20’s plenty

With the cost of watching football rising, we look at the Football Supporters’ Federation’s campaign for cheaper tickets for away fans.

The cost of watching football has been in the news recently, especially with Liverpool fans’ walk-out in the 77th minute of their match last weekend against Sunderland. The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF), to which the Dons Trust is affiliated, has a long-running “20’s Plenty” campaign that is also now attracting increased media attention.

The campaign calls on football clubs at all levels of the game to “recognise and reward the amazing contribution of away fans” by agreeing an across-the-board cap on away match ticket prices of £20 (and £15 for concessions). Although it is aimed mainly at Premier League clubs, the campaign is also targeting Football League clubs whose prices for away fans are above £20. (AFC Wimbledon does not fall into this category!)

The FSF say: “Watching live football is becoming more and more expensive and, in the current financial climate, many fans are finding it harder to afford. Increases in the cost of fuel and rail fares make travelling away particularly expensive. Lower prices would help make football more affordable for those on low wages, children, students and OAPs. Football must act now to make sure it doesn’t lose the next generation of match-going fans.

“Away fans are the beating heart of football, the hardcore. Travelling supporters bring colour and atmosphere to grounds, spend the most money watching their teams, and make the most effort to support their clubs. The away fan should not be taken for granted.”

The campaign has already resulted in reduced ticket prices for fans at Coventry City, Barnsley, Bradford City and Doncaster Rovers, and more than 12,000 fans from around the country signed a petition supporting the campaign.

The Dons Trust is affiliated to the FSF, but individual supporters can also join, lending weight to their campaigns.

The FSF are also campaigning on the issue of safe standing, which could be of interest to Dons fans with our new stadium on the horizon. The Dons Trust plans to consult about this more in coming months.

 

This article originally appeared in the matchday programme for the game against Luton Town, played on February 13, 2016.