Thanks to BBS I was able to get me Da' a ST from someone last season, after Dad not going for nigh on 30 years. Some of you may recall some of my comments about him I've occasionally posted, including missing a goal cos he left early once. God forgive him. Unfortunately the chap wanted his tickets back this year, so I've approached SJP for info - again, you may recall the problems I've had with these people, who don't seem to want my money.

Anyway, finally got it sorted. As of yesterday, there was, according to the ST office, nowt left other than 'posh' seats, though we've all heard contrary info about the number of people not renewing. Who knows what to believe? So I've had to bite the bullet: I've just paid £616 (oap price) for me Da' to get a ST in the Sports Bar in the Sir John Hall Stand. At first I thought sod that for a game of soldiers - that works out at (wait a minute ... ummm..) £32 per game. Feckin 'el. But, having said that, I owe the auld buggar probably thousands from over the years, so what the hell.

Thing is, I still can't help but think, that's £32 per game. I mean - and how do I put this? - that's over thirty quid for a match. Thirty bleeding quid. My flabber is completely ghasted. Bloody hell. I remember when i first went it cost a shilling and still change for fish & chips etc etc etc

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Answers

Nick
I bet you also said at one time 'There's nee way ahm payin ten bob for a pint.'

Followed not long after by, 'There's nee way ahm payin a quid for a pint.'

And then, 'There's nee way ahm payin two quid for a pint.'

Etc etc.

Was beer kicked into touch ? Nee way.

Same with the footy, I reckon. We canna win. :-))

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

I remember the 15p pint making me think it was time to pack it in (circa 1971).

How expensive is football these days? Best way to measure it is to judge the hours you need to work to see a game and compare to a previous time. I started going in 1962, adult entrance 3/- (15p). What would the average wage have been? £15 pw? If so you could see 100 games for the average weekly wage. Now £25 entrance and average wage-what £20k? Thats £400 pw. So you could see just 16 games for the average weekly wage. So on that rough and ready calc football has increased SIX fold in price during my nigh on 40 years of support. That is a huge increase. You would find a great many products have declined in real terms over the same period.

A couple of assumptions in there. I'm sure my prices are right for the 1962 and 2001 gate money for the Gallowgate but I may be some way wide of the mark on average incomes. I think my guesses are in the right ball park but even allowing some leeway, it seems clear that football prices have soared ahead of inflation.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

I'm sure it has become comparatively more expensive, but then I'm sure they will give the excuse that now it's all seater / there's a roof / bogs / beer / half time entertainment etc.

I bet there's a good few though who would say bollocks to all that - give me 11 lads playing their hearts out, a fiver to get in for all kids & tenner to all others, and you can stuff all the 'feel-good' bollocks. They'll happily stand and get wet occasionally for a tenner, as would I.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Spring 1979 .... 35p for a pint of Ex, £1.30 to stand in the Gallowgate, £1 barrier broken for a gallon of petrol

Summer 2001 .... dunno, don't drink anymore, £21 for seat in Gallowgate, roughly £3.60 for a gallon of petrol

Other prices go down in relative terms because of efficiencies in production. This is one of the great changes caused by the semiconductor industry. Previously for example a car price would go up every year. Suddenly silicon can double in performance every 2 years (roughly) without and increase in cost to consumer. We get accustomed to this and question why the car has to be more expensive.

In football the cost has gone up astronomically with only a very limited increase in performance. (Emelyn Hughes, as fit a player as there was, for example thinks that the fitness and athleticism of current players is way beyond what he was capable of). It could be said that the facilities are noticably better but I think some miserable old bugger could well question why there was a scoreboard 30 years ago but there isn't one now.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

If you can't do it for your dad then who can you do it for? Nice one.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001