Posted on 17th October 2024
Concessions battle: Spurs and West Ham fans plan joint demo
This weekend supporters from two cross-London rivals will be coming together to demonstrate against both their clubs’ attacks on concessionary pricing.
Supporters of Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are set to demonstrate alongside one another against their respective clubs ahead of the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Both clubs have been embroiled in controversy across the summer and into the 2024-25 season as they plan to severely restrict concessionary pricing for young and old fans alike.
Back in March Tottenham Hotspur announced that, unless you’re already eligible for a “senior concession” by 2025-26 they’ll no longer offer OAP season ticket discounts at all. They’re gone forever.
“This is a choice, not a necessity,” Tottenham Hotspur’s Save Our Seniors campaign group said. “There is no financial reasoning for removing senior concessions. This is not a business decision.
“This is the culmination of years of erosion of senior discounts based purely on the politics and values of the club chairman and executive board.”
A balloon on the pitch as West Ham United fans protest before the Premier League match at Selhurst Park © Alamy
Similarly, West Ham United announced significant increases to season ticket and matchday pricing for the 2024-25 season earlier this year.
On top of that, the club also announced changes to concessionary pricing – restricting them to certain sections and price bands of the London Stadium while increasing prices for young supporters – a move that has angered and disappointed West Ham fans across the board.
“They are telling pensioners and kids ‘you’re not welcome’ at West Ham,” said Paul Colborne, who chairs Hammers United, one of the fan groups involved in the protest.
“That’s not the West Ham Way. It makes a mockery of the club’s commitment to ‘affordable family football.’ It will rip the heart and soul out of the club.”
Both groups will be holding banners in North London making their feelings clear, handing out leaflets to supporters explaining the issues and releasing thousands of balloons with the “Stop Exploiting Loyalty” message on them.
Supporters at both clubs are calling on their clubs to reverse their decisions to remove and restrict concessionary pricing at their respective stadiums.
