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As the global economic crisis deepens and purse strings tighten, the price of watching ‘the beautiful game’ has never been higher. With supporters up and down the country struggling to make ends meet and the Premiership’s high rollers buoyed by a lucrative television rights deal, supporters of Premier League clubs may well have expected a price freeze or perhaps a reduction on their already over inflated season-tickets. However, in the world of football, normal rules do not apply. And this summer, the vast majority of fans were hit by steep increases in ticket prices.

In the case of Premiership champions Manchester United, many fans now face ticket rises of up to 14%, nearly five times the rate of inflation. Fans sitting in the Upper tiers of the North Stand will now pay a staggering £836 to watch 19 Premier League games. Yet what is perhaps more scandalous, is the ‘automatic cup scheme’ policy implemented by owner Malcolm Glazer.

In addition to the 19 Premier League games, fans purchasing season-tickets are now obliged to purchase all tickets for cup competitions, regardless of their intention to watch the game. With United expected to reach the semi-final stage of the F.A. Cup, Carling Cup and Champions League, this could potentially add a remarkable £380 to the already extortionate price of a season-ticket.

With eight of the 20 Premier League sides now under foreign ownership, football clubs have become accessories to the businessman that now dominate English football. Of course, football clubs are far more expensive commodities to run than a fleet of Aston Martin in Monte Carlo and with the economy in meltdown, the owners are using supporter’s loyalty to supplement their already vast incomes.

Supporters of F.A. Cup winners’ Portsmouth have seen success come at a price, as the price of a season-ticket has risen by as much as 17.5%. Fans of Tottenham Hotspur, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan have also seen prices soar by 12.9%, 10.7% and 10% respectively. Meanwhile Sunderland have increased prices by between 8 and 12%, Aston Villa 7%, whilst West Ham, Middlesbrough and Manchester City have increased by less than 4%.


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With a £625 million television deal in place, English football has never been richer. The winners of this year’s Premiership will rake in £50million, in comparison to the £26million earned by the club finishing in 20th place. With this in mind it appears only greed can justify the disgusting hike in ticket prices. English football is famed for its ability to attract massive crowds, with capacity crowds taken for granted up and down the country.

But football is becoming an expense, a luxury, which in the current economic climate is now being dispensed of. The likes of Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan and Middlesbrough have all witnessed half-empty stadiums on a regular basis this season. Yet, it’s not just the Premier League’s smaller clubs who are voting with their feet, Newcastle United’s average attendance is over 4,000 less than last season. Sunderland are also 3010 down on last season’s figure. And at Old Trafford Manchester United have failed to sell out any home Premier League fixture this season.

Dating back to the very origins of the game, football has been a working-class sport. But as more and more money is injected, like a drug into the veins of the sport loved by so many, more and more working-class men and women are being priced out of the game. So only time will tell whether football will become a sport exclusive to the upper classes or whether the supporters can claw back the game from the hands of the money men who are tainting our ‘beautiful game.’

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Preston North End have announced a 2.5% cut in ticket prices, reflecting the VAT cut across the country this week.

The cut in prices will apply to ‘half-season’ tickets, whereby supporters purchase tickets for just 50% of the games, a popular choice in the current financial climate.

The VAT cuts will also cover replica kits on sale in the club shop, bringing the price of a men’s home shirt to £43.

Preston North end supporter Alan Smith, 23, was delighted with the news: “I’m delighted the club’s acknowledged the current economic climate. 2.5% isn’t much, but over the course of the season I think it will be a big help, especially with Christmas just around the corner.”

But some supporters are still not happy, John Bryson a season-ticket holder in the Bill Shankly Kop added: “2.5% is nothing, its loose change. It’s just a gimmick, which makes the club look as if there helping the fans, when really it’s just a pittance.”

The majority of fans appear to have been encouraged by the discounts, with fans queuing as early as 4am this morning for tickets for Tuesday night’s game against Doncaster.

Those attending the Doncaster fixture are guaranteed a ticket for the F.A. Cup Third Round visit of Liverpool.

Several North-West clubs have followed suit, with Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers all announcing cuts in ticket prices.

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Tendulkar Landmark

Already established as one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game, Sachin Tendulkar today surpassed Brian Lara as the highest test-run scorer of all time. Tendulkar is already the highest-run scorer of all-time in the one-day game, marking him out as arguably the greatest batsman to have ever graced the game of cricket. The fact that he managed to eclipse Lara's record against Australia, was fitting given the dominance of Australia during Tendulkar's career. Some may argue that the late, great Donald Bradman was the greatest batsman of all time but statistically there can be no arguement, Tendulkar is the greatest.

Money the root of all evil

As the England squad look ahead to the forthcoming Stanford 20/20 series, it will be interesting to watch the knock-on effect of such substantial amounts of cash being injected into the game. Of course the England players are already well paid with central contracts subsidised by various sponsorship deals and other commercial work. But in comparison with their footballing adversaries they are mere paupers in comparison. Now England's finest cricketers find themselves just 20 overs from a life-changing $1million windfall. But as we've seen from football, money can often have a negative effect. The vast sums of money paid to elite Premiership footballers has played a massive part in the significant increase in ticket prices at Premiership grounds. Should England defeat the West Indies in this one-off extravaganza the money they are paid by their counties and by England will pale into insignificance. Will the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff begin to question the money they are paid by the ECB?? Where does the next buzz come from, the next big payday? English players have so far been restricted in their participation in the IPL, which has seen players earn previously unheard of sums of money. Will England's leading players turn their backs on the countries in search of more money? As much as the Stanford 20/20 promises to be an enthralling spectacle, the knock-on effects could be disastrous for the game of cricket as a whole.