Too Much Too Young

Too Much Too Young

The bloke in front of me at the ticket office window was shocked that his daughter now had to pay significantly more for her season ticket on turning 17, despite no change in her income. He was told that it was justified because “some 17-year-olds in Rochdale earn 40 grand a year”. Clearly this is absurd but it also shows that increasing the price for young supporters usually leaves parents to pick up the bill.

I’ve often thought that the pricing structure for young people at stadiums makes little sense. Lower-league football has the image of being an affordable alternative to the Premier League but from my own experience as a Rochdale fan, I know this isn’t always the case. The main issue is that once young people are deemed to no longer be a child, they are often expected to either pay the full adult admission or a significantly increased price. The BBC Price of Football study has shown that ticket prices are an obstacle to attending matches for 82 per cent of 18-24-year-olds. Clubs have spent a lot of effort over the years trying to appeal to families and children, only to lose a significant portion of support in their late teens and early 20s.

The logic seems to be that once you turn 16 or 18, everyone is equally capable of paying. This one-size-fits-all model is outdated. On my recent trip to Oldham’s Boundary Park, I wasn’t surprised to find that, as a 21-year-old, I would have to pay £24. With this article in mind, I thought I’d ask the price for a 16-year-old, too. “The same,” came the reply. This is unjustifiable. Young people are now required to stay in education until the age of 18 and even if they do have a part-time job, the minimum wage is just £4.05 per hour.