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Yesterday a collective of fans of a wide range of league and non-league clubs from all over the country got together for a short march and demonstration between Marble Arch and Premier League HQ (Gloucester Place). A delegation went inside for a meeting with Richard Scudamore and his colleagues regarding important issues facing fans, in particular ticket prices. They wanted to exempt away fans from price category schemes - making all away tickets priced as Category C. They also wanted to enforce an intermediate price category for 18-25s who are making the transition from being fully dependent on parents to having to pay for everything, often while either in full time education or on the entry level wage at the very beginning of their careers.
The only concrete positive announcement they could make there and then to us following the meeting, was a commitment from the League bodies to ongoing discussions — though this is no small victory as long as supporter groups from all over the country make it count. They did also say that Scudamore was sympathetic to the idea of Category C prices for away fans, though he did try to fob them off claiming he had minimal influence over the clubs as the Chief Executive of a Trust Organisation or something equally nonsensical.
It was also emphasised that to capitalise on this fans can and should act on their own as opportunities arise, engaging with their own clubs. A simple banner at a game will make clubs take notice. Also it would be very useful to approach sponsors such as Barclays directly and inform them of planned boycotts. Sponsors have a huge influence over the game and clubs will listen to them, so sufficiently motivating them to encourage clubs to acknowledge the concerns of fans would be a valuable tactic.
Another point - particularly relevant to us -I received confirmation that any Premier League rule change must be agreed to by votes of assent from at least 14 of the member clubs, who would first discuss proposals with their own boards and with fan groups. Furthermore the 2015/16 Premier League rules have not been finalised and the meeting in which they would be is scheduled for June. I also pointed out that the Premier League handbook — the official rule document is almost never publicly available before the start of the season to which it pertains — something which I hope will be addressed in future. In any case that should be the absolute final nail in the coffin to that stupid rumour about our rubbish kits being because of Premier League rules coming in.
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