Early birds catch the Mackerel Men at Worthing
As Worthing FC celebrate 140 years of playing football in the town this year, it’s worth remembering it was not that long ago that the club were on the precipice of disaster.
The debts were piling up and the football was that bad that at one point the Under-18s were nearly getting as many people watching them as the first team.
When Adam Hinshelwood thankfully arrived in late 2013, the football quickly improved. The debts didn’t go away immediately but just over 12 months later George Dowell followed him into Woodside Road, and the rest, as they say in history.
Now there is more history in the making this coming season as the Rebels, or as some fans refer to them, the Mackerel Men, play in the National League, the highest level of non-league football in the domestic game.
And with more season ticket holders at Woodside now than were ever going through the turnstiles in those dark days, this week Worthing fans have their last chance to take advantage of the excellent ‘Early Bird’ season ticket offer for the 26/27 season.
If supporters purchase before this Sunday, June 7, an adult season ticket for general ground admission will cost £352 – as opposed to £396 after that deadline, a saving of £44. A concessionary ticket has a similar saving on offer with the ‘early bird’ price of £288, rising to £324 next Monday.
I also think for those who choose to pay on a match-by-match basis the club deserve some credit. Unlike the Premier League or Football League, the National League have an admission price cap, and all clubs are permitted to charge up to £26 per game for adult admission.
But Worthing chairman Barry Hunter and the board have instead opted for a £4 increase from last season, from £18 to £22, keeping in line with the average price in the National League.
Football finances, especially at non-league level, are a minefield – I know from experience – so to reiterate, all credit to the Worthing board for not taking the easy option and ‘making hay while the sun shines’ when it comes to fans coming through the turnstiles.
When I spoke to Barry Hunter earlier in the week he put it succinctly when he stated: “Setting ticket prices is always difficult and this season has been even more challenging given the costs to operate a National League club. Our supporters have been unbelievable, we know they understand the chasm we a jumping, and we hope we have got the balance right for them again this season.”
Tony Bloom aside (yes I know I’m biased!) , you don’t get many Premier League owners and chairmen, or many in the EFL for that matter, saying that.
In early July, Worthing fans find out in who they will play when as the National League fixtures are released. Then the excitement really will be building.
For more details of the Early Bird Season Ticket offer please go the the club website.