Anniversary of fans uniting against ticket prices
Today marks the 10th anniversary of football fans putting their differences aside and uniting to march on the Premier League headquarters in protest at the rising cost of away tickets.
On 19 June 2013, spearheaded by Spirit of Shankly and the Football Supporters Federation, rival fans of top-flight clubs congregated at London’s Regent Park and marched to Gloucester Place, the then home of the Premier League.
It was the culmination of an ongoing campaign to make the authorities listen as away-supporter ticket prices had spiralled – at that point at some clubs, an away ticket cost £65-plus. Months of leafleting and mobilisation between supporters ended in a united front and a delegation meeting with Premier League officials.
At the time, a SOS spokesperson said: “’For too long supporters have been exploited with their loyalty taken for granted. Ticket prices have risen beyond inflation and this has already seen supporters priced out of their game.
“Supporters from different clubs are uniting to make a stand so that clubs cannot use the line they charge more so we have to.”
This was a football first, a noise that would not be silenced. Following further demonstrations and representations, including the FSF’s Twentys Plenty campaign, advocating for tickets to have a £20 ceiling, ahead of the 2016-17 season a Premier League-wide price cap of £30 for all away tickets was introduced and remains in place today.