Football costs, a Get it up You from Kilmarnock and Aberdeen giving excuses to fail

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Yesterday’s The Price of Football BBC article was fascinating. Celtic, not surprisingly, have the most expensive season ticket in Scotland at £559. That’s around the midway mark for English Championship clubs, and a lower top price than only Sunderland and West Brom in the English Premier League.

Our cheapest adult season tickets, costing £337, is among a group of Premiership clubs bookended by Hearts  and Kilmarnock (£280), and Hamilton Accies (£350). Inverness are an outlier, with a season ticket costing only £200.

Some of the prices in the English Premier League are astonishing Arsenal tickets cost between £1,014 and £2013 – and that’s for standard seats. Football is expensive everywhere, but in London in particular. The cheapest ticket at Arsenal, Chelsea (£750), Spurs (£765) and West Ham (£617) is matched only by Liverpool (£710).

Manchester City, with their petrodollars and newly enlarged stadium offer £299 tickets. Good value, but the most obvious question from reading the EPL stats is why, with all that TV and sponsorship money reducing match-ticket income to a tiny percentage of the pot, don’t they bring prices down further- like City, Stoke (£294) and Sunderland (£190).

The BBC also surveyed the price of tea, shirts, programmes and pies. One thing I checked for but couldn’t find, is the price all clubs in British and Irish football charge visiting Celtic fans – compared to the standard price they charge all other visiting fans.

Only Kilmarnock have one tariff for all home and away fans, apart from Celtic fans; and another, higher, ticket price for Celtic fans. You may think the people at Kilmarnock would be embarrassed by this. They should be, but I suspect they couldn’t care less. They don’t care what you think of them, and they are taking you for mugs…….  Mugs.  Think about that for a moment.

I like Aberdeen and hope they do well.  Their success is good for Scottish football, but you can see the cracks opening up on what was a very promising season only a few weeks ago.  Yesterday’s statement from the club, asserting that their manager would not be leaving, cut to the heart of the matter.  Speculation is part of football.  Clubs do themselves no favours by getting dragged into official comments over such issues.  Better to brief one or two people off the record, let them quell the chatter.

Instead Aberdeen grandstanded with this fatal mistake, “we would question the motivation of those individuals looking to unsettle the club”.  So it’s unsettling.  There you have it.  The players, and manager, have an excuse ahead of tomorrow night’s game.

Give players an excuse to fail and they will often grab it with both hands.

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336 Comments

  1. Charliebhoy great pic of the latest addition :-)

     

     

    Tallybhoy aunt edda keep it lit

     

     

    hail hail to you both

  2. lionroars67 on 15th October 2015 2:17 pm

     

     

    Let’s say this incarnation also heads to liquidation. Let’s say the membership of the SFA is passed to a new team called “Glasgow City”. They start in the South Scotland league or whatever it’s called playing out of Ibrox. They eventually get back to the Premiership on merit aided only by the fact that they’ attract more supporters than all their rivals but live within their means. Would that still be a problem?

     

     

    I ask only because I firmly believe there will always be a team playing out of Ibrox. The market almost demands it. Provided the rules are applied equally to all I don’t have an issue with the above scenario.

  3. An Tearmann

     

     

    Thanks for that, my father worked in those hydro electric scheme tunnels, I’m still trying to track down an 80’s BBC film which was called something like ” From Gweedore to Parkhead” about the Donegal folk coming to work and to support Celtic of course:))

     

     

    Never been able to find it yet.If anyone remembers it??

     

     

    HH

  4. weeminger on 15th October 2015 2:30 pm lionroars67 on 15th October 2015 2:17 pm

     

     

    Let’s say this incarnation also heads to liquidation. Let’s say the membership of the SFA is passed to a new team called “Glasgow City”. They start in the South Scotland league or whatever it’s called playing out of Ibrox. They eventually get back to the Premiership on merit aided only by the fact that they’ attract more supporters than all their rivals but live within their means. Would that still be a problem?

     

     

    I ask only because I firmly believe there will always be a team playing out of Ibrox. The market almost demands it. Provided the rules are applied equally to all I don’t have an issue with the above scenario.

     

    —————————————————————————

     

    I think playing out of Ibrox is one of their main problems. The cost to keep it going is a large millstone. Take you point though – I can’t imagine them not playing out of Ibrox. But then again, a few short years ago my imagination didn’t stretch to allowing that they might be liquidated and die.

  5. NatKnow on 15th October 2015 2:48 pm

     

     

    I agree it’s a millstone around their neck, but let’s say they mothballed all but the lowest tier until they needed it. That might be workable.

     

     

    I just think some here won’t be satisfied at all, as long as there’s a team playing at Ibrox. If ever a team emerges that plays by the rules and has the rules applied to them fairly that would probably end it for me.

  6. Hunderbirds are Gone on

    CHARLIEBHOY

     

     

    Proud you sound, and proud you should be. :-))

     

    Congratulations.

  7. starry plough on 15th October 2015 2:41 pm

     

     

    An Tearmann

     

     

    Thanks for that, my father worked in those hydro electric scheme tunnels, I’m still trying to track down an 80’s BBC film which was called something like ” From Gweedore to Parkhead” about the Donegal folk coming to work and to support Celtic of course:))

     

     

    Never been able to find it yet.If anyone remembers it??

     

    ———————————–

     

    There is this 80s Radio piece:

     

     

    From the Gorbals to Gweedore

     

     

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ff7pc/broadcasts

     

    http://www.talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=12684

  8. the_huddle

     

     

    That sounds like it mate, canny get it to play here though:((

     

     

    I watched it with ma Da’ back in the 80’s and him sitting there greeting’ as his forman told the story of him losing his leg at 21:((

     

     

    I went to the BBC in Glasgow one time I was home but the guy was as ignorant as a pig as I told him what I was looking for:((

     

     

    Thanks very much though.

     

     

    Starry.

  9. Tallybhoy,

     

    Looks obviously Usain Bolted past your good self. Hope your Aunt gets better.

     

    Charliebhoy,

     

    Congrats on the addition. Nice colour scheme at the christening.

  10. weeminger on 15th October 2015 2:57 pm

     

     

    NatKnow on 15th October 2015 2:48 pm

     

     

    I agree it’s a millstone around their neck, but let’s say they mothballed all but the lowest tier until they needed it. That might be workable.

     

     

    I just think some here won’t be satisfied at all, as long as there’s a team playing at Ibrox. If ever a team emerges that plays by the rules and has the rules applied to them fairly that would probably end it for me.

     

    ————————————————————————————–

     

    If you’re waiting on anyone on here to be happy about anything then your in for a long wait! This is a ward for people with angeer issues. ;-))

  11. Starry plough

     

     

    i recall in the 80s watching a documentary too,had in it a bit in it bout the ‘hashydan’ throwing his shovel away in disgust at the machine bein able to dig out more than he did.My Da was the same,working the hydros,navvyin. Still makes me smile the stories and shennanigans goin on at the camps with gamblin,drink etc.They worked as hard as they played,TG4 in ireland made a documentary too,

     

    there is also this book at Amazon

     

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tunnel-Tigers-First-hand-Account-Highlands/dp/1842820729/ref=sr_1_2/277-5071021-3708743?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444918646&sr=1-2&keywords=the+tunnel+tigers

     

     

    Hail hail :-)

  12. the_huddle

     

     

    Haha Just be watching that clip which is indeed from the film, it covered the men and women working the fields of Scotland, the Navvies and of course their love for Celtic, great film and very personal to me with the Auld Bhoy gone now..

     

     

    I think I will drop a wee mail to Billy Kay:))

     

     

    A cyber pint to be followed by a real wan next time I’m in The Toon:)

  13. An Tearmann

     

     

    At that point in the film my Auld man said “ach The Hash he could dig none”:))

     

     

    They were hardy boys alright.

     

     

    Just ordered the book:))

     

     

    HH

  14. The Huddle cheers for that,:-)

     

    Starry plough,well done with the Book,i have written to Tg4 in ireland about doc will see what happens

     

     

    hh

  15. Game Changes

     

     

    THE SPFL has today announced two changes to forthcoming Celtic Premiership fixtures in December.

     

    The Hoops’ visit to McDiarmid Park to face to St Johnstone on Sunday, December 13 will now have a 12.30pm kick-off.

     

    And the match at Tynecastle against Hearts has been moved to Sunday, December 27, with a 2pm kick-off.

  16. Overall, Murray has been shown far greater leniency than other failed property tycoons after Lloyds/HBOS was bailed out and commercial property prices crashed. One ex-HBOS insider has suggested that it was because he was “one of the great and good, like Tom Farmer and Tom Hunter”.

     

     

    *What a travesty, the other 2 Toms were philanthropists, all bader did was spend other peoples, including glibbies, money.

     

     

    In his avarice quest for more of other fools money, he and he alone effed up Scottish ftba with his stacking of committees with the brethren. Sort that out and then the game will be restored tae pre-bader time.

  17. Good stuff. Aberdeen have gone WAY over the top regarding these rumours and practically invite ‘well-meaning’ fans of other clubs to go and put a bet on one of their players leaving just to affect the odds and create another story! Keith Jackson also got himself into a state of indignation about *gasp* bookies making a huge fuss over nothing. Which is something the media would never do…

     

     

    Here’s a piece about Aberdeen and the betting on McInnes’ departure, and how Doncaster brushed aside any concerns about betting on sackings when Ronny was the man in the frame! Really. He did!

     

     

    https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/enjoying-a-flutter/

     

     

    And here is a very short piece making fun of Keith’s reaction to the McInnes story.

     

     

    https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/a-sudden-learning-curve/

     

     

    As always thanks for your interest and thanks to all of you who have been voting for me!

  18. I checked on some other sites yesterday re the Aberdeen rumours and lots of posts were Celtic fans for starting this off to derail the sheeps title bid :o)

  19. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    WEEMINGER said:

     

     

    ” I just think some here won’t be satisfied at all, as long as there’s a team playing at Ibrox. If ever a team emerges that plays by the rules and has the rules applied to them fairly that would probably end it for me. -”

     

     

    If ever a team emerges that plays by the rules and has the rules applied to them fairly …..then you can be sure that team is not any incarnation of Rangers !

     

     

    JJ

  20. A fond farewell to the international break, we won’t miss you,, let’s get back to all things Celtic.

     

     

    If first team players are carrying injuries, it’s an opportunity for others to step up.

     

     

    The obvious one for me would be to see Stuart Armstrong, who has shaken off his own injuries, to enjoy a run pulling the strings in central midfield. Let’s see what the lad can do.

  21. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on 15th October 2015 4:18 pm

     

     

    You see that’s not a helpful attitude ;)

     

     

    What if eg “genuine Scots billionaire” bloke of Clyde Blowers comes in and follows my model and even condemns the fans if they get a bit ‘traditional’?

     

     

    Personally I don’t think it’ll happen. Not for at least a generation but you never know.

  22. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    Weeminger

     

    What you are really saying is:

     

    I, Weeminger, would be happy if a new team comes into existence. That team would have a large following made up of ex-Rangers supporters. That support would behave very differently from their predecessors. The Authorities would not bestow any favours on that new team. The MSSM would say that, although they are playing at Ibrox and their supporters are all ex-Rangers supporters, we, the MSSM, will treat them as an entirely separate entity and respond to them the way we would to any other team entering the fourth tier of Scottish football.

     

    You can probably see where I have a few problems in offering a helpful attitude 0:-)

     

     

    JJ

  23. weeminger

     

    I don’t think the Clyde Blowers guy is a billionaire, far from it actually, but he is in charge of a wee cabal of millionaires who invest in business of that I am sure, then again you knew that :)

  24. Over 5 million fraud cases in the UK last year and they cant find oot where the dirty cash is coming from to keep the bigotdome open.

     

     

    aye righty-ho !

  25. Paul doesn’t even seem to blush at saying that Kilmarnock are taking us for mugs while our own club are the ones who really take us for mugs!!

     

     

    I had the misfortune to be on the same flight and seated amongst the SNP Westminster contingent. Oh how they loved to boast about their online smear campaigns and some of this acolytes were reading right wing Christian literature.

     

     

    We are in for an interesting ride here in Scotland as the new right wing facism of the SNP embeds in their minds.