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Time for the re-birth of the LMTB |
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News -
FFUC
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Saturday, 27 October 2007 00:00 |
The decision by the Glazer family to impose the Automatic Cup Scheme on a fan base already struggling with successive exorbitant price rises has already been widely criticised among the various United supporter organisations, with no positives other than to the Glazers debt commitments apparent.
With even more time served Reds leaving Old Trafford, having seen the ACS as the final straw that broke their financial back, other implications have taken time to become obvious.
While the ACS was optional, supporters for whom midweeks were difficult, for price, logistical, shift work, or other reasons, had the choice to attend league matches only via the old League Match Ticket Book, or by not opting into the ACS.
Historically the League Match Ticket Book was issued in controlled numbers to those happy to attend home league games only, without having to commit to the financial layout of all cup games.
We can now see that the upgrading of all LMTB’s to full Season Tickets for the 06/07 season was merely a step towards making the ACS as much of a cash generator for the Glazers as possible, with no regard to whether long standing Reds could afford the upgrade or not.
Furthermore, with the long standing rule that only those who had applied for all home cup games dictating who could apply for away games, every ST holder can now put in for away tickets.
The ticket office has privately admitted that branch entitlements have been decreased for away games, presumably to give added attraction to new ST holders applying for away games.
While no-one should deny anyone the United away experience to a new generation of committed United fans, the make up of those who can afford the ST prices this season has not only diluted the Old Trafford atmosphere even further, we also see old faces at away games forced out in favour of those whose wallets may carry more clout, but whose passion for United does not.
A graphic example of this is a high profile branch receiving 4 tickets for upcoming game at Arsenal – from 38 applications. This is the result of opening up away games to those who have bought a United season ticket because they can afford it as a fashion item, where many of the traditional away support cannot.
It’s fair to say that the away support is affected less by the ACS than the home support, as this fan testifies - J.R. is an ex LMTB holder and match going United fan of 20+ years; and is one of thousands who have been forced into giving up attending games at Old Trafford, but unless the Glazers re-think their ACS policy, the problem is only going to get worse;
‘I’ve lost out because maybe, just maybe, if LMTB’s were still available then I could afford the ridiculous expense for the sake of 19 home games per season. I’d also have the security of knowing that I will always be able to find someone who is willing to go if I can’t. But I can’t justify paying for every cup game as well and then having the mither of finding a buyer if I can’t go.’
K.S. – A match going United fan for 30+ years and a Season Ticket holder for now at least, said;
" I'm nearly at my limit for sacking it but am giving it one last go this season, so I've not quite given up yet. However.......I would renew for 2008/09 if there was a reasonably priced LMTB and no ACS because I can hardly ever attend midweek fixtures and I'm sick of trying to offload them and can no longer afford to give them away for silly prices. I accept that I would be way down the pecking order for aways, semi-finals and finals… no complaints there.’
There is clearly a demand and rationale for the existence of the LMTB, only over ridden by the Glazer’s desire to extract every penny possible from every ST holder.
What is clear though is if Glazer could show at least an ounce of care for the supporters that made the club so attractive to him in the first place, that some could be tempted back;
‘I had a seat in Stretty Upper, W16 Block 3106. Held it from the stand opening to the season 2004/2005. I gave up the seat because I didn’t agree with the takeover of the club, a cash rich successful healthy club plunged into debt for personal gain.
The pull of the 11 lads in red though has ground me down…. I miss the match and I miss the crack - Its not just 90 minutes its the whole day and I would seriously consider going again IF I could get a LMTB back, preferably the one I had before, couldn’t fault it - view was mint and the atmosphere was about the best you can get inside Old Trafford nowadays. Just hope I don’t have to wait too long. ’
I.N. – United fan exiled from Old Trafford.
Do we as supporters allow the current situation to remain? Do we lose more passionate United fans due to the extortionate price increases and lack of choice? Do we sit by and allow more farcical situations such as the crowd for the Carling Cup defeat to Coventry being declared as 74,055 – not only thousands more than were actually there, but 27,000 more than had the choice to attend the comparable Carling Cup game against Leicester City in 2002, and, believe it or not, 403 more than the crowd for the Champions League game against Roma.
It may be that you have other questions, but if the content of this article does not illustrate the scale of the issues to you, or the club, or even the Glazers - then perhaps nothing will.
An Appeal We are asking Manchester United fans and all United supporter organisations to call upon the Club to withdraw the compulsory Automatic Cup Scheme. This is for the good of supporters who made the club what it was up until 2005.
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