Quote Originally Posted by Monaco_Totty View Post
Why I complain ?
Well, I only complain when I feel there is a significant gap between an expectation & reality, football related as well, possibly why I campaigned for Disabled football supporters for several years raising issues rather than just 'scoffing' to folks who'd accept poor standards yet did nothing about it.

PL have a unanimous price level cap (£30) for away fans which will be reviewed in 2025, when it will have been in place for nine seasons thanks to fan pressure groups.

All PL clubs recognise the crucial importance of supporters in generating the best possible safe 'atmosphere at matches' & acknowledge the additional travel costs often involved when following a team away from home.

FA Cup has no such price cap in place & so does not acknowledge additional costs.
So an 'away fan' is not really an appropriate 'term' nowadays as supporters of Leeds Utd as an example come from all over the place in huge number using all mode of transport costs which often is paid up front, so can empty ones pockets very quickly.

Obviously your sentiments are agreed by most & obviously my current ST will be used by those currently approved & validated by the club under the specified scheme/terms for its use regardless - so yes, some fans out there will pay regardless of cost or inconvenience in these hard times, sadly not all genuine fans may I add.

Historically FA Cup away trips provide some of the greatest memories for travelling supporters.The 3,000 Stevenage fans that travelled to Villa Park will never forget their dramatic late third round win against Aston Villa - they are special trips for all travelling fans & a change from the week in League fixtures, just saying like.

Comments relating to our League 1 days of 2007/10 noted but I recall my often hefty payments for tickets standing on open terraces, sharing men's loo's with the only refreshments being unhygienic burger stalls at most away venues, back then ER offered far more to its visitors, again just saying like.

Of an age were I treasure my paper 'tickets-collections' going back to 1995 then I for one think it's a sad day now they've stopped but I understand why in the broader spectrum.
For once I wouldn't dispute anything you say about the away fans price cap in the PL (Shame there isn't the same in all leagues, it might boost attendances?), but the fact remains that both before we gained promotion to the PL and now, ER tickets have always been amongst the highest not only in their respective divisions at the time, but across divisions too (as I say, I remember paying Championship prices at ER when we were playing in League 1). Hardly a tactic to encourage attendance when facing lower league opposition as we did for years (and yes, we had huge crowds relatively speaking, but that no excuse for being rinsed by the club)

As to "facilities", at grounds, it was undoubtedly the case that some of the lower league grounds were "basis" in comparison to the ER of those times, however even they recognise the need for improvements, and despite their limited funds, they try to make them. Apart from the much-loved Bates East stand, ER has not kept up, and resembles the same ground today that I went to when first starting to follow the club back in the early 70's, the biggest difference being the seating, which (hopefully) will be consigned to history if the safe-standing trial is a success.