Rovers Season Tickets

It’s that time of the year again. Another season over and a new one not so far away. This means me having to put my hand in my pocket for a new season ticket.

As my photo illustrates, this isn’t a new experience for me, more of an annual ritual really. I bought my first ticket in 1977 and have never missed a single season since.

For Season 1977-78, my lovely grey hard-bound Ground book of tickets was printed by local Blackburn printers: Hulme & Whitehead and cost me £13 (inclusive of V.A.T.). It was excellent value at the time, the adult gate price was 90p. Whereas I got to watch 21 first team league matches and it was free to watch the reserves. Season ticket holders also got first pick with their tickets when cup ties took place.

Inside its cover was a roll of club officials, including Chairman: WH Bancroft; Vice-Chairman: DT Keighley.

Directors: AL Fryars; WI Hubert; D Brown; W Fox and Dr M Jeffries. Secretary: JW Howarth and Manager: JM Smith.

The actual tickets inside the booklet were also grey and 42 league and 10 cup tie tickets were originally there. Nobody knew which ticket it would be when the games came round. This was to stop illegal use and ticket touting.

There would be a lot more season tickets on the photo, but technology took over some years ago. Now my electronic ticket is automatically switched on when the money is debited from my bank account. So I’ve been using the same piece of plastic for quite a few years now and another piece of plastic was used to pay for it too.

Maybe my season ticket reflects the current state of how football is these days. Fans like me – who actually turn up at matches – are seen as mugs and just there to be milked like cows. Yet matches are laid out to suit viewers on TV, many who have never even been to a professional football match and probably harbour no intentions of ever attending one.

Fortunately, there are a lot of supporters around like me who still enjoy watching their local team. I look forward to buying my 38th Blackburn Rovers season ticket in a row. Another pre-season ritual will also be followed – my hoping the price will be as competitive as the football team.