Supporteing the game.

[LemonadePudding]

So, I have been having a few discussions/arguments about this recently. Does being a football supporter go beyond just supporting a team? Now, I’m not going to whinge on about people who don’t go to see their team as football in this country is expensive, and although we’d all like too not everyone can sacrifice all their cash for a trip to every game. However, my brother and I support a Shrewsbury Town youth player with a lump sum, which is a really rewarding thing to be involved in as he knows us personally and is very grateful as he’s so far from home. Also we helped raise money for the club over Christmas by helping sell on raffle tickets, £10,000 was raised which is a lot for the club at this time.

But my point is this, do you feel you need to do something for youre club? Do you feel football needs your help (probably not the Premiership?) when so many clubs are run so badly into debt? Does a fans obligation to their club stop at the turnstile?

[AngryPaul]

But my point is this, do you feel you need to do something for you’re club? Do you feel football needs your help (probably not the Premiership?) when so many clubs are run so badly into debt? Does a fans obligation to his club stop at the turnstile?A very good topic to bring up. We are seeing attendances drop and atmospheres lack in top-tier football and even in the Championship. Yet, the lower leagues are quite jovial and noisy.

I have found that with Bristol City, as the ticket prices go up, fans seem to expect more for their money. Last season in League One, we were paying, on average, in the region of £17 a home game to see City. This season in the Championship, we are looking at around £26 a game. 18 home games a season + £9 more = £162 more a season. If the team isn't playing entertaining football or winning then the crowd go rather quiet at Ashton Gate and even though we played Boro the other day, we only got 15,500-ish in a 21,000 stadium. I think this is due to some people being priced out of the games and the people that do go are not so much football fans but are looking for value for money.

I'm getting a little off of your topic, but its about what the fans and a club can do working together, but with ticket prices it seems to be a battle.

However, it is relelvant I promise. Clubs have started schemes for fans to create more atmosphere. This then gives power to the fans. They can create an atmosphere to spur ont he home team and intimidate the away team, as opposed to sitting there with their arms crossed. Ashton Gate has always had a little corner where people go to sing, mainly for the good acoustics, and these fans are loved by the rest. They even bring drums in and even though some people hate them, they do help gee up the people sat on their hands.

In terms of financial support, City have been lucky as we've had a multi-multi-millionaire chairman. And while he hasn't been spending those millions on shopping sprees, we are very financially stable. We are setup in a very sensible manner. City have never expected to be promoted in financial terms, so when it didn't happen for 4 years we still survived and when we went up we found the extra money was a nice bonus as opposed to something we desperately needed. In terms of fans, City do have ways of supporting young players as you can sponsor them for the season and, well they used to, you could be their kit or boot sponser. This used to be a mix of small local businesses and individuals. You wouldn't get your name on their socks, but you would be helping them get along as the young players outside the Premiership are still paid small wages.

I've never seen anything like you're obviously doing by litereally giving money to players, but I think it a great idea at lower league level where money isn't quite as abundant as the Premiership.