Posted on 5th October 2015
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Football supporters from across the country worked together at the weekend to deliver the Twenty’s Plenty message at every Premier League fixture and many Football League games.
Home and away fans took part in join demonstrations outside every top-flight match, calling on their clubs to adopt the £20 cap on away ticket prices.
Demonstrations secured national coverage and brought spiralling ticket prices back under the media spotlight. As well covering social media timelines, the Twenty’s Plenty action secured coverage in The Guardian, on the BBC, Talksport and Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler took time during the Arsenal vs Manchester United match to discuss the issue.
The timing of the nationwide protest was described as crucial, as the 20 Premier League shareholder clubs are due to meet next month to carve up the new TV deal, which could reach £8bn once the auction for international rights is complete.
Looking back at a successful weekend of action, FSF chief exec Kevin Miles said:
The depth and breadth of support that fans have shown for Twenty’s Plenty this weekend sends a very clear message to the decision makers at the Premier League and at the clubs. It is vital that a proportion of the incredible increase in broadcasting revenues is invested back into underpinning away attendances.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has previously acknowledged that away fans are a “special breed” and one of the game’s “unique strengths” – the FSF believes the £20 cap to away tickets would see off the danger of them being priced out.
Have a look at some of the #TwentysPlenty protests below…
What is Twenty’s Plenty?
The Twenty’s Plenty campaign started back in January 2013. High away ticket prices were the catalyst, with many away fans following “Category A” teams expected to pay in excess of £50 or even £60 for tickets. The FSF wants clubs to cap all away tickets at £20.
Over the last two years, the campaign has grown and secured real improvements for away fans – creating an environment where Premier League clubs have introduced the £12m Away Supporters Initiative while more teams in the Football League are now entering into £20 reciprocal deals for away fans. Twenty’s Plenty has saved fans almost £800,000.
There you are, going about your day, encouraging football clubs to think a little more about their long-term financial health and ways to increase supporter engagement when – BAM! – a club CEO compares your ideas to the Great Leap Forward (Chairman Mao’s disastrous policy which led to the deaths of at least 15m Chinese citizens).
One of the country’s longest running supporters’ trusts is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, and so we asked TrustSTFC to fill us in on the ups and downs of the past twenty years…
As a partner of BeGambleAware, the FSA is pleased to support the next stage of the Bet Regret campaign that launches this weekend as the Tap Out message hits screens once again.
As a partner of BeGambleAware, the FSA is once again pleased to support the work of the leading safer gambling organisation with the Bet Regret campaign.
