Villa v Chelsea Ticket News + ALL Ticket News

ha ha, not quite sure why your rant is in here, but you make a valid point about those friends of yours who went on the pee instead of the match. That's the problem and I certainly can't disagree but it's by no means exclusive to us would be the only caveat I'd add - I'd also disagree they are the most vocal online, if this site is anything to go by the most vocal majority are seasoners or regulars in the main.

As for swear filter, it includes 'partials' for people who like to hide words - tis why it unfortunately catches Scunthorpe (play at Glanford Park) unless that's been changed recently?

I have been reading this website as a casual observer for a few years. On several occasions I have been tempted to register and comment but never have. That is until reading the above comment from 'voiceoftheholte'. He (I assume) has hit a nerve and has addressed an issue I have been banging on about for a long time. I completely agree with his sentiments about Villa 'fans' who couldn't direct you to Villa Park but regularly pontificate about the rights and wrongs of all things AVFC. To put it mildly, our attendances are a disgrace. Like voiceoftheholte points out, this is not a rant at Villa fans who are restricted financially and simply can't afford to go to all the games. It is a diatribe against those who happily blow £200 every weekend but would never get down to Villa Park to support the club they profess to 'love'. I have plenty of mates who do this themselves. As a club we will never push on due to the lack of proper support from these 'fans'. Even though we have attractive pricing policies these people still won't come. How on earth are we suppose to compete financially with the likes of Spurs when they sell out with far higher prices than we charge? We could help the situation by selling 42,000 every week but that isn't going to happen. Frankly, our attendance has always got on my tits. In a city of a million people we shoud always be selling out. To put it in perspective, Blackburn has a population of roughly 90,000. Of this, 22,000 regularly go to Ewood Park. Taking into account away fans, probably 1 in 5 from Blackburn attend home games (I doubt they get many day trippers). How big would Villa Park have to be if we could boast that percentage?? The truth is, unfortunately, that as Villans we have some of the most fickle, uncommited 'fans' in our midst. We have a 35,000 hardcore which I salute and respect but have far more people who can, but never will, support their club by putting their money where their mouths are.

I'm not sure that would work voth. I think a better long-term solution would be for the club to give away tickets to local schools and then hope that the kids get the bug, thereby securing paying fans for years to come. There would be people who argue that this penalises those who have paid to watch the same match, but I for one would rather see kids in those empty seats with the hope that they and their mates will be season ticket holders of the future.

Blimey lads you've taken this to a whole new level. I can tell you mike these are my first posts so someone must have a similar user name. I think we are all in agreement that our attendances could be improved but the question is how!! I do believe my point about giving tickets to school kids is valid voth as I firmly believe it would tap into a future resource. Without going into economics or populations or diversities I think we may as well abandon the 'stay-aways' and try and focus on the hundreds of thousands of kids in our city. A game here or there may dissuade them from going into the adidas shop on new street and picking up the new Chelsea or Liverpool top....which in Brum should be a social stigma but unfortunately is not!!