Terriers steer clear of Bramall Lane over pricing

A BOYCOTT by Huddersfield Town supporters over admission prices at Bramall Lane has led to a little over 1,000 tickets for the away seats being sold for tonight’s derby – well below the numbers expected.

Terriers fans are angry at what they consider to be an excessive price of £28.50 for adults, especially as Bury fans paid around half that amount for the same seats at Bramall Lane earlier this month.

United’s pricing policy of categorising games is behind the difference with the more attractive games such as derbies being priced as the most expensive, while meetings with the division’s less glamorous clubs such as Bury are lower.

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As of close of business yesterday, Town had sold 1,049 of their 4,507 ticket allocation which suggested the proposed boycott, which is being organised by the internet messageboard Down At The Mac, is having an effect.

To illustrate how many fans would be normally expected to make the trip, Huddersfield took 4,202 fans to Sheffield Wednesday last season.

It was the biggest following Lee Clark’s side took on the road in League One last season, eclipsing the 3,665 that travelled across the Pennines to Oldham Athletic.

As a result of the slow uptake, Blades yesterday announced that away fans will now be able to pay on the day at Bramall Lane.

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Explaining the difference in ticket prices between tonight’s game and other fixtures this season, a Blades spokesman said: “Sheffield United has used a categorization of matches and a three-tier pricing structure for a number of seasons now. This is the case at many football clubs.

“This season we have four category A games – high profile or derby fixtures – which are the club’s highest-priced matches. The match against our Yorkshire rivals happens to be one of those category A games.

“Also, the club has four category C games – a quartet of fixtures each season whereby the aim is to provide affordable football for families and supporters who normally may not be able to attend. The match against Bury is one of the category C games and is therefore very competitively priced.

“The prices for the away end for the Huddersfield game are less than the prices paid by our fans in every part of the stadium with the exception of the Kop, where there is some restricted viewing and the concession kiosks are in uncovered areas.

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“Parts of the Bramall Lane/Westfield Stand are normally occupied by our own fans sitting in this area paying the same price as the visitors (as has been the case for this season’s home games against Brentford and Walsall). On this occasion, we have, however, moved our fans from this area to accommodate an extra 2,000 tickets for Huddersfield supporters.”