[Archived] This Is Football At It's Best

[dave birch]

I picked this off the ABC (aust) website.

"Free passes for soccer fans on the dole

Spanish team Villarreal will offer unemployed season-ticket holders free passes in 2009-10 to help fans feeling the effects of the global economic crisis, club president Fernando Roig said.

"Season-ticket holders who are on the dole will be allowed in free next year," Roig said.

"The idea is to think of the club's wider social base and those who have been unlucky to lose their jobs so they can continue to watch football in the Madrigal."

Roig said the club's board, coaching staff, players and sponsors would combine to set up a fund to help subsidise the plan, with the precise details agreed in the next few weeks.

Striker Joseba Llorente gave his backing to the scheme.

"We are keen to get involved because it seems like a good idea considering the times we are in," he said.

"There are many people without work and it's a shame if they don't come to the stadium because of this."

Villarreal are fourth in the Primera Liga and face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next month."

This is what football is about , to my mind. Sod the multi millionaires that play, at last a club that really cares for its fans.

[Paul]

Agreed that's a great move. What chance of it being copied in the EPL?

[roversmum]

This is a whole can of worms though. I can cite many folks who actually work who are in effect worse off than some 'on the dole'. It's something I've been concerned about for many years. Don't know the situation in Aussie though.

[T4E]

I'd have though the situation in Spain is more relevant, Mum :-)

[dave birch]

Mum, it is a Spanish initiative, but the chances of it happening here in dear old Australia are zero, the almighty dollar reigns supreme here I'm afraid.

[the original david brent]

Villarreal are fourth in the Primera Liga and face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next month."

This is the same Villareal who are charging arsenal fans £72 each for away tickets for the forthcoming game!

[jim mk2]

This is a whole can of worms though.

It certainly is. Brian Clough always maintained that because of blanket television coverage football clubs would eventually have to let fans in for free. The global recession has had only a marginal effect on attendances here so far but if unemployment hits 3m as predicted and crowds dwindle clubs such as Rovers might have to look at measures such as this.

"It's" has no apostrophe BTW.

[riverside returns]

Well am glad that the Arse fans are getting ripped off, they deserve it and their club for their disgraceful acts towards our supporters. Well done Villareal

[roversmum]

Ooops that'll teach me not to skim things! Still, the same applies wherever the initiative is as far as I'm concerned. Bit of a bugbear of mine, that, I'm afraid, being on a low income and refused stuff that those on benefits get free! Note to self *be a bit less hasty with the keyboard*

[Hughesy]

I agree with Roversmum - alot of people in employment are worse off than those on the dole, therefore I too dont agree with this idea. Why should they get a further benefit over the working class?

If they want to attract more fans - it should just be a low price for everyone, why just benefit those that already benefit from the state.

[riverside returns]

Rovers already use the lower price tickets and still we are not getting the crowds. For the remaining matches I would be more than happy if the club trawled the schools and gave away 5000 tickets so that we have a full ground against those teams. Also would mean we could restrict the numbers of travelling fans so restrict the noise support.

[Sandiway Blue]

Rovers already use the lower price tickets and still we are not getting the crowds. For the remaining matches I would be more than happy if the club trawled the schools and gave away 5000 tickets so that we have a full ground against those teams. Also would mean we could restrict the numbers of travelling fans so restrict the noise support.

Agreed.

I think in this day and age,kids should be allowed in free when accompanied by adult season ticket holders.Or better yet give kids the top tier of the Darwen end for EVERY home game and really advertise the scheme throughout lancashire.

[Hughesy]

I agree with free tickets for kids, just not for adults.

Kids are the future of any club, and the more attracted to and addicted to, the more season ticket holders we have in the future. It should always be free tickets to kids.

I was in the barbers on Saturday at around 12.30pm and I was amazed that there must of been 20-25 young lads (Mainly aged 12-16) and not 1 of them was discussing football or wearing a blackburn shirt... they were all more interested in how they were going to get beer money for saturday night or how they could afford to get some weed or whatever. They just dont seem to have football in their lifes.

When I was younger football was all that I was interested in. Why has that changed in today's youth? I mean im only 25 but between my age generation and 16 year olds now, there seems a massive difference in the interest in football. This is 1 of if not the biggest issues that needs resolving by Rovers. Personally I think Free tickets is the way to do it. We also need to get more players into schools & colleges EVERY single week.

[Billy Castell]

Chuck in a little goody bag with a free bag of Rovers toffees, a scarf perhaps, and a signed picture of a random player, and it might be worth doing. Some kids will want a full set of pictures, so will see more games, or swap pictures etc. Hell, someone send an e-mail to Mr. Williams. I'd do it, but I've only had 2 hours sleep, and all sorts of stress, so my grammar will be worse than usual.

[Hughesy]

Would the club back the free kids initiative?

Is there a legal limit as to how many parents have to accompany kids to the game? Or if it is a set area - could we just get a group of adult volunteers to supervise them?

[sambo]

I am off to Villareal on a college football tour, watching their game with Malaga.

Good initiative though

[dave birch]

Remember, you'd have to be a season ticket holder this year to get a benefit next season.

Quite how they could tell if someone is unemployed, I don't know.

Maybe one of our Spain based colleagues could give us the answer.

[neekoy]

They just dont seem to have football in their lifes.

When I was younger football was all that I was interested in. Why has that changed in today's youth?

Because there used to be a lot more local identities who these kids could relate to. If they see clubs and players apethic to the fans why not expect the same i return.

[Hughesy]

Like what neekoy?

[Shabani]

I agree with Roversmum - alot of people in employment are worse off than those on the dole, therefore I too dont agree with this idea. Why should they get a further benefit over the working class?

If they want to attract more fans - it should just be a low price for everyone, why just benefit those that already benefit from the state.

Dole is £60ish a week

Minimum wage is around £5.80ish

You only have to work for 11 hrs a week to get more than you do on the dole

I somehow doubt therefore that they 'would be better off on the dole'

[SAS]

Dole is £60ish a week

Minimum wage is around £5.80ish

You only have to work for 11 hrs a week to get more than you do on the dole

I somehow doubt therefore that they 'would be better off on the dole'

I thought this when seeing a few of the comments regarding this.

Surely people with jobs earn more than the dole rate, thus being better off, even if they have had a pay cut or hours cut or such...

[roversmum]

Then you guys dont live in the real world. I can assure you this is the case. Maybe a single person might not get as much money on the 'dole' but people with children certainly do. Also rent etc is paid for them - have you factored that in?

[Shabani]

Sorry roversmum but you seem to have your rabid right wing head on

If you are unemplyed your house isn't paid for you, you are simply given £60 a week and told to report in every week

You seem to be getting the umemployed confused with single mother and those on IB etc.

[roversmum]

It's Income Support. Job Seekers' Allowance is only available for a certain period of time. You get Housing Benefit if you don't have enough money coming in to pay your rent.

I worked in the benefits system for eleven years so I do know a little bit about it

[dingles staying down 4ever]

Dole is £60ish a week

Minimum wage is around £5.80ish

You only have to work for 11 hrs a week to get more than you do on the dole

I somehow doubt therefore that they 'would be better off on the dole'

Its not just the dole issue, its the other allowances etc that SOME people also can claim which soon builds up making it that a person on the dole is better off than some poor sole slogging their guts out.

If anybody such benefit from free tickets it is the very low paid workers who have earned their money.

And before anybody wants to tar and feather me I know their are more and more genuine people on the dole but Roversmum has a point.