This is an interesting point.
I have been going to watch Southend for 25 years, and I am registered blind, although at the moment, I am not completely blind.
Over this period, I have received either free, tickets, due to my disability. Southend have always given free tickets for the disabled, or blind, over the years, and at certain points, the 'carers' who accompanied them either went free, or paid a reduced price.
This season, the club is charging blind, or disabled supporters, a reduced rate. My season ticket cost just under half price of a normal season ticket.
There are a couple of points that have wrangled me here though
1. The person with the disability pays a reduced rate, and yet the carer this season still gains entrance to Roots Hall for free.... That to me is twisted logic!
2. I think the timing of it does leave a bit of a bad taste in the mouth, almost as if we are now a championship club, we want to cash in on as many things as we can. Im not saying that that is the case, but that is certainly the impression the club is giving off.
Personally, I have no trouble with paying a reduced rate, as opposed to free, as I have a well paid job and I can afford it. When I travel to away games, I always pay full price as I do not wish to sit in the home teams disabled area, and at present, although registered blind, my eyesight is enough to see most of the game.... Although sometiems ignorance is bliss!!
What I would say is that for a lot of people with disabilites, they are unable to work, and without wishing to sound patronising, Southend may well be one of there only pleasures in life, and if they are now unable to afford this, then I think something is wrong. I think the club need to address that issue, as at present, it is fine, having lots of new fans flocking through the turnstiles and bringing revenue to the club, but it hasnt always been like that, and it may not always be like this in the future, and so they need to look after the fans who have been with them through thick and thin as well.
Yes, the tickets are free, but peopl;e will still spend money on programmes and food no doubt, along with merchandise.
As I say, it is a difficult one to get right, and I have no problem on a personal level paying the reduced ticket prices (I also have no problem in admitting that either, I have a condition which means I dont get to see as much of the action as others, so dont feel guilty about paying less than others!!
) as I can afford to do so, but others may not be in such a priviledged position, and it would be shame, after all the hard work over the last two years, to potentially lose fans along the way.
