Liverpool supporters were joined by Manchester City fans in protest against ticket price increases
Spirit of Shankly committee member Gareth Roberts says Liverpool fans have had enough during a joint protest with Manchester City over ticket price increases in the Premier League. MCFC Fans Supporting Foodbanks’ Nick Clarke described the hikes as ‘bitter and resentful’ in a pre-match demonstration at Anfield.
The Liverpool supporters club joined forces with Everton, Manchester United and City groups in response to the yearly ticket rises. The Red Devils demonstrated prior to their win over the Blues in light of the announcement that new tickets for children and older fans will rise to £66 at Old Trafford.
There is concern from supporters over the threat to the £30 away price cap, with clubs believed to be targeting change. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News on Sunday, Roberts said: “Man City have been one of our huge rivals on the pitch in recent years, and we thought it sent a really strong message to come together today before a huge game and say we’ve had enough.
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“Because we have had enough Liverpool fans have, City fans have, United fans, Everton fans have, fans across the league feel they’ve been squeezed too much now.
“We’ve been squeezed for 30 years, let’s be honest, I want to send a message, we all want to send a message to the clubs to stop putting the prices up, stop exploiting our loyalty and it’s at every turn.
“The passionate supporter that you get in the Kop or the Stretford End or wherever around the country, that’s from generational fans who’s grandad went, dad went, took their son but it’s getting harder to go yourself and harder and harder to take your son, daughter.
“Where will that lead? That will lead, I think, to a ‘product’ where you’ve got people coming, tick it off the bucket list, watch a game, look at the famous Kop and wonder why it’s not that noisy and not that passionate anymore then go home and say, ‘well, it’s not what I heard it was’. Why isn’t it? Because you price people out.”
Clarke added: “Tribalism ultimately holds back supporters across the country, who all experience the same issues to getting things done from protecting the game, as we know and knew it. Spirit of Shankly reached out to us, we looked at the fixture list and United were playing Everton at home on the same day, the four biggest clubs in the north west, all together.
“I want to be there in the same stands in 20 years slagging them off, I want my sons, daughters, nieces and nephews to also be there – it doesn’t seem possible with the way football is going now. United, Everton, Liverpool (and) City have all hated each other at different times across the decades, to be doing this is brilliant and inspiring.
“At City, we’ve experienced 12 out of 14 seasons price increases – it’s death by a thousand cuts, that’s what hurts, it’s bitter and resentful. It affects us over years, know I’ve never felt like this before, speaking to Liverpool and United fans, they way we are now I feel so hopeful. English football needs to change, this (protesting) is how we’ll change it through the fans – who people say are the lifeblood of the game but none of them act like it.”
