The Football Supporters’ Federation have been looking at what else clubs are doing to engage with away fans following the introduction of the £30 away ticket cap.
With the £20’s Plenty campaign seeing an introduction of a £30 cap for travelling supporters in the top flight, whilst that was far from ideal it was acknowledged as a reasonable starting point, but many Premier League clubs are going above and beyond that commitment and it’s very much a case of all credit to them for that.
The Supporters Services teams at top flight clubs responded to a request from the FSF for information on what initiatives are being run this season from a traveller point of view and below is what was discovered.
With the FSF picking out Stoke, Watford and Swansea for their particular offers, one addition used by some clubs now are reciprocal pricing arrangements.
With the £30 cap replacing the Away Supporters Initiative scheme, a number of clubs continue to offer incentives that were available under the original scheme and some clubs like Newcastle United and Watford continue to agree a discount rate for both sets of fans for fixtures at each ground. The aforementioned clubs both agreed this season on a price of £25.
Bournemouth:
Coach travel prices reduced for 2017/18. £2 discount on coach travel for Season Ticket Holders. Adult coach travel costs between £9 – £30 per match for Season Ticket Holders. Average adult travel cost of £19 for Season Ticket Holders. Executive coach travel option being piloted this season.
Arsenal:
Subsidised coach travel for selected matches. £10 coach travel for Everton and Liverpool. Coach travel costs between £10 – £35 per match. Average travel cost of £22.
Brighton:
Amex Match ticket provides free rail travel in Greater Brighton area. Coach travel costs between £20-£40 per match. Average travel cost is £30.
Burnley:
No club travel.
Chelsea:
Coach travel is £10 for trips outside of London.
Crystal Palace:
Coach travel costs between £15 – £30 per match. Average travel cost is £21.
Everton:
Travel Club has a £5 joining fee. Coach travel costs between £15 – £35 per match. Average travel cost is £25.
Huddersfield Town:
Coach travel costs between £14 – £25 per match. 6-8 Executive Away Day matches, travel, meal, ticket and gift eg £99 for Burnley.
Leicester City:
Coach travel subsidised by club and costs £18 per match – a reduction from £23.
Liverpool:
Coach travels costs between £12 – £30 per match. Average travel costs of £23. Club investigating coach options (at cost) when no public transport is available over Christmas matches.
Manchester City:
Club membership provides 20% travel discount with Virgin Trains.
Manchester United:
No club travel.
Newcastle United:
No club travel.
Southampton:
Coach travel costs between £11 – £30 per match. Average travel cost of £22. Travel initiatives planned for away games over Christmas period.
Stoke City:
Free coach travel for all Premier League matches.
Swansea City:
Travel club has a £10 joining fee. Coach travel costs between £20 – £30 for Travel Club members. Jack Army membership guarantees away match ticket for £20 or under.
Tottenham:
Subsidised rail and coach travel for selected matches. Commitment to provide travel options whenever public transport is unavailable. Charter train for Leicester City £20. Coach travel costs between £28 – £39 per match. Average coach travel cost of £28.
Watford:
Coach travel £10 – £20 for trips outside of Greater London area. Aim to ensure supporters don’t pay more than £40 including ticket.
West Bromwich Albion:
£5 subsidy on away travel for opening two matches. Coach travel costs between £12 – £17 per match. Coach will provide free coach travel for one selected away game in the season. £5 coach travel offered on three different routes for travel to WBA home matches.
West Ham United:
£5 discount on Club Travel for Season Ticket Holders and Members. Travel costs confirmed on a match by match basis – eg Everton £35.
