Point is mate, Quinn goes out of his way to say he's not referring to people who can't afford it. Don't kid yourself that people who can afford the match comfortably don't stay away, i know several personally. This is Quinn's target
A lot of people miss that for the first couple of Reidy seasons, the ground only held 41,000, hence it was nearly always rammed.
Football has gone mad. We cheer these people who kiss the badge running around wondering how to spend their fifty grand this week only run away to a better deal at the drop of a hat. Meanwhile we the fans who care deeply about our club are made to feel guilty for saving a few quid. I personally know of three lads who stopped going solely due to the cost.
Like i say mate, it's people who choose to go for other reasons than money. I know lads on 40k plus who don't go cos they can't have a snout and a pint, they'll go to the derby and United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and love it, say i'm going to get into going every week again, then not bother. Some people have lower incomes and families to feed then fair one, no ones got a gripe with that mate.
Difficult one this. First of all, Niall is spot on. He makes it crystal clear that he's not having a go at anyone who hasn't got the money to go to the games. The reason attendances are down all over the PL is because we're in the worst recession since the 30s, and it's not going to get better with the Tories trying to slash public services and many people worried about losing their jobs. I must admit being taken aback twice in the last month when hearing from mates/relatives of mine, who to be honest had been comfortably off for years, suddenly worried about spending quite small sums of money because they are worried about finances. Having said that, experience has taught me that there are two types of people who say "I can't afford it", those who genuinely can't afford it or those that just come out with a clicḫ̩̉̉d excuse. What you do about such armchair fans though I don't know. To me, not going to the game when you could and instead watching on TV is like, I dunno, having your cock hard and your partner willing, but deciding to have a **** instead while reading an encyclopaedia article on human sexuality. Just devoid of any passion. However, I come from a mixed family of SAFC, Mags & Smogs. NONE of the Mags or Smogs ever go to their games, ever, although they follow all the results, and that's nothing to do with finances. Of SAFC, only I sit down, plan and go to games (hardly regularly as I live out of the country) with my brother and cousin coming along sometimes when I push them, but never going on their own. Unfortunately it seems that armchair (or pub) fans have always been around and always will :-(
I guess I just can't believe people would prefer to watch in a pub! I was proud to be a season ticket holder for the last five years of Roker and the first five of the SOL. Very good times on the whole. Unfortunately work and family commitments prevent me from going these days. I still miss it though.
I know we're all different, and i'd never say i'm 'more of a supporter' than someone who genuinely can't afford to go, has a family and mortgage to pay for etc, and for exiles for whom it just isn't practicle. Will i pull rank over some of the lads i know, who have money to burn and no commitments? ****ing right i will. I'm constantly on at people to get to the match, i should work for Quinny!
Easy years of dross, it will take a good few years to build up the future young uns, if he doesn't keep the success going, it will get even worse, his best options charge away supporters what we pay to get into their ground, slash the cost of family tickets, as the young ones are the future hard core increase capacity and drop Genuine supporters cost to 18 a ticket, sustained attendance breeds the need to watch, in these hard times a better plan is needed. give the unemployed producing evidence a 8 quid ticket, just because it is out of their range, they should not be deprived,
This has been raised many times and it's a subject which really annoys me! The fact that some people have the audacity to say if you don't go the game you are not a proper fan. Ludicrous. I had a season ticket for many year as did my dad but there is simply no way to afford it. When we get to a game which we try when we can. Its forty quid plus. Now that for example twice a month is about what my petrol costs are for a month. So I can't afford to all the time but I still want to watchy my bloody team as I am a bloody fan. So do t come on here with some blinkered view. On a side note The people who i know go to all the games are men living at home with no girlfriends and all they have o look forward to is Saturday. Which is quite sad really. Not a standard I know but something worth noting all the same
Did you even read the posts? We have defended people who can't afford it mate. I don't live at home with no girlfriend, i have a ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã1300 a month mortgage and another ÃÆââ¬Å¡Ãâã620 car finance, i also have a girlfriend who i live with, so by the same token you find it 'audacious and ludicrous' that people dare suggest some people stay away who COULD afford to go, i find it ludicrous that you think those of us who do go don't have other commitments. Everytime this comes up, we all say 'not referring to fans who genuinely don't have the money' etc, this is fair enough. Does a lad who has themoney, and chooses not to go, then have the right to question manager, players etc? That's open to debate in my eyes, not a supporter, more a follower.
He clearly points his finger at the supporters who go to the pub, spend 50 quid on drinks, then say they cant go to games cos they cant afford it. going to the pub is not cheaper than a ticket if you spend a fortune on drinks. He also clearly targetting the supporters in Sunderland who do this, so travel expenses dont come into it. I dont think he expects supporters in South of England, for example, to stop going to their local to watch the game.
