As a member of Stretford and Urmston OSC, a season ticket holder for 49 years, turning 60 next, who fortunately has a few bob to spare which enables me to go to games where and when I want, even I've started to lose the draw of a game like this.
11 of my family and friends, post COVID bollox had season tickets together sat in block 220. This season 5 of us renewed the tickets, 3 deferred until next year and 3 didn't bother, 2 of which go occasionally on membership cards. 2 of those that deferred are unlikely to renew next season.
Things have happened over recent years that have pissed a lot of people off, and they're falling out of love with the game.
TV streaming and fans coming second, cost, VAR, daft KO times, poor atmospheres, the constant attempts by clubs to give you a match day experience and failing miserably (take me back to the Kippax FFS), shite stewarding, all seater stadia, having to sit next to knob heads you desperately want to thrash to within an inch of their lives, coke heads, UEFA corruption, the Media's attempts to undermine certain clubs, and there are many other reasons.
Our supporters club has about 200 members, 50 are going to this game via the club, a few more might be going under their own steam.
The club is predominantly aged between 40 and 60, with a handful of younger and older folk, next to no kids.
Granted you see plenty of teens, 20's and young kids at The Etihad, but where we sit, we are mostly long in the tooth old fuckers who've been there and done it, and for me its becoming a little less inviting every year.
I really did almost not bother this year, and I've been as passionate and loyal as they come.
Am I alone thinking like this and need putting to sleep?!
Yes we're attracting new fans because of our wonderful and recent success, great team, manager and owners, but which parent or young kid just in work is going to be able to afford to go to games like this when the cost is ridiculous, and just born out of greed by the FA. Whats wrong with £25 and concessions at £10, a pie at £1.50, a drink at £1, they'd still make money.
The money made out of TV contracts, advertising and sponsorship is just phenomenal, time has come for the authorities to recognise the fact that football is nothing without the fans, but it still went on throughout COVID, because money was a stake.
Wrexham and Chesterfield had crowds of around 10000 last weekend, that's where fans are starting to go, Altrincham's crowds are up too. If it wasn't for our success we'd be getting 40000 or less.
Part of me doesn't want the semi to sell out, but we'll not hear about the reasons will we?!
