Admission charges

[Plain Peter]

One thing's for sure, someone surviving on JSA wouldn't be going to Burton tomorrow.

Nor any OAPs or students.

[Keith]

How do I know this? I'm training to be an adviser myself and it's amazing how many preconceptions I had about Jobcentres based on my own experiences as a 'customer' have been blown out of the water after just 3 weeks on the other side.

Then hopefully you'll be making it known to the management that they are failing to get across to the people who use their services, how best to use their services? If the only way to find out how the system works is to get a job at a Job Centre, it's going to remain a pretty inefficient service.

...Disability hasn't risen massively, sure there are a few more people too fat to climb the stairs, but all in a large part its a corrupt and fraudulent system that needs smashing.

Ooh, Mr Posh in Daily Mail reading scandal!

The government are already "smashing" benefits to disabled people and 'getting tough' on all but those disabled people "with the greatest needs" (that's all of them then).

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 28741.html

Yet the government itself discriminates against disabled people by paying them a third less than non-disabled people. So according to this government, if you are disabled you should be forced to take a job that pays a third less than your colleagues for doing the same thing or your benefits are stopped? Oh, and no mention of the fact that prospective employers discriminate, making it harder to get that job in the first place?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 70703.html

Still, good job it only affects people who are 'too fat to get upstairs' eh Mr Dacre?

Back to the original question, I wonder if Uncle Ken Parker has been overwhelmed with offers from people wanting to sell 'You've Got Balls' tickets before the game? Unemployed people can get in to the game for free and contribute something to the club. If they are worried about their benefits being affected, I'm sure they could negotiate with Ken to not get paid but get a programme, pie & peas instead? That would be better for the club than a price reduction.

[Gnasher]

One thing's for sure, someone surviving on JSA wouldn't be going to Burton tomorrow.

Nor any OAPs or students.

Surviving on JSA meant just that, just having £65/week to live off. I know some students and OAPs that will be at Burton, there's even a JSA that will be there if they can. That's the point, just because they are in receipt of a government handout doesn't mean they're skint. The reverse can also be true, someone can be skint but not getting any government help.

[heysham_mfc]

One thing's for sure, someone surviving on JSA wouldn't be going to Burton tomorrow.

Nor any OAPs or students.

Surviving on JSA meant just that, just having £65/week to live off. I know some students and OAPs that will be at Burton, there's even a JSA that will be there if they can. That's the point, just because they are in receipt of a government handout doesn't mean they're skint. The reverse can also be true, someone can be skint but not getting any government help.

I know some student that will be at Burton today

[marky]

Then hopefully you'll be making it known to the management that they are failing to get across to the people who use their services, how best to use their services? If the only way to find out how the system works is to get a job at a Job Centre, it's going to remain a pretty inefficient service.

Perhaps not after just 3 weeks However, there are certain things that I have picked up on which, if upgraded/changed, I believe would improve the service we provide. The system we use to store customer records, do job searches, etc is 16 years old and unbelievably antiquated, for example. One positive change we're making in our office is doubling the amount of time customers will spend with the signers to enable them to do job searches. Whether this is being rolled out nationwide I cannot say, but it will certainly benefit the residents of Gateshead

[Pandalus Paddockus]

Post removed by author :

[Christies Child]

..sincerely hope you get back onto the road to financial recovery very soon.

[mrpotatohead]

CC can you explain why you are championing price reductions for people on benefits in a post you started.

When the stowford press posted a complaint about expensive pre season friendlies you , quote, said the prices were good, VALUE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT, your words, so what is your proposed stand, coz if, looking at your pre season posts we should rip people off at friendlys, then let the people on benefits in cheap on league 2 match days, taking the mick out of early bird season ticket customers by the way

[heysham_mfc]

if we play like we did today the club should pay US to come and watch

[Gnasher]

I've worked in various areas of the UK with high unemployment rates, from Mardi in S Wales with 80% unemployed to parts of the UK selected for Employment Zone special treatment. Someone didn't attend an interview because it was raining? Give them an umbrella. No transport to get them to an interview? Buy them a bike. No suit for an interview? Give them a voucher for the tailors down the road. They could do that because they weren't Job Centres who have strict limits as to what they can and can't do for someone.

A lot will change on October 1st with the arrival of FND

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/wha ... -new-deal/

I'd like to hear from someone who has to survive on benefits and what MFC can do to help them get to a game.

[marky]

Not a lot of people know this, but people on Jobcentre Plus benefits can pop into their local Jobcentre to get money for interview travel costs, suits for interviews, etc. It's called the Adviser Discretionary Fund. At Gateshead we have an account with Burton, for example.

[Christies Child]

CC can you explain why you are championing price reductions for people on benefits in a post you started.

When the stowford press posted a complaint about expensive pre season friendlies you , quote, said the prices were good, VALUE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT, your words, so what is your proposed stand, coz if, looking at your pre season posts we should rip people off at friendlys, then let the people on benefits in cheap on league 2 match days, taking the mick out of early bird season ticket customers by the way

My pleasure....

There is and will be an increasing number who for no fault of their own have been made redundant due to numerous reasons, but probably the main one at the moment being as a result of the recession.

There will be I'm sure amongst this group a number who support the club and because they only receive £64 per week on JBS find it very difficult to live, let alone have a few enjoyments out of life at the moment. All I suggsted was that for those supporters who find themselves in that predicament, then POSSIBLY the club could reduce the admission fee to (say) £8 on production of a JBS card. This way, the supporter can continue to attend home games, it gives the club revenue that otherwise may have vanished but just as important it brings some much needed relief from the sheer boredom and frustration of being out of and seeking work.

I understand the opposition to such a scheme, but for some, MFC is a fundamental part of their lives. Take that away from them and whatever self asteem they may have has been further aroded.

I understand that other clubs offer similar deals to their fans....

[Gnasher]

Why just a JSA scheme though? If we're going to help people who can't afford to get to games, first of all we have to understand why not. What is it that stops them getting to games? Admission prices? Transport costs? Something else? Then we have to think up some clever ways to help them. This isn't just for a supporter who can no longer afford to go but why not look for people who haven't been yet. Work out a good deal, get some marketing done and make them a supporter. When they get a job they'll hopefully keep coming back. What have we lost? Nothing, they're not a supporter. But there's plenty to gain.

[Christies Child]

Why just a JSA scheme though? If we're going to help people who can't afford to get to games, first of all we have to understand why not. What is it that stops them getting to games? Admission prices? Transport costs? Something else? Then we have to think up some clever ways to help them. This isn't just for a supporter who can no longer afford to go but why not look for people who haven't been yet. Work out a good deal, get some marketing done and make them a supporter. When they get a job they'll hopefully keep coming back. What have we lost? Nothing, they're not a supporter. But there's plenty to gain.

Brian, we don't often agree on things but you are right. The club should be looking at ways to attract more support through incentive schemes or whatever. The JSA is only one area that could be looked at as an example. There have been numerous suggestions on SVs over the years to encourage more through the gates and yet nothing happens which is frustrating.

What I'm sure we'd both like to hear is the club themselves make a contribution to the debate.

[Number 1]

Here's a question.

Taking this argument to it's logical conclusion, supposing I didn't like football. But I enjoyed the theatre. Will I get a discount if I want to go and see Les Mis in London's West End? No. Will I get a discount on the train to get there? No.

I don't like the theatre, but I do like to have a pint and a smoke. Will I get a discount on my beer and fags? No.

I don't drink or smoke, or like the theatre, but I enjoy walking. If I go into Milletts and ask for a discount on my Berghaus jacket and Timberland boots, will I get a discount? No.

So you see where this is going? There are plenty of activities where you won't get any kind of discounts, so why should a football club, who lose money anyway, offer a discount?

Ok so the football club is part of the community, and it should want to attract as many people as possible and on that basis you might say that it's a different scenario to other leisure pursuits but then if you don't like football, that's being discriminatory to those people.

Oh and, just how many people on the rock and roll DO smoke? £6 per day and I'm sure they're more than happy to pay it, despite their whinging about not getting in cheap to footy matches.

[pompeyred]

I work anywhere from 40 to 70 hours a week (depending on how much work there is) and I have only been able to afford to get to 3 games in the the last 2 years (both Darlington away trip and Hartlepool in the JP) so can I please have the club help pay for my travel and get a discount into the games?

[Christies Child]

Here's a question.

Taking this argument to it's logical conclusion, supposing I didn't like football. But I enjoyed the theatre. Will I get a discount if I want to go and see Les Mis in London's West End? No. Will I get a discount on the train to get there? No.

I don't like the theatre, but I do like to have a pint and a smoke. Will I get a discount on my beer and fags? No.

I don't drink or smoke, or like the theatre, but I enjoy walking. If I go into Milletts and ask for a discount on my Berghaus jacket and Timberland boots, will I get a discount? No.

So you see where this is going? There are plenty of activities where you won't get any kind of discounts, so why should a football club, who lose money anyway, offer a discount?

Ok so the football club is part of the community, and it should want to attract as many people as possible and on that basis you might say that it's a different scenario to other leisure pursuits but then if you don't like football, that's being discriminatory to those people.

Oh and, just how many people on the rock and roll DO smoke? £6 per day and I'm sure they're more than happy to pay it, despite their whinging about not getting in cheap to footy matches.

Whose whinging?


I'm most certainly not. I'm fortunate to have a season ticket so it wouldn't apply to me.

However my thoughts are with those who it WOULD apply to, whilst still providing some revenue to the club. Maybe one day if you loose your job (which i hope you never do) you might have a different view point.

[Number 1]

You know what CC, I was going to add a line to say that this doesn't apply to CC. And if you remember I did actually specifically exclude you from that scenario before, so you must have forgotton that...

I'm sure if you re read my post you will know that, again, I'm not aiming that at professional people who find themselves out of a job. Or non smokers for that matter

[mrpotatohead]

And your reply to my question did not explain why you thought it was fine to charge top dollar for pre season friendlies, what about the self esteem of the people who could not afford those games that you said were good value for money

[Christies Child]

And your reply to my question did not explain why you thought it was fine to charge top dollar for pre season friendlies, what about the self esteem of the people who could not afford those games that you said were good value for money

You are full of questions and short on solutions.

You may not have noticed that the cost of most pre-season games was circa £8.....just the same as my suggestion for league games for those on JSA.

Let me ask you, what would you do about the cost of pre-season games v league games, remembering of course the need for our club to raise revenue whenever possible? Do you really think by charging say £4 for pre-season games that you would have doubled the attendance, thereby providing the same amount of revenue as an £8 admission? I think not!

[slackAlice]

Admission price is certainly one area that 'clubs' need to look at , otherwise its a steady decline for 95% of clubs IMO. I didn't bother with a season ticket this time because I knew I wouldn't be going to as many games this season and when I do go to home matches I like the freedom of going in different areas of the ground and it can save a few bob - if its sunny we'll go in the Car Wash.
These are considerations most of us have to make of course; yesterday's outing cost me and t'lad £75 ish everything totted up petrol , eats etc. and we had a great time despite the result. But its probably going to be one of only 3 or 4 away trips for us this time and we've already done 2. It's just too costly for us and you struggle to justify that expense to 'family' when there's competing expenses - i.e. the annual holiday , house improvements. 'Those' that say more people should / could / can come more often Home / Away must be appealing to a small section of the community who have a large amount of disposable income , week-ends off & very understanding or no family ? ! ?
I only went to one of the friendlies this time Plymouth £8 for me and £4 each for two kids and I very , very nearly turned around and went home ! Yes the club have overheads and have to cover costs - stewards / wages etc. but I was left wondering how many people might have turned up that day and thought 'sod that' , some maybe for the first time ? Most people don't / won't go short to support Morecambe FC.
I don't know what the club thinks about pricing ; I daresay they 'recognise that the current economic climate is difficult for most people and thats why they have frozen prices etc' I think they'll have to do a bit more ?
On the subject of Job hunting a family friend was telling me his daughter [aged 16] darn sarf had written to every shop in their smallish town asking for a job and had received only 6 replies but significantly two job offers - only poundland - but I found that story pretty inspiring - and its NOT meant to be a dig at anybody - I've suffered the misery of being out of work too.

[mrpotatohead]

Let me ask you, what would you do about the cost of pre-season games v league games, remembering of course the need for our club to raise revenue whenever possible? Do you really think by charging say £4 for pre-season games that you would have doubled the attendance, thereby providing the same amount of revenue as an £8 admission? I think not!

So cheap attendance to pre season games would not increase the gates (your words) but reduced prices for the unemployed, who need their money for food and clothing would

You trip yourself up every time you type on this rather pious post

[Christies Child]

Let me ask you, what would you do about the cost of pre-season games v league games, remembering of course the need for our club to raise revenue whenever possible? Do you really think by charging say £4 for pre-season games that you would have doubled the attendance, thereby providing the same amount of revenue as an £8 admission? I think not!

So cheap attendance to pre season games would not increase the gates (your words) but reduced prices for the unemployed, who need their money for food and clothing would

You trip yourself up every time you type on this rather pious post

I did not say that if you read MY posts carefully.

What i did say is that it would encourage regular supporters who found themselves on JSA to still be in a poition to afford to come.


I'll ask you AGAIN what would you do...?????????

[pompeyred]

On the subject of Job hunting a family friend was telling me his daughter [aged 16] darn sarf had written to every shop in their smallish town asking for a job and had received only 6 replies but significantly two job offers - only poundland - but I found that story pretty inspiring - and its NOT meant to be a dig at anybody - I've suffered the misery of being out of work too.

I was laid off 2 years ago straight after Christmas when work in the trades in notoriously slow but I got the yellow pages and the tomo local and I rang every single electrical firm in a 25 mile radius (about 200), I got 12 companies request my CV and 4 interviews all with job offers. In the end I had to take a temporary drop in pay but if you are willing to put the effort in and chase up every phone call (did you get my cv, do you know of anyone else who may be taking on etc.) then the work is out there to be had. If the work wasn't there then why would people complain of 'foreigners coming in and stealing all of our jobs'.

I'll ask you AGAIN what would you do...?????????

I don't know that the club could do any more to get people through the gates but I would think offering a discount to people on JSA would do more harm than good and alienate the majority of the crowd who in turn the club may loose the support of as they would in essence be getting victimised for having a job. I do however agree with people getting discounts if they volunteer to help the club (on match days, promotionally etc.) as long as it didn't effect those already employed by the club.