War breaks out over ticket prices (From Barry And District News)

War breaks out over ticket prices

A WAR of words has broken out over Barry Town Football Club tickets prices next season.

Supporters Club chairman Tim Johnson believes the new fee of £7 is too high, especially since the club will be playing in the second flight of Welsh football next year.

But club chairman Stuart Lovering has confirmed that the new tariff will come into force in August. Also, the price for children to watch a game is now £3 and senior citizens will have to pay £5.

At Monday evening's Supporters' Club AGM, Mr Johnson said: "Our prices for next season of £7, £5 and £3 will be the highest in domestic Welsh football. This I am sure will discourage the casual supporter together with away fans wanting to watch their club at Jenner Park. If you think back to the Welsh Cup games against Risca and Gelli, they brought a large number of fans to see their local side play us. By changing these prices I am sure we will lose more money through sales of drinks, programmes and golden goals.

"I would however stress the committee of the supporters' club does not agree with a boycott even though they understand the feelings of you the regular supporters."

To watch Cardiff City play the likes of Leeds, Leicester, West Ham and Sunderland in the Coca-Cola Championship will cost from £16 next season.

In a packed meeting, Mr Johnson also voiced his anger over owner Stuart Lovering's refusal to accept his organisation as the official supporters club following plans to set up a new Supporters' Association for the coming season.

The new association will have a network of branches in various parts of the town.

Mr Johnson said: "We have been told by club owner Stuart Lovering that he will not accept us as being an official supporters' club and that we cannot use the club, our club, for meetings or fundraising activities.

"Considering the amount of work supporters' club members do to raise money for Barry Town this is very disappointing to put it mildly."

As the News went to press, Mr Lovering had not yet commented.

l THERE were two lucky winners in the Barry Town FC lottery on Tuesday, June 29, each netting £600. The vital numbers were 1, 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12. There will be a jackpot of £1,000 every week, and the draw will be taken from numbers 1 to 20 for Tuesday July 6.