Away support

[Linz]

Is it about time that something was done to make it easier to follow United, and indeed other clubs, away from home?

Considering that last night's game was a Friday night fixture, and on Sky, Unitedites travelled in reasonable numbers. But many won't have gone who otherwise would because they couldn't get the afternoon off work. The kids who would normally swell the numbers for games like this have been told they can no longer travel on the official coaches unsupervised.

And with the cost of away tickets inching ever higher, many people will start to pick and choose their games.

Maybe a cap on the price of away tickets in the league would help? Surely more away fans at £20 would bring in more money for a club than a few hundred less at £25? It's daft saying that away fans should have the same price ticket as the equivalent view in the home end when the experience of being there differs so greatly. Fans can stand at the back of the Kop all they want, for instance, while away fans at the Lane are threatened with the door.

Maybe the return of football special trains would also help. The Police regiment all sorts of transport now, there's no reason why the trains would be any more trouble.

What do you think could be done to make travel to away games more attractive?

 

[DazBlade88]

I think ticket prices should be made cheaper, I think it's a joke some of the prices we get charged.

It'd be helpful if there were special football trains, but when would the police ever help football fans? They treat us like shit, and they can get away with it because we're football fans, therefore all thugs.

The jobsworth stewards and coppers do get on my nerves at away matches. There should be designated standing areas, especially the away fans. We've been travelling sat down for however many hours, we should be able to stand up and stretch our legs if we feel the need.

 

[dingledog]

It would be a lot easier if Mrs Dingledog was more reasonable about my football addiction.

 

[Northyorksblade]

There were several reasons we didn't go last night. Had it been today, no way would we have missed it. But cost, parking at Riverside, work day evening and on TV all contributed. Also, I have to admit to a bit of a hangover from last season.

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

I think when we charge category C prices including for the away fans, we should pay the same when we go to that away team and no more. Never happen though!

 

[Vistoma]

I think when we charge category C prices including for the away fans, we should pay the same when we go to that away team and no more. Never happen though!

This is a very good point, there should be a "same price" rule where away fans are charged the same price as when the other club visits them.

i.e. if we charge say Ipswich £20 then they should charge us £20 etc etc

 

[BuryStEdmundsBlade]

This is a very good point, there should be a "same price" rule where away fans are charged the same price as when the other club visits them.

i.e. if we charge say Ipswich £20 then they should charge us £20 etc etc

Funny you should mention Ipswich. Think it was the season before last, we charged Ipswich £10 and £5 (Category C) and then when we went to Ipswich which was a tuesday night like the opposite fixture, they charged us something silly like £26, £28! My other half who supports Ipswich mentioned it (said we were only charged £10 and £5 by Sheffield United so can do the same for their fans travelling down here on a tuesday night) at their AGM and was basically laughed at by the chief executive which annoyed us both. A decent suggestion but they are a disgrace at Portman Road-they put prices up again this year.:thumbdown:

 

[travellingblade]

For me the problem with attending away games is the manner that you are treated by police and stewards alike.

Take for instance the final "friendly" at Lincoln where it was raining continually. As away supporters, we were crammed into the front of the corner of their big stand, getting soaked, whilst the stewards stood comfortably under cover. Only when enough of our supporters turned up, did they open up the back (dry) part of this section of the stand.

I think that they are trying to make it like American sport where (because of distance) away fans don't travel in any sort of numbers.