[Football] Stop Exploiting Loyalty - FSA Campaign

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I’m not saying make anything cheaper?

I am suggesting it’s unreasonable to not accolade something I am already paying for, to something I actually use, which happens to also be officially affiliated with club in the same field.

It’s not going to stop me going but it will have a knock on to what I spend as a result, particularly with two kid season tickets as well.

I believe you drive to games? So equally why couldn’t your annual travel subsidy be transferred to a couple (would have been 3 last year but that’s another matter!) of parking spaces per season as a credit instead of the train cost you are bearing but not using?

Probably because even thinking about this is going to cost money.

(As part of that, I am not following what you are suggesting; it sounds quite complicated and would require a subsidised travel membership allocation transfer scheme, which would be unavailable to those without smart phones - those most likely to benefit from such an arrangement)

(Also I am unfamiliar with the verb 'to accolade')

My point was that I don't see any reason to beat our club up over they way they operate. There is no need for a 'town hall meeting' over everything. We are watching elite football now, where there is high customer demand.

However, of course, NSC is the place for the conversation. I have probably said all I have to say on this that is useful (and that's not a great deal, I agree).

 

[fork me]

You’ve got a better memory than me. I don’t remember the free travel for Withdean. However my memory could have been clouded by the fact I lived within walking distance of the ground and passed several pubs on both journeys, and it would be rude not to stop off for a couple of pre and post match pints.

Definitely free travel to Withdean, I remember it well.

 

[South East Seagull]

Its the wrong decision. Fans came to our aid when we needed them and we should do the same.

Like with any campaign or movement, it simply doesn't work if only those being mistreated use their voice. There's a reason why clubs feel the need to do a campaign across clubs and fanbases - because what they've been doing so far hasn't been working. They've been forced to turn to us for help and we've turned our backs on them.

Posting on social media won't do anything, no one will take any interest. The idea that we would get backlash from the media - who cares? Do we only act on an injustice if it benefits us? So what if the boys on 606 don't understand? Do we care more about our media image than fans who are having their clubs ruined by money men? For those worried it'd be a slap in the face to the higher ups at the Albion - the club are across all the socials, and can easily be told this is not aimed at you, we just need to make a stand for the good of football, and fans around the country.

I'm yet to hear a good reason as to why we shouldn't join in with this. Seems to just be a case of looking after ourselves and our own reputation. Its the wrong decision and should be rectified.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Probably because even thinking about this is going to cost money.

(As part of that, I am not following what you are suggesting; it sounds quite complicated and would require a subsidised travel membership allocation transfer scheme, which would be unavailable to those without smart phones - those most likely to benefit from such an arrangement)

(Also I am unfamiliar with the verb 'to accolade')

My point was that I don't see any reason to beat our club up over they way they operate. There is no need for a 'town hall meeting' over everything. We are watching elite football now, where there is high customer demand.

However, of course, NSC is the place for the conversation. I have probably said all I have to say on this that is useful (and that's not a great deal, I agree).

Understood.

From what I understand the subsidy was in place before I started using ST and it was withdrawn for some reason. I’m not 100% but think there was a challenge from other coach companies and it was ironically removed under fairness rather than an admin / cost constraints

 

[MTSeagulls]

I think we should be supporting this, and a sign of solidarity with other clubs. It’s correct we don’t have this problem to the extent other clubs do, so the banner is probably the sticking point. Couldn’t we come up with a banner that suits our way of supporting this? I do appreciate you’ll support this in other ways, but the more visible the better….Isn’t our banner something like “If we can do it - so can you“…

Easy solution, get Ipswich fans to create the banner. No one will know who is being pointed at.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

£30 for an away ticket is probably the best value thing I buy out of my wages. That sort of cap on Euro tickets is where we need to go to avoid the piss take at Villa in the Champions League. The problem is though, despite the 80 quid plus a ticket. it sold out long before it got to our equivalent of purchase history for the Bayern game

All the time people pay it, prices will go up.

As for us, it would be the wrong decision to display that banner which would be misinterpreted by the masses. There's an argument that we could display one which has solidarity but is not critical of our club.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Not sure where the £5 travel fee figure comes from. Removal of the free travel zone would add about £25 to the costs of getting to a game. That's effectively adding another season ticket to the cost of football for me. Would have to reconsider if I could still afford to go, or if I did still go drastically reduce my match day spend within the stadium etc. I'm sure many others would find themselves in a similar situation.

Never used the free travel zone as live outside it. That means my three ST's I pay for, has paid for others to get there for "free". I have always had to pay. I'd much prefer my ST was cheaper and the others truly pay the cost of their travel. Those saying they will have to take a rain check on it, many of us no other choice. Bohooooooooo

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Never used the free travel zone as live outside it. That means my three ST's I pay for, has paid for others to get there for "free". I have always had to pay. I'd much prefer my ST was cheaper and the others truly pay the cost of their travel. Those saying they will have to take a rain check on it, many of us no other choice. Bohooooooooo

Surely you’d only pay to where the travel zone starts and then use the free travel zone to cover the remainder of your journey. Assuming you travel on public transport to matches?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Surely you’d only pay to where the travel zone starts and then use the free travel zone to cover the remainder of your journey. Assuming you travel on public transport to matches?

No the bias of the travel zones towards the east make my journey far too expensive. I drive and pay to park privately far cheaper.

When people say that the removal of the subsidised travel will add £xx to their costs, maybe they need to reflect that it's their fellow supporters they have given them that benefit for years.

 

[HeaviestTed]

I’ve been thinking about this protest thing and it feels like a bit of a waste of time in that the PL clubs will do whatever they want anyway (Man City owners can and do whatever they want with impunity it seems).

It this new football regulator thing is brought in then a petition to them signed by as many fans as possible will have more impact.

Other direct action such as a protest on spending any money at the stadium for one match would have much more of an effect than holding up signs. Imagine if no one bought a single burger one week at the Amex or if no one bought anything from the Man City club shop, not one beer, not one <insert food item that they sell>.

So two things - petition the football regulator with specific points, and go on spending strike on a match day.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I took that as p&r fee or train ticket from Brighton to Falmer.
Obviously others will live further a field as I do it cost me £20 a time to get to the Amex.
There was no free travel to Withers or the Gdstone and we all managed to get to the game if we wanted to.

Yes, yes there was

*edit* I currently use an old Way To Withdean leaflet as a bookmark. Here's a memory-jogger re free travel zones

 

[BBassic]

All the time people pay it, prices will go up.

Is pretty much where I stand on it.

Fans get charged more and more and more because people will pay it. If it's too expensive for me, someone else will step in and pay.

This isn't just a football thing either. Look at the furore over the cost of Oasis tickets. Streaming services continually putting their prices up. Video games now cost £50-£70 for a digital license essentially meaning you don't even own the thing you're buying.

Clubs, streaming companies, games publishers etc etc will keep raising prices until people start to vote with their wallets and say "no more".

But we won't because we don't want to miss out.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Easy solution, get Ipswich fans to create the banner. No one will know who is being pointed at.

 

[Doonhamer7]

I understand the decision but disagree because we need to stand with all the other clubs who aren’t in as good a position

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I understand the decision but disagree because we need to stand with all the other clubs who aren’t in as good a position

Couldn't we accept the offer of a banner from the FSA then customise it along the lines of 'Brighton Fans Show Solidarity With The FSA In Their Campaign'

 

[Talby]

Whilst our present is very different from our recent past I feel not supporting this campaign does not align to our Build a Bonfire & Fans United story, which was a campaign/fight about greed & exploitation of fans (emotionally in particular).

Yes, we are now a well run club and our owner is a fan but we are a business in the top flight football, in a League with a group of clubs that has huge sway over other parts of the Football League.

Day to day the club is run by a CEO, who is not a BHAFC fan and the Club has a very different feel to it in term of engagement and culture. Not all of our publicity is favourable and the majority of decisions that affect fans are made with little to no fan engagement.

And anyone dismissing the concerns of Newcastle or Man City fans on the basis of their owners is hopefully not assuming all Geordies and Mancunians are rich.

Local, lifetime, STHs do not pay the bills. TV does. Same with Corporate, Sponsorship etc. Our seats are of more value to the thousands of overseas fans that the club could bring in for each match, at a premium.

Decisions are made but on this issue I think it’s short sighted. The EFL work with the FSA, but the Premier League work with no one (unless it financially benefits them).

Our recent history and the support we had from across the football league shouldn’t be forgotten.

Mr Barber won’t like it, but then again he doesn’t believe we need an FAB.

Yes we’re doing well on and off the field but, scratch the surface, and there’s a well oiled machine there that isn’t emotional, apologetic, reflective or for the turning.

We’re better, but not better than this.

 

[Oh_aye]

Couldn't we accept the offer of a banner from the FSA then customise it along the lines of 'Brighton Fans Show Solidarity With The FSA In Their Campaign'

Catchy!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Its the wrong decision. Fans came to our aid when we needed them and we should do the same.

Like with any campaign or movement, it simply doesn't work if only those being mistreated use their voice. There's a reason why clubs feel the need to do a campaign across clubs and fanbases - because what they've been doing so far hasn't been working. They've been forced to turn to us for help and we've turned our backs on them.

Posting on social media won't do anything, no one will take any interest. The idea that we would get backlash from the media - who cares? Do we only act on an injustice if it benefits us? So what if the boys on 606 don't understand? Do we care more about our media image than fans who are having their clubs ruined by money men? For those worried it'd be a slap in the face to the higher ups at the Albion - the club are across all the socials, and can easily be told this is not aimed at you, we just need to make a stand for the good of football, and fans around the country.

I'm yet to hear a good reason as to why we shouldn't join in with this. Seems to just be a case of looking after ourselves and our own reputation. Its the wrong decision and should be rectified.

Yep. As I said in post #2, with the right wording, a banner of support can be made.

It is the wording that was proposed that was wrong.

Sometimes I'm baffled at how poorly well-meaning folk assemble their action plans. There are always ways around psychic 'health and safety' and reputational issues. It really isn't complicated. But as soon as the tooth suckers get involved, it is dead.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Catchy!

Needs some work

 

[Munkfish]

Definitely free travel to Withdean, I remember it well.

There were two travel vouchers on the ticket if I remember rightly.