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Affordable football at FC United (PART 1)

Affordable football at FC United (PART 1)As the new season approaches we reflect on how the club manages to maintain its principled commitment to affordable football whilst competing at a higher level of football and striving, wherever possible, to do things differently.

As the new season approaches we reflect on how the club manages to maintain its principled commitment to affordable football whilst competing at a higher level of football and striving, wherever possible, to do things differently. And what we can all do to help.

In ensuring we continue to make admission prices as affordable as possible, as set out in our core principles, our pay on the gate prices for the 2016-17 season remain one of lowest in league at £9 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for under 18s. In addition, we are once again offering “pay what you can afford??? season tickets.

With the minimum price of an adult season ticket set deliberately very low at £100 this aims to give as many as possible the opportunity to attend and enjoy live football. Importantly, this pioneering initiative also gives those who may not be able to attend every match of the season the opportunity to assist the club financially by guaranteeing income before the season starts.

First introduced for the 2009/10 season, our “pay what you can afford??? season ticket initiative was designed in the hope that those who can afford to do so will choose to pay a bit more, thus subsidising those who are unable to pay more. That is why we suggested a donation of £60, on top of the £100 ticket price so that we raise at least £160 from each ticket sold; equivalent to an entry price of just £7.62 per match.

How do our admission prices compare with other clubs in our league?

It’s pleasing to discover that newly promoted Salford City have kept their admission prices at £7 for adults with season tickets priced at just £100 and Gainsborough Trinity have followed our lead by offering a “pay what you can afford??? season ticket initiative too.

Many clubs offer early bird discounted season tickets for a limited period but at FC United the prices are the same whether you buy your ticket in May or August and season tickets (if still available) continue to be on sale throughout the season.

For the coming season Altrincham’s highest priced season tickets are £290, Stockport County £285, and both Tamworth and Kidderminster are charging £270 for seating season tickets. Most of the other teams price season tickets in the £175 to £215 range.

There is always a temptation when setting admission prices for clubs to look at what other clubs are charging either in the same league or in the league above and price accordingly. But if you start with the over-inflated prices charged at Premier League clubs and work down, it’s hardly surprising that by the time you get to non-league, some admission prices appear to be ridiculously high. Tranmere Rovers, for instance, who play just one division above FC United are charging £380 for a season ticket in their main stand for the new season.

How other clubs decide on their admission prices is solely down to them of course but the key concerns will be to maintain financial stability, cover operational costs and invest in playing staff to meet their own footballing ambitions. To further boost their revenue almost all other clubs have a sponsor’s logo splashed across their shirts and many choose to sell the naming rights to their ground or to particular stands. In addition many clubs benefit from the investment of wealthy owners.



BUT AT FC UNITED WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY

So how can FC United compete with clubs in our league whilst remaining true to our founding principles?

Find out in PART 2 of this article to be published on the website tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you have yet to buy or renew your Season Ticket for the new season, please consider doing so at the earliest convenience.

BUY YOUR SEASON TICKET HERE

Likewise please don’t forget to buy or renew your membership for the new season. The health of this football club rests on its members playing an active role in all aspects of the running of the club; asking questions of the board and ensuring that the club, in everything it does, remains true to its founding principles.

FC United’s one member one vote democracy means that membership offers the opportunity for us all to have our say in the running of our football club.

Membership is £12 for adults and £3 for juniors under the age of 16 and the membership year runs from 1st July 2016 to 30th June 2017.

BUY MEMBERSHIP HERE



First Posted ~ 12:16 Tue 19 Jul 2016
News ID ~ 6927
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021