Premier League International Cup

A new competition organised by the Premier League themselves, the International Cup pits eight English under-21 teams, from clubs with category one youth academies, against eight European clubs on a group basis.

An excellent article by Ian Herbert on why the tournament has come about, and the demise of the NextGen competition, can be found on the Independent website

Because of the politics involved, all of the games, including those between two European sides, are being played in England and coming up before the end of November there are scheduled for fixtures at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, Upton Park and Goodison Park.

As with the Premier League under-21 Cup competition, the next round of which is scheduled to begin in the week commencing November 24, this does give supporters the chance to watch a competitive fixture in their club's own stadium for a relatively small outlay.

Leicester's two upcoming matches, for example, are 7pm kick-offs against Schalke on Tuesday 18 and Benfica on Monday 24 November with admission £3 for adults, £1 for under-18's and over-65's and all profits donated to the LCFC Community Trust.

Mixed Messages from Cheltenham Town?

Cheltenham Town's decision to class their FA Cup home game against Swindon as a Category A fixture with tickets priced accordingly has led to criticism of the Robins at a stage of the competition where the majority of league clubs drawn at home have made some kind of reduction to their normal matchday prices, recognising that this is an additional fixture at a busy time of year.

Chairman Paul Baker issued a lengthy statement on the club website in defence of the prices.

This blog doesn't exist to criticise clubs for the prices they charge, more to highlight when good value is on offer, and Mr Baker makes many sound points regarding the increased costs that will come with policing what is a high-profile local derby and the difficulties that exist in trying to successfully run a football club on a limited budget.

However I do feel he is unwise in saying, about season ticket holders: 'Is an extra £2 really going to be the difference between coming to this mouth watering fixture and staying at home?' Most cup games represent an extra outlay for season ticket holders anyway and it is possible to offer them some kind of discount whatever prices you are charging.

Anyway, fast forward four days and the Robins have decided to cut the price of terrace tickets for the home fixture against Wycombe Wanderers on November 22 with adults able to stand for £10, a saving of £6.

Mr Baker said: "We are trying to show we are listening to the fans, some of whom were not happy with the prices for the Swindon FA Cup tie."

Again, it doesn't help season ticket holders too much but it's an offer and hopefully it will entice some more people out to the game.

Quick Update

On a couple of earlier articles. Reduced FA Cup prices are in effect at Dagenham & Redbridge for the game against Southport on Saturday 8th. Adult terrace tickets are £10 (seats £12) with 10-16 year-olds £1 (£2) in advance.

Notts County have cut prices to £12 and £5 for under-16's as they host Accrington Stanley on Sunday 9th.

Hitchin Town, meanwhile, have moved the date of their 'pay what you want' fixture from Saturday 29th November to Saturday 6th December (against Poole Town) to coincide with other 'Save HTFC' events taking place on that day.

November’s Affordable Football (Part 2)

Something for the second half of the month…

17th There is free admission for under-19’s and both students and staff from Bucks New University as Wycombe Wanderers host Burton Albion on a Monday evening in addition to special offers for both Chairboys season ticket holders (bring a friend for £5) and those from other clubs in the area such as MK Dons and Queens Park Rangers.

18th England C, representing the best non-league players in the country, take on Estonia under-23's at The Shay in Halifax. Admission is free for the 7:30pm kick-off.

18th (and 24th) The Premier League International Cup is a new competition for this season and offers supporters the chance to watch some of the most talented youngsters from some of Europe's top clubs. Leicester City under-21's for example host Schalke (Tuesday 18th) and Benfica (Monday 24th) at the King Power Stadium. Both games are 7pm kick-offs with admission £3 and £1 and all profits donated to the LCFC Community Trust.

20th As part of their Victory Shield campaign England Under-16's meet Scotland at Yeovil's Huish Park at 8pm. £3, £1 for children/Oaps and a group ticket also available for parties of 15 or more.

22nd After some negative feedback from supporters regarding pricing for the FA Cup match against Swindon, Cheltenham Town have reduced terrace tickets to £10 adults and £5 concessions for the visit of Wycombe Wanderers.

23rd England's Senior Women play their first game at the new Wembley in a friendly against Germany. Adult tickets are £15 with children priced at just £1 and over 40,000 have already been sold for the fixture.

An Affordable Opportunity to Watch Chelsea at the Bridge

Jose Mourinho’s after-match comments about a lack of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon, as his side battled to defeat Queens Park Rangers and maintain their cushion at the top of the Premier League, have drawn a response from Chelsea Supporters' Trust chairman Tim Rolls who told the BBC that ticket prices mean those most likely to make some noise cannot afford to come in.

"Until the clubs recognise that and do something about affordable pricing for young people and creating sections of the ground where they can sing and make some noise then the situation is unlikely to improve," said Mr Rolls.

The response from a club spokesman was that "We work hard within the constraints of the current stadium to keep ticket prices down, and have frozen those prices in seven of the last nine seasons.”

There is a good opportunity for families to watch a game at the stadium next week however and it should be a game of some quality as Chelsea and Manchester United Under-21’s meet on Sunday 9 November with a 1:05pm kick-off.

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for juniors and seniors.

FA Cup First Round

The First Round of the FA Cup takes place over the weekend of 8/9 November and the involvement of the BBC, back as a broadcast partner of the FA, and some innovative coverage plans will hopefully make it a special weekend and one that whets the appetite for the remainder of the competition.

We have already seen the return to prominence of the cup draw itself with a peak time slot on Monday evening televison and radio and the Beeb are also hosting a special edition of Final Score next Sunday with highlights and goals as they happen from the eight games that have been scheduled for 2pm starts on that day.

I'm not sure whether this is something that they will be carrying on in later rounds and there are obviously some issues with travel for away fans on a Sunday but at this stage the promise of national television coverage and the £12,500 fee per club makes it an innovation worth trying.

For many non-league clubs of course this has been their aim throughout the qualifying rounds but for League One and Two sides the focus is avoiding an upset now and hopefully making it into the Third Round themselves.

A home draw then is welcome from that point of view but can be a difficult sell ticket-wise so plenty of clubs have already announced reduced prices as follows;

Mansfield Town v Concord Rangers - £10 adults and £5 concessions
Hartlepool United v East Thurrock United - £10 adults and £5 for over 60's and Under-16's
Coventry City v Worcester City - £10 adults and £5 children
Barnsley v Burton Albion - £10 adults, £5 concessions, £1 under-11's (this is an online only offer)
Tranmere Rovers v Bristol Rovers - £12 for adults, £8 for over 65's and young persons, £4 for under-17's
Northampton Town v Rochdale - £12 adults, £8 for senior citizens and under-21's, £5 for under-18's
A number of other games have been reduced to £15 for adults with various concessions.

Special Ticket Offer & Reduced FA Cup Prices at Mansfield Town

The Stags host Concord Rangers of the Vanarama Conference South in the First Round of the FA Cup on Saturday 8th November and will be hoping to kickstart a run that could again see them rubbing shoulders with the likes of Liverpool in later stages of the competition.

A home game against the Reds of Anfield in January 2013 had no problems selling out in record time but to try and boost the gate against Concord, Mansfield have reduced prices to £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.

Fair play to their opponents too as they have to agree on the prices charged for an FA Cup tie.

Mansfield chairman John Radford also launched a ticket offer this week, picking out three home games both from before and after Christmas for reduced prices which supporters can attend any of for just £7 each.

The matches in question are Cheltenham Town (Sat 13 Dec), Exeter City (Sat 17 Jan) and Northampton Town (Sat 14 Feb).

November's Affordable Football (Part 1)

A bumper crop this month so split into two parts...

1st Watford FC host Millwall in the Championship and the Hornets are marking 100 years since the beginning of World War One with a special ‘Remembrance Home Game’. Ticket prices are made up of the digits 1914 with adult tickets priced at either £14 or £19. As of Wednesday this week ticket sales had been very brisk for this game.

Also, to mark the unveiling of a statue commemorating former manager Johnny King on Saturday 1 November, Tranmere Rovers are hoping to fill the Prenton Park stand that is also named after him for the game against Stevenage and to do this, adults, seniors and young persons (17-22) can buy tickets in the Johnny King Stand for £5 with under-17's £2.

4th Free admission at West Didsbury & Chorlton FC as they play their re-arranged game at home to Congleton Town after the first fixture was abandoned due to floodlight failure.
 

11/12th A busy midweek programme of area quarter-finals in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. A number of clubs have reduced adult prices to £10 with various offers for children and concessions such as Under-18's being admitted for just £1 at Crawley Town's game with Gillingham. 

Coventry City are also repeating their 'Football for a Fiver' offer for the home tie against Plymouth Argyle on Wednesday 12th. 

12th England Under-20's host Canada at Bournemouth's Goldsands Stadium, kick-off 7:30pm and adults £3, £1 for under-16's.

13th Bristol Academy Women play the second leg of their last 16 UEFA Champions League tie against Barcelona at Ashton Gate, kick-off 7:30pm with tickets £10 for adults and £1 for under-16's.

14th Rotherham host England Under-19's against Italy, kick-off 7:45pm with tickets similarly priced at £3 and £1 for children and 50p for Oaps.