As I've decided against renewing my season ticket for the first time since I got one back in 1994, I don't intend to go to many home fixtures this year. Instead I've decided to be an away day supporter, and plan to get to most of the northern matches, and the odd one further afield. I will still make the odd home game - the derbies etc - but the last few seasons at Oakwell have took their toll on me. I used to love football for the joviality, the laugh with your mates, the banter, the singing, and of course the ale. And all those things are much better on away days. I'd given up on away trips a few years back, when the team would lose before a ball was even kicked. But under Hillcroft, we're as likely to get something away these days as we are at home. My planned fixtures this season: Rochdale (a) Blackburn (a) Leeds (a) Forest (h) Hull (a) Huddersfield (h) Bolton (a) Wednesday (h) Blackburn (h) Peterbro (a) but only if the terracing is still there on NYD Leeds (h) Blackpool (a) Boro (a) Wolves (h) Bolton (h) Burnley (a) Wednesday (a) Forest (a) Hull (h) Huddersfield (a) So that's 20 games this season, that I've marked down to attend. Of course, things may change. But one thing is certain - despite not renewing, I'll end up spending a lot more than I normally would on my club. Be interested to read what others plan to do this season, and would be more than happy to meet up with anyone travelling to the away games I've put down. Up the Reds etc.
i was going to say, 35ish with 3 games ive already been to but just had a luck and sep oct nov dec and jan all look decent apart from 2/3 games. cant wait, you reds. Keith Hills red and white army.
All the home games as I have a season ticket. If I was deciding on a match to match business I'd end up giving them all a miss. I really do enjoy the away days but unfortunately the match ruins it so I will be choosing carefully more based on the standard of pubs in the area. I'll be doing Rochdale, Bolton, Charlton, Palace, Millwall, Fowls and Huddersfield. Others will depend on how bad we are doing at the time. When we first came back up I was only missing one or two away games a season and I would take a day or half a day off to go to Colchester or Brentford. No chance of me doing that now. Partially due to the cost but mainly because we are so bleedin' awful to watch and we are even more negative away than we are at home.
I don’t really get this. I dosort of understand but deserting your club will hardly make away games more joyful when we have to bring in the likes of Callum Higgingbottom again as home crowds are even lower. So basically you’re prepared to fund opposition clubs rather than your own club? As an away team hardly see’s any of the money for an away game We can’t have a squad due to our home gates, fans turning there back on coming to Oakwell means it’s going to be more of a struggle to survive.
Like you I decided against renewing this year following last seasons desperate 2nd half of season slide & becoming totally disillusioned with lack of entertainment & the managers negativity/attacks on the fan base. This summers recruitment has so far been totally underwhelming & we are now apparently lining up yet more LOAN players which is a policy I just hate. Finally (end of rant appoaching) ...... I ain't paying £28 to watch a game of football at Oakwell. No chance, choose who they are playing against it's a complete and utter disgrace to ask fans to pay that much money for an hour and a halfs championship football. The maximum I'd pay is probably £20. And before anyone says anything I don't give a monkeys what any other clubs charge ..... So in answer to your question I probably won't go anymore which is pretty sad really after years and years of being a ticket holder. Probably cutting my nose off to spike my face but there ya go ..... I'm that hacked off with the way things have gone. I also fully expect us to be relegated by xmas and if we start with this squad we will be so I'm glad ain't hanging about to watch it happen.
Every home game plus around ten away games although Brighton won't be one of them this season. There are quite a few good Northern games this season so happy days.
Just through scanning the fixture list, I'm planning on 12 away games, and 8 at home. So I'm hardly deserting the club am I? I'll be spending more money than ever. If I pay £28 on 8 occasions at Oakwell, that's over £200. Then 12 away games at a similar price, and that's over £300. That's £500 in total, just on tickets. I live in Bradford, so there's travel to consider. And, funnily enough, I have a life, a relationship, employment to consider too. Football isn't everything, it really isn't. So as I say, I'll be spending more than I usually do. And to be called a deserter is frankly laughable. And don't give me the BFC ******** about it being 'our' fault (the fans) we can't attract quality players. If the club handled contracts/transfers in a better manner, we'd stand a better chance of either keeping quality players here, or getting a better fee for them should they leave. I'd also suggest, that if we did the above successfully, we'd have better gates. And we'd certainly have better gates if the club didn't endlessly fleece the few remaining supporters, by increasing ticket prices (whilst slashing budgets), and if they made a concerted effort to make coming to Oakwell an enjoyable day out, rather than a chore done out of habit. Btw, I haven't received even a letter from BFC, asking me why I haven't renewed after 18 years of doing so. So perhaps they couldn't care less.....?
Suggestion: Go to a few less away games, buy a season ticket and support our club financially not our local rivals?
Not aimed at you directly mate, but I must be mentally ill as the shitter we get, the more I want to go. Stronger together and all that.
I've supported our club financially by buying a season ticket for the last 18 years. And as I've stated, this season I'll be spending well over what I normally spend. I don't see how I'm supporting my local rivals financially. It just so happens that this year, we have 6 Yorkshire derbies, 8 if you include Hull City. So of course I'm going to attend those home and away. But living now where I do, it's easier - financially, and journey-wise - to go to say Burnley away, than it is Bristol at home. I'm not able to make many - if any - midweek games either. Unfortunately, I have a life and other things to consider. The club quite rightly spends what it can afford, and will do what it wants with any money received. Therefore, I'll do whatever I like with MY money, also. If this somehow makes me any less a supporter than season ticket holders then so be it. I was one for 18 years and never knew I was part of the 'cool kids'. Up the Reds etc etc.
Leeds and Weds at home, at the moment. About 10-15 away games, better day out and match day experience.
Do you have a match day rule? If we're more than 2 goals down at HT we sod off to the boozer? we had a right afternoon round Newcastle the other season. Proper fan.