The Working Man's Game

I have been a Chelsea Season ticket holder now for over 12 years and have been going to Stamford Bridge week in week out for over 20 years with my dad, uncle and cousin. In my time as a Chelsea Supporter I have seen them win three FA cups, the 1997 FA Cup being my favorite game of all time, as I would wager it will be for many Chelsea Supporters. Three League Cups. One Cup Winners Cup which I traveled with over 20,000 other Chelsea Fans to Stockholm and last but not least the two League Titles (Good Times!).

The Only cup we haven't won in my time at Chelsea is the Champions League. I have been to three Semi Finals but never ventured further. Tonight's game against Liverpool would have been a massive one for me as the prospect of the final has never felt so close, but that could not be further from the truth.

If we do beat Liverpool tonight and get to the final which takes place on Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 20:45 CEST in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium. Me and my family with a combined support of over 140 years will not be able to go.

I was browsing the Official Chelsea FC website and saw that Chelsea had put ticket information about the Possible Champions League Final up. Based on me having a Season Ticket and my high loyalty point rating I would be guaranteed a final ticket. I then checked the Official flight packages that Chelsea are providing Tickets costing the minimum of 80 Euros with the prospect of paying up to 200 Euros. So Day flights in and out of Moscow and match tickets will cost over £800 and that is even without food and drink while there.

Realistically I would be looking to pay over £1000 for one game of football and yes I know it is probably a once in a lifetime experience but I cannot justify spending this amount of money on one game of football. I would love nothing more than to go with my dad (Trevor), uncle (Kevin) and cousin (Stuart) to such an occasion. I simply cannot afford it.

There was a time where football was the game for the working class that everybody could go to and enjoy. I remember being one of the only five year-old kids in the Shed End standing on a stool my dad had made me and gaffer taped around a Lamppost within the stand so I could see above all these giant men. Game days dad used to give me a 5 pound note which I gave it too the lady/man at the stand turnstile. Nowadays I pay over £700 for my Season Ticket and well over another £700 pound for Cup tickets that are no longer included in the Season Ticket.

Over the past few years I have seen so many real fans have to give up the beautiful game after years of dedicated support as they have simply been priced out. If the boards of any clubs wonder why the atmosphere is nothing like it used to be, it is their own fault.

The money in the game today is phenomenal but that same money that clubs are bringing in through sponsorship and TV money is not being passed on to the consumer. The game today is not that of the working classes but of the middle classes who see the game as entertainment and not as a way of life.

This is your modern day football like it or not and I for one do not.