And now the Rebels, who put the Lancashire club's refusal to allow concessions for the all-ticket match down to "greed", are discussing whether to make a formal complaint to the North West Counties League.
Darwen refute FC United's claim, saying they will charge children the full £6 "for crowd control reasons", claiming that they are unable to ensure that supporters claiming concessions are entitled to them. It means that under-16s will pay three times the normal admission price at Darwen.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh is unhappy at Darwen's action - he points out that one of the founding principles of the club is to make football affordable, especially for young people, and believes that Darwen are acting in the same manner as Premiership clubs who exploit Manchester United's popularity by upping ticket prices.
Saturday's game is a poignant one. Darwen are one of the oldest clubs in the region, dating back to 1875, and their last league game was in 1899 against Newton Heath, who three years later changed their name to Manchester United.
Many FC United supporters see their club as spiritual successors to Newton Heath, and there was even a lobby of fans who voted for it to be the club's name when it was chosen by poll in the summer.
But the row has cast a shadow over a match in which FC United hope to reinforce their lead at the top of the Moore and Co Solicitors League Second Division.
Walsh said: "It's just greed. They have said this is a category A game but they couldn't tell us the last time they had a category A game. And they certainly couldn't tell us the last time they charged £6 and no concessions.
"It's very disappointing when a club does this because we want to encourage as many people as possible to go to games."
But Darwen chairman Kevin Henry, who doubled the concession price from £1 when he took control of the club in the summer, refutes the claims.
Henry said: "The safety officer said he doesn't want a log-jam of people caused by checking concessions at the gate on the day." Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
We need to take a stand striaght away before it gets out of hand and evey club try to cash in.Walsheys right as when MUFC travel away clubs increase the ticket prices. Whats all this about a CAT A game, whats Darwens average gate 100,200??? Is it overboard not to take our legion of fans to the match?
This is nothing short of profiteering by Darwen. I thought I'd given up being fleeced by mercenary chairmen. They are doing themselves no favours, because the negative feeling amongst the FC United fans will make us disinclined to support any other fund-raising activities at the game. The paltry sum they'll have made by ripping off our kids will be lost against the lack of sales of merchandising, food, drink, badges or even a raffle like Colne did on Sunday.
I'll be there to support MY team, but I won't be bringing my kids or putting any other money into Darwen's coffers. I hope they enjoy my B#6 ... it's all they're getting!
Bruce I agree. it's pure greed by the Darwen chairman. Category A game? This game will keep them running for the next season and if they draw us at home in the 2nd Div cup..........scandalous
Typically the type of people we are trying to get away from are still infesting the game even at this level.Shame on Darwen,not satisfied with the biggest payday they will ever have,they still want more.
Absolute disgrace.
The chairman only doubled the concessions from B#1 in the summer!
If he doesnt want a 'log jam' checking for concessionary tickets, why not let everybody in for say B#4. Atleast that would balance it out.
In response to Darwen's pocket lining antics...
DO NOT BUY ANYTHING INSIDE THE GROUND!!!!
Unfortunatly this will include programs for all you avid collectors :o( But it is for a good cause!
I'm sure you can all mangae with a packed lunch and a hip flask for one game ;o)
Darwen's average home gate so far this year is 122. Last year it was 70. I think they are being greedy and will deserve it if FC fans decide to stay away from the match.
FC going to Darwen will provide a massive and much needed payday for the club which will go above and beyond anything they could have expected for this season - why not allow concessions as a goodwill gesture for all the extra income the match will be providing for them? Surely a seperate line for concessions wouldnt be too much trouble - people who take children to the game usually arrive much earlier than the rest of the crowd anyway so there wouldn't be a backlog problem anyway.
a fellow Yorkshireman on the fans forum has suggested a new chant - " Darwen FC the club with no shame"............ etc
I understand clubs in our division wanting a good pay day, but there should be a split. I like our B#7 adults B#2 kids split. A blanket one-price ticket does need to be justified. It's not as though they have had to fork out to hire another venue. All clubs should offer concessions. Let's not forget pensions aren't what they ought to be either. We should at least bring this up at the AGM and agree a course of action to protect ourselves from clubs who look to profiteer. To boycott a game without giving a club fair warning of the consequences might be a bit harsh. Having said that, if one lost out on a big pay day the others might think twice.
Will be going on my own and without the kids
Don't Darwen realise how much extra money people with families spend at the grounds once they are in
I'm just thinking of all the money I will now save and Darwen will loose by just being greedy
Gee, Malcolm. Could this article be a "set up" for when there are less than 2000 show up for the Darwen game??? I can read the column now: Less than 2000 showed up at Darwen this past week because of the boycott. Sure. Per Darwin: Survival of the Fittest. Tough news that someone needs to break to Fat Club.
FCUM, MCR - Good call. Having limited themselves to 2000 max, and look to be easing out some of our kids, I don't see why I need to spend in the ground. I spend more on the kids anyway. Chippy it is then. Programmes half price at full time. If they want to act like OT, treat them like OT. No discrimination a FCUM.
Must agree with Darwen here as its their one and only time to rake in some easy cash.
I understand the point FC are making but Darwen are strapped for cash.
Pies better be good though.
How do FCUM have the cheek to call Darwen greedy when they already charge their own fans more than the other teams.
Tommy and they say Americans don't understand irony. These guys wouldn't recognise it if it walked right up and cast a vote (only once a year mind). On the subject of voting I guess they don't know that the old communist regimes used to have regular elections. Rather unconvincingly the same people kept getting elected until of course they were purged. Does that ring any bells with you? Now how does it go? Four legs good two legs bad. Baaaaaaaa.
Darwen have a legal responsibility to respect the advice of their safety officer. Notice that Darwen had doubled their concessions to B#2. FCUM used that as their starting point. When is Walsh going to justify their profiteering at the expense of their fans?
Malcolm. Would you please explain what on earth you are talking about? Darwen doubled their concessions to B#2 at the beginning of the season. This was a necessity. They then trebled the new price to B#6. This was pure greed. All clubs in this division sell tickets at compatible prices and all clubs provide concessionaire alternatives. I have read a fair few of your comments and your inability to put together a reasoned argument about anything is unfortunate. You clearly hate everything about Fc united and with that you are prepared to make unsubstantiated accusations with criminal implications. Your belligerence is bordering on the insane. People who suffer from stress are usually the last to know. Ask a close friend or close family member if they have observed any changes in your overall behaviour. I honestly think you need help.