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Anger at ticket price hike for young Gills fans

00:00, 31 March 2017

updated: 11:35, 31 March 2017

Gills fans have reacted with anger after the club announced plans to scrap its under 12s season ticket.

Under the old ticket scheme Gillingham fans were able to pay as little as £35, when purchased early, rising to £50 at full cost for the season, but under new prices under-12s will have to use a standard Under-18 season ticket, priced £160 - or £140 for early tickets.

The news came as Gillingham Football Club announced a £10 increase in adult season ticket prices, and unveiled prices for a new two-year season ticket, priced £700 in the Rainham end.

Gillingham fans
Gillingham fans

But it was the rising cost for under 12s that aggravated many fans.

“The biggest issue for me is the doing away with the under 12’s deal,” wrote Whitstablegills on Kent Online.

“I believe the Chairman has made a very big mistake by placing such a burden on parents and families.

"The youngsters are the fans of the future and Scally has just damaged that.

"I am part of a family of four who attend as season ticket holders and have done for many years.

"Sad to say we will not be renewing for next season but I might attend the occasional match.”

Zziplex added: “Under 12’s parents will now have to pay £140 or £160, an increase of £90 or £110 depending when you buy them.

A Typical “Rainham Ender” with an U12 will have to pay a staggering £540 or £560 for their season tickets, a combined increase of 40%. Can’t see many kids coming next year.”

Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium
Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium

Gills44 wrote: “I don’t really begrudge paying for a season ticket as its just part and parcel of the game, if you want to watch you have to pay but why are we getting rid of the Under 12’s season ticket?

"It’s just making it harder for younger fans whose mums and dads have grown up watching Gills to watch live football.

"In an ideal world I’d have under 12 season tickets priced around £50 quid for the whole season to get them into the ground and let the club get under their skin.

"In the days we live in now with Premier League matches being so prominent on TV we really should be putting a lot of effort into teaching kids that football is a live event not a TV show.”

Will the anger be enough to make the club reconsider the plan?

A Gills spokesman said: "We've received a great level of feedback from supporters.

"We want to do everything we can to get families attending football games.

"We're looking at that feedback and taking it on board."

Many parents are saying they won't take their children to Gills games next season
Many parents are saying they won't take their children to Gills games next season

Better news for fans is that the club are offering a discount on all tickets purchased up to April 21.

Adult season tickets in the Rainham End cost £375 (£400 from April 24).

In the Medway Stand the price starts at £380 (£405) and in the Gordon Road Stand the cheapest seat for the season is £340 (£365).

Matchday admission has been frozen at £22 in most areas of the ground, rising to £24 on the day of the match.

A cheaper under-18 ticket in all areas will now cost £7 when purchased in advance.

Under-18 season tickets cost £140 (£160) in all areas while over-65s pay as low as £295 (£315) in the Gordon Road Stand, £335 (£355) in the Rainham End and from £330 (£355) in the Medway Stand.

In an additional move to attract young fans, full paying adults can claim a free ticket for an under-12 for each match, when purchasing a single ticket.

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