expensive..its become a luxury when it should be part of the simple pleasures of working class lives..going to the pub has gone the same way

 

[essexblade73]

O

That was a choice then. Poor suggests not having enough to make ends meet.

"Forefathers" also suggests a time long before the eighties btw. When people were genuinely "poor".

Such a lack of understanding. We were really poor..no dad, no money from him, no working mum, we got by and I could still go to the game..stop press many people were genuinely poor in the 80s like they are now. To dismiss that shows a huge lack of understanding of social issues

 

[Sean Thornton]

O

Such a lack of understanding. We were really poor..no dad, no money from him, no working mum, we got by and I could still go to the game..stop press many people were genuinely poor in the 80s like they are now. To dismiss that shows a huge lack of understanding of social issues

As a child in the sixties living in S2 I went to school with the genuinely poor. Benefit families, wearing wellingtons for half the year, plimsolls with holes in for the other half. hand me downs, constantly hungry, fed by other kids parents and grandparents. Scruffy homes. No football for them. No choices. So don't give me the lack of social understanding bullshit.

You had money to have a choice, which was good, your choice was football. That sacrifice was made by your parent, not you. The kids I'm talking about, their parents didn't have anything to sacrifice. That's poverty.

 

[snootyfenooty]

And my point is that football shouldnt be so abhorrently expensive..its become a luxury when it should be part of the simple pleasures of working class lives..going to the pub has gone the same way

My ST in the SS costs £250. That's not "abhorrently expensive". In this day and age that's a fucking bargain, about 2 months Sky subscription if you go for the sports package (which I also cancelled 2 years ago by the way to economise and prioritise my spending). If the pub is a problem, do what I do and go to the 'spoons on Eccy Road, it's just over 2 quid a pint. I'll buy you a pint next match, serious offer.

 

[snootyfenooty]

As a child in the sixties living in S2 I went to school with the genuinely poor. Benefit families, wearing wellingtons for half the year, plimsolls with holes in for the other half. hand me downs, constantly hungry, fed by other kids parents and grandparents. Scruffy homes. No football for them. No choices. So don't give me the lack of social understanding bullshit.

You had money to have a choice, which was good, your choice was football. That sacrifice was made by your parent, not you. The kids I'm talking about, their parents didn't have anything to sacrifice. That's poverty.

Yep, same for a lot of us in the 50s & 60s. Cue the usual ignoramuses piling in now with jokes about shoe boxes.

 

[essexblade73]

My ST in the SS costs £250. That's not "abhorrently expensive". In this day and age that's a fucking bargain, about 2 months Sky subscription if you go for the sports package (which I also cancelled 2 years ago by the way to economise and prioritise my spending). If the pub is a problem, do what I do and go to the 'spoons on Eccy Road, it's just over 2 quid a pint. I'll buy you a pint next match, serious offer.

27 quid on the kop. Hardly cheap is it. What about people who cant shell out for ST upfront or who cant get credit to get one on the never never.

 

[essexblade73]

As a child in the sixties living in S2 I went to school with the genuinely poor. Benefit families, wearing wellingtons for half the year, plimsolls with holes in for the other half. hand me downs, constantly hungry, fed by other kids parents and grandparents. Scruffy homes. No football for them. No choices. So don't give me the lack of social understanding bullshit.

You had money to have a choice, which was good, your choice was football. That sacrifice was made by your parent, not you. The kids I'm talking about, their parents didn't have anything to sacrifice. That's poverty.

Hand me downs and clothes from the education..that was life for me and lots of mates in 80s Pitsmoor. Wore plimsolls for footy cos we couldnt afford boots. However going to watch football wasnt anywhere close to being as expensive relatively speaking back then than it is now.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Hand me downs and clothes from the education..that was life for me and lots of mates in 80s Pitsmoor. Wore plimsolls for footy cos we couldnt afford boots. However going to watch football wasnt anywhere close to being as expensive relatively speaking back then than it is now.

No it's not, no one can argue that, but it's still a choice, which was my point. Your situation in the eighties was pretty much the norm for many kids in the decades earlier though. It's nothing to be embarrassed about - not suggesting you are btw - more of a positive that people got through it.

 

[South Bucks]

Interesting attitudes which partially explain the missing thousands, "I can afford an ST so all who don't are *****".

I know a fair few in SY who are half interested in utd but don't earn enough nor have the savings to blow it on an ST and with a match day ticket and costs equivalent to half a day plus on minimum wage I can't blame them for staying away.

Its the clubs choice, its not been a pastime for those on minimum wage for a long time, its just those with more don't realise it.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Interesting attitudes which partially explain the missing thousands, "I can afford an ST so all who don't are *****".

I know a fair few in SY who are half interested in utd but don't earn enough nor have the savings to blow it on an ST and with a match day ticket and costs equivalent to half a day plus on minimum wage I can't blame them for staying away.

Its the clubs choice, its not been a pastime for those on minimum wage for a long time, its just those with more don't realise it.

My pension adds up to that of a minimum wage job so I guess that makes me "poor". I also manage to go to football matches. I manage OK.

 

[Dkc]

Can someone post a graph comparing rises in the cost of going to football since the 1980's with inflation in general? And maybe beer too?

 

[alcoblade]

The point is going to a football match should not be deemed a luxury and should be accessable to all.

Says who? It’s already subsidised enormously by rich benefactors. Who do you want to fund it further?

A season ticket on the kop works out at about £30 a month. Most people (not me) pay more than that for their mobile phones.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Interesting attitudes which partially explain the missing thousands, "I can afford an ST so all who don't are *****".

I know a fair few in SY who are half interested in utd but don't earn enough nor have the savings to blow it on an ST and with a match day ticket and costs equivalent to half a day plus on minimum wage I can't blame them for staying away.

Its the clubs choice, its not been a pastime for those on minimum wage for a long time, its just those with more don't realise it.

Any link to someone actually saying what you claim in your opening paragraph?

Take your time.......

 

[Drunk blade]

The price of the tickets don't match the quality of the product.... £30 plus per person to watch an average 2nd tier side is a joke ... especially of you are taking a family ... I don't blame people who don't go even if they can easily afford it ...

Remember when Leon Clarke misses a straightforward header from 4 yards and looks like he is not really that interest .... your hard earned cash paid for his fleet of super cars and 6 bedroom mansion

 

[snootyfenooty]

The price of the tickets don't match the quality of the product.... £30 plus per person to watch an average 2nd tier side is a joke ... especially of you are taking a family ... I don't blame people who don't go even if they can easily afford it ...

Remember when Leon Clarke misses a straightforward header from 4 yards and looks like he is not really that interest .... your hard earned cash paid for his fleet of super cars and 6 bedroom mansion

£30 plus? Nowt like a bit of exaggeration to boost your argument. I'd hazard a guess that half of United's fan base are fogies or kids (or both as in my case), in which instance they are paying a tenner or less per match if they've got a ST. A kop ST for an adult works out for about half of what you are saying. Loyal fans at the Lane get looked after price-wise and always have.

 

[essexblade73]

Says who? It’s already subsidised enormously by rich benefactors. Who do you want to fund it further?

A season ticket on the kop works out at about £30 a month. Most people (not me) pay more than that for their mobile phones.

Ok what about those who cant get credit to buy a ST on the never never? Also those who work on and off at weekends, hence ST is pointless, however then have to fork out nearly 30 quid..esp if on min wage? Plus your phone analogy is rubbish..i know plenty of people who cant afford a contract phone and use payg and pay less than 20 quid pm. You can argue against it as much as you want but tickets costs are a disgrace and exclude a vast amount of people from having a little bit of enjoyment in their lives.

 

[alcoblade]

Ok what about those who cant get credit to buy a ST on the never never? Also those who work on and off at weekends, hence ST is pointless, however then have to fork out nearly 30 quid..esp if on min wage? Plus your phone analogy is rubbish..i know plenty of people who cant afford a contract phone and use payg and pay less than 20 quid pm. You can argue against it as much as you want but tickets costs are a disgrace and exclude a vast amount of people from having a little bit of enjoyment in their lives.

So, answer the question - who should pay for this hobby, given that ticket prices cover a fraction of the overall costs?

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Promotion to top flight and a smallish price increase... we’d still be averaging over 30k as those only bothered with the Prem would choose to fork out.