Seriously, why would people bother to find an excuse not to go? Just read the thread where someone compared last seasons attendances to this. 1000 supporters don't just suddenly stop going and look for excuses why. Those who say this, wake up! Face it, the price of football is becoming unbearably high in towns like Barnsley where the economy is going the opposite direction. Common sense! Of course attendances are dropping! It's not cos people are lazy and they suddenly see going to Oakwell as a chore. It's cos they simply can't afford it. Black and white. Don Rowing needs to get his head out the sand and stop talking out of the only orifice still above ground. Reasonable prices please mate. Eg get it back to 23 quid! Oh, and stop being in competition with Poundland when it comes to selling our best players
Thoughtful thread, AR. I think you are right. Thing is though, when you make people think about the price, other considerations do impact upon the total picture. In my case, ahrhthritis. I dare say that if I believed what was happening at the Well was likely to be sustainable [and Hillflicker deserve enormous credit in that regard] I might overcome the discomfort. But price/sale of the century/discomfort all compound to dissuade me from going at the moment. On a different tack, how good is your native kinsman Peter Goodlad? A legend of local league football, surely?
pete was down our way on sunday, played the local team. they had some tussles when my mates used to play em, and ryhill gave as good as they got.
His plans of taking the Rec to semi pro league football were nearly scuppered when some idiots stole the wiring for the stadiums floodlights. Luckily, he managed to sort it though. So hopefully it'll be Barnsley v Athersley Rec 3rd round of the FA Cup in a few years time! Haha
I have to agree with that. I think people had reasons before not to go but still did, then when the prices went up it just pushed them over the edge made them decide not to go. It is a great shame. Should just be one fixed price all season, and around the £23 mark like before.
Hmm, I get what you're saying, and I think form many people it really is a big issue, but for many more there are other factors at play. I know guys at work who'v been ST holders for years, but who stopped last summer. Reasons included the (perceived) lack of effort in the 2nd half of the last couple of seasons, lack of atmposphere at Oakwell, inability to relate to football like they used to, appointment of a lower league manager, handling of the Robins sacking... all sorts. In many cases it was something that had built over a few years, but came to a head in the summer. A second point - and I don't know how widely spready this is - but I live in Barnsley, and it takes no effort for me to attend every match. My Dad on the other hand, travels over 100 miles each way, and his view is that it doesn't matter if it's £20, £25 or £30, because he pays £30-£40 petrol very time anyway. He just wants to be entertained for the effort, and having convinced him (just) to stick with it in the summer, he's currently pleased that he did. The question is: how do we as regulars, and the club, convince these people that coming back would be worth their while? Cheaper tickets would most certainly help, but it's not the full picture...
It is a shame when the supporters get so disillusioned by things that they stop going. It's an even bigger shame when the loyal ones who unconditionally want to go to every game get priced out. It's like a kick in the teeth. It's like Vaz Te when he went to West Ham, "Cheers for everything, but, you know.. The dollar signs!"
