Veteran Brentford supporter, Larry Signy, shares his personal thoughts on the Celtic friendly debate. I’m sure the club didn’t expect this kind of flack when it originally arranged the fixture with the Scottish champions, but it just goes to show you the damage poor communication and consultation can cause… anyway, here’s Larry’s thoughts on the matter.
I’m glad that Brentford FC have apparently had a re-think and changed the plans for the Celtic game in direct response to its fans’ protests – even though its announcement was hidden away fairly quickly on the official site (I had to find out from the GPG rather than from BFC). Fan take-up of tickets is still low however.
When I first read about the original arrangements for the game I was very annoyed – not because of the opposition, not whether their shirts were green or blue, not at the fact that we appeared to be paying them for giving us ‘the privilege’ of playing against them – no, the reason I was so upset was that it seemed to me that the club was treating us loyal fans as money machines… customers simply there to help boost its (and Celtic’s) coffers. I hated being thought of in that way… they had ignored our traditions and match-day habits completely and expected us to sit down and shut up… but from behind the Wendy House end!
Like most fans, I presume, I simply want to be a part of a club family, sharing a joint experience of watching a good game of football played in a sporting spirit. I hope that from now on the club will remember that and not treat us (again) as simply seat-filling fodder. Like all fans I do not want to be a ‘customer’ or a ‘client’ or a ‘consumer’. I am NOT just a piece of data to be put on a database. I am a fan.
Unlike customers of ‘normal’ businesses, who can switch from, say, Tesco to Sainsbury and back as the whim of the moment (or the free offers) takes them, fans just can’t move from one club to another. By and large, we are stuck for life. Luckily the club seems to have realised that – for now – but from what I hear the u-turn had to be requested from the highest level, it was not instigated from the commercial department.
We know the club is a business and I appreciate that money has now, unfortunately, got a big (too big) part to play in the running of my club, but I would hope that does not mean it will go the way of the cash-making machines at the top of the so-called scale – the fans there simply to be used to boost the finances of an international corporation. I hope Brentford FC stays what it is – a club – there for the fans. Real Football For Real Fans is its matchday programme motto after all.
For most fans, I believe, there are things we would probably like – a Rolls Royce (actually, a Roller wouldn’t fit in my garage, but you know what I mean) or a 50-bedroomed mansion (I’d never find my way down for the corn flakes if I had one) – but I know what I can afford, and I am happy with what I have. It might mean I am just a small, non-influential individual – but with friends of the same financial level – so be it.
I would like Brentford to be the same – living within its means to keep us fans happy without asking us to repeatedly dig into our pockets for extra cash. If that means we stay a small, third or fourth tier club – well so what… I’d rather that than go bust like Portsmouth did, and QPR will do in the not too distant future.
Larry Signy
Whether you agree or disagree with what Larry has to say, please add your own comments below by posting a reply.
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Good piece Larry, However as a Celtic season ticket holder, I would like my team to go a step further and waive their request for a fee altogether, making ticket prices a reasonable amount for a pre-season friendly – Perhaps with a percentage of the takings going to joint Charities ?
As you point out, We football fans cannot just change our loyalties & support another club, as a Celtic fan we have to endure higher Away ticket prices at every Scottish ground as every team raises it`s ticket price when we visit – do think, because I support a “bigger” team, I can afford to pay more ?? But as a loyal fan we pay up anyway !
You have our support Bees & remember,as Celtic`s greatest ever manager once said ” Football without fans is nothing”
Hail Hail, Doc
I’m a Celtic fan who totally agrees with your comments, don’t treat fans like commodities and live within your means. I’d also like to say it’s only right that Bees fans get access to a greater number of tickets for the match, perhaps they should only have been made available to Bees fans, section by section of the ground, until demand had been satisfied (obviously, with a reasonable shut-off point to allow travelling fans to make ticket enquiries and travel plans ) I don’t think any fellow Celtic fans would regard that as unfair. Good luck, Hail Hail
I’m a Celtic fan and would like to congratulate the Brentford supporters for standing up for themselves in what looked to me to be a simple case of your board treating you as second class supporters.
Agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the way clubs treat fans. But at the end of the day though Brentford will make some good money out of this ,as i dont think people down south really realise the size of the Celtic support .I think they think we are size wise on a par with a Villa or a Newcastle…were not …we’re far bigger than that. This game from an away fan point of view will sell out. Also i do think Celtic should waive their fee,and just use the game as it should be used for….to gain vital pre season fitness.