CEO addresses supporters concerns about new junior season tickets
Following some of the concern from supporters surrounding the new Shrewsbury Town season ticket prices, the club’s Chief Executive Matt Williams has clarified the clubs position.“We want our season tickets to be accessible for all of our fans,” said Williams.
“We put the prices out on Friday, with £295 being the cheapest adult season ticket which works out at less than £13 a game which is excellent value, but we perhaps didn’t communicate our intentions for our junior supporters in the best possible manner, which is something I am addressing internally.
“The last thing we want to do is penalise any loyal supporter in any way shape or form and we don’t want those people who have been here five or six years to feel they are having to move and go into the family stand to secure the best possible deal.
“Our intention has always been to allow juniors to renew their current season ticket seat at the family stand prices.
“But any new families that come along on the back of what we hope will be a successful season will be encouraged to take seats in the family stand as we are keen to develop this area of the ground in association with the Supporters Parliament and our Community department.”
And Matt was quick to praise the fantastic support the club have received this season, with Town recently taking over 1300 supporters to Tranmere.
“As I have said, the last thing we want to do is penalise our loyal supporters who are fantastic.
“They get behind the team as well as travelling home and away in great numbers, I was in the away end at Burton and the manner in which all the supporters conducted themselves was a credit to the club.
“We are aware there are junior supporters in every block around the ground and we want their support, we certainly don’t want to lose them to Wolves, West Brom or Aston Villa and we hope this announcement reassures our supporters of our intentions.
"Those supporters who purchased season tickets this season deserve our thanks, to support the club in the manner they did following the relegation and the changes of last season deserve our thanks and recognition.
“We want them to come here which is why we are keen to get the message out that they do not have to pay £120 in Category B or £165 in Category A.
“They will pay the family stand renewal price for your seat for where you sit, but new families wishing to attend will be encouraged to purchase tickets in the family stand.
But as well as keeping loyal fans happy, Matt knows it’s also vitally important that the club attract more, younger supporters.
“We are trying to tap into the juniors because research has shown that it’s at age seven when they come to their first match is where their allegiance is formed.
"I know from a personal level, my dad got me two tickets for a game in the early 80s between Oldham and Newcastle and I was instantly hooked on The Latics.
“Hopefully we will have a new influx of people coming in and taking advantage of the under-8 season tickets which will mean in turn that younger supporters who will join our Junior Shrews and receive the benefits from that.
“We want to get the place full and show them the improvements that have been made this season.
“There is the business side of it as well as season tickets do provide a massive cash injection into the club. The more season tickets we sell, the better the managers budget can be.
“So hopefully we’ve cleared up the junior price issue and we can all move forward because I know we are on the verge of something good here and if we can get three points at Accrington then we are back on track.”