The Manchester clubs fared well in the BBC's latest look at "the price of football"

The best of a bad bunch: The Manchester clubs fared well in the BBC’s latest look at “the price of football”

A study conducted by the BBC on the “Price of Football” has found that whilst the majority of matchday tickets have been reduced or frozen, young adults still feel priced out of football.

The study found that although the majority of clubs, over all four divisions, offer young adults lower ticket prices, 55% still thought that prices were too high with only 26% attending a match in the last month.

Price of Foootball
Infogram

When asked about the struggles of young football fans, Dr Rachel Andrew, a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in young people, said: “Most young people are just making alternative choices. So no doubt there will be some individuals that get into debt to carry on supporting their club to the full but i think other young people are just choosing not to buy into that.”

price of football — Penalty for Salford’s University football team

“I think football is so important, I think there’s two different things, I think a lot of young people talk about that sense of being part of a team as well as getting regular exercise but feeling that they’re still supported and achieving within a team.

“A lot of young people would tell me how important that is for their emotional health a well as the physical health benefits.

“I think in terms of watching a game as well, I think there’s a real sense of identity within supporting a football team and going to a game and having that sense of belonging and excitement.”

Of the top six clubs in the Premier League, Manchester United offer the best price breakdown, this included discounted priced to under 16’s, 16-18’s and 18-20’s. City, however, offered last season’s fourth cheapest season ticket, priced at £299. But the view is that this is still not enough as can be seen in the poll below:

Do you feel priced out of football? #sport #Students #football #PremierLeague #EFL

— Daniel George (@DanGeorge1_) November 16, 2017

Of all the local clubs in the Manchester area, as would be expected, the Premier League clubs top the price list. But in comparison to the lower league club’s, considering the disparity in actual football quality the gap in cost is much closer than you might expect:

The disparity in season ticket prices (infogram)

BBC Journalist Conor McNamara presented the study on the price of football this morning in a Facebook Live interview that included Arsenal and England’s Alex Scott, Dr. Rachel Andrew and two Salford students.

In an interview afterwards, Mr. McNamara said: “If you say they (Premier League clubs) are making so much money that they don’t need the fans why are the charging so much? Fine. But then you’re devaluing the importance of the spectators which do create the atmosphere and are part of the game.

“I think the new ruling on the £30 ticket I think is certainly a step in the right direction, i know a lot of football supporters federations want the cap to be even lower, down to £20 or there about. But, at least these conversations are taking place.

“I think it’s easy to slam the cost of football but at least strides are being made and for the third year in a row now, prices have either frozen or reduced. At least it shows it’s not going the other way.”