Saints won’t change visually impaired prices (From Daily Echo)
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Southampton won’t change visually impaired prices Saints Disabled Supporters’ Association told
12:30pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Sport
By Gordon Simpson, Senior Sports Reporter
Saints fans at St. Mary's
SAINTS have told their disabled supporters’ association they will not compromise over the price of tickets for visually impaired fans.
As previously reported in the Echo, the club have taken the decision to no longer offer free entry to supporters who suffer from serious sight problems.
Instead, they will be charged the normal price for disabled fans in their age category. For an adult renewing a season ticket, that means a cost of £495.
In response to this, the association wrote to the club earlier this month, putting forward a number of “compromise proposals”.
However, in a letter back to them, Saints have said they will not be able to change their policy at this stage.
A statement from the Saints Disabled Supporters’ Association said: “The SDSA formally suggested an alternative that, it was hoped, would not be such a massive step change for existing visually impaired fans.
“However, as a result of our representations to the club, the SDSA has been informed that the decision is apparently irrevocable and the club has decided that it will not alter its original stance on the issue as they “... prepare for the new challenges that Premier League football brings.”
“The SDSA are, naturally, very disappointed at both the lack of initial consultation on the issue and with the apparent scant consideration given to its suggested compromise proposals.
“It is the SDSA’s fervent hope that in the future, the club will consult with us much earlier regarding any proposed changes to pricing structures or facilities available for disabled fans from any impairment group.”
The statement ended: “The SDSA will continue to represent disabled Southampton fans and, despite its disappointment, looks forward to continuing to work with Southampton Football Club on this and many other issues in the years to come.”
Comments(13)
Darkangelv2
says...
12:56pm Thu 28 Jun 12
If so, a fair compromise would be the visually impaired fan gets in free and the guide pays full whack?
Sounds fair to me :)
RedArmy1
says...
1:03pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Dark angel posts about a compromise solution which sounds a better deal - but I don't feel there will be any movement from the Club.
COYR.
Darkangelv2
says...
1:09pm Thu 28 Jun 12
I understand that the shift from previous seasons is big - but the deal itself is very good.
Effectively 2 fans get a half price ticket. Or 'Buy one get one Free' if you like.
You can't say fairer in the scheme of things.
circa 66 saint
says...
1:14pm Thu 28 Jun 12
if the visually impaired fan has free admission then there is nothing stopping them coming in alone and in the event of an emergency could be in, or be a danger.
if they are entitled to bring a carer free then the poss hazard to them and others is reduced.
this seems fair to me and ensures the only "blind people in the stadium unacompanied will be the match officials
lowe esteem
says...
1:32pm Thu 28 Jun 12
St Retford wrote:Southampton Football Club do have a product to sell, they are allowed to make u-turns, whereas the Tory Party have made it a byword for trust?
Why should we do a u-turn on this? We're Southampton Football Club, not the Tory party.
Paul Lucas
says...
2:37pm Thu 28 Jun 12
RedArmy1 wrote:This. Someone who seems to have some empathy with people who are worse off than themselves - unlike the other respondents and SFC of course!
I genuinely feel sorry for the SDSA who have no teeth and very little voice to speak on Disabled Fans behalf.
Dark angel posts about a compromise solution which sounds a better deal - but I don't feel there will be any movement from the Club.
COYR.
There go I but for the grace of god!
cpnhadock
says...
5:24pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Anyway... on another note - I cannot wait to see what Saint Nicolas brings us for Christmas this summer!!! I think he may bring one centre back, one goal keeper, one full back, 2 midfielders and a striker + partridge in a pear tree.
Coyr!
saintsfc
says...
6:31pm Thu 28 Jun 12
Ooops
Strasbourg Saint
says...
7:10pm Thu 28 Jun 12
St Retford wrote:Just as well, otherwise I'd have to remove my support.
Why should we do a u-turn on this? We're Southampton Football Club, not the Tory party.
Mind you, should that unthinkable situation occur whereby SFC suddenly became (literally) the Tories, we'd have to find some new songs:
'David Cameron, the Tory party's goal machine' and
'He shoots from the left, he shoots from the right, Nick (each-way) Cleggie makes Harman look sh!te'.
Naa! I'd rather not think about it.
Jesus_02
says...
9:55pm Thu 28 Jun 12
TBH I didn't even know that blind people previously got two free tickets for every match previously. They have lost something special and are understandably disappointed
moler86
says...
10:26am Fri 29 Jun 12
lowe esteem
says...
10:29pm Sat 30 Jun 12
moler86 wrote:Fool
If I get blind drunk every week can I watch it for free?.....
St Retford says...
12:45pm Thu 28 Jun 12