Rebels tell fans to name their price

Source: Manchester Evening News

Stuart Brennan

May 13, 2009
FC UNITED have come up with a novel way of beating the recession - by allowing their supporters to name their own price for a season ticket!

The Rebels, who play in the Unibond League, are the first football club to use the scheme, which relies on the goodwill of their fans to beat the credit crunch.

The club - owned by its own supporters - has set a minimum of £90 for the tickets, £50 lower than prices from last season.

Board member Jules Spencer said: "FC United, like all clubs need to raise revenue and we will feel the pinch in the coming months just as any other club will in this economic climate. But given our philosophy of providing affordable football, we do not feel unilateral price increases are the way forward.

"So we hope the `Your Season Ticket, Your Choice' campaign will do two things. Firstly, it will offer a lower season ticket price for those supporters who cannot now afford last year's price, which was around £140.

"Secondly, it means those supporters who can afford a bit more can choose to donate as much as they wish to help fund the club's operating costs.

"It is an ambitious campaign but we have raised similar amounts of money in the past so we hope we can do so again."

The move, designed to raise £125,000 to run the club next season comes as clubs at all levels of football have frozen or even reduced ticket prices for next season, the notable exception being Manchester United, who have put their prices up by an average five per cent.

FC United have made an operating loss for the last two seasons, crippled by the costs of ground-sharing with Bury. They recently signed a two-year extension to their tenancy, which costs the club around £80,000 a season, and hope to move into their own stadium in Manchester after that.

The scheme, which will also peg season ticket prices for under-18s at £21, has brought a favourable response from fans.

"I think most people value the club enough not to take the mickey," said one.

"It needs supporters who can afford it to think that £140, which we paid last year, is the minimum, but if we get a few new fans who pay £90 each, and keep hold of a few who are finding times a bit tough, all well and good. It really needs those who can afford it to pay a bit more."

Spencer agreed that the club's board has faith in its own supporters.

"This is about empowerment, of collective responsibility, of us all pulling together to ensure the club's future in a way that reflects our founding principles," he said.

"We have been asked if we're being foolhardy but why shouldn't a football club trust its own supporters? FC United is after all a member owned club, so everyone has a vested interest in making this a success."