I’m sorry but I find it absolutely pathetic when fans of a sporting team get all high moral about their exclusive club. So what if there were plastic fans at the game. City’s average attendance this year has been 18K/19K (Finny, help me out). I understand approximately 14k of those were ST holders. Wembley would have been over half empty if it were only the regulars attending.
Had City won on Saturday it would have been amazing for the club, the city as a whole and yes I believe for the Devils also. Success brings in support. Call it fickle but that’s how it is. It’s the same at the Devils. Good marketing is of course essential but nothing brings the crowds in any sport like a successful team. Those new fans help sustain success. It’s how a club grows.
I was fortunate enough to go to the game on Saturday. I paid for my ticket the final therefore I had a right to be there. The FA put the tickets on sale, not any ‘die hard’ City fans. ST holders had first priority, and rightly so, and then eventually they were put out on general sale to fans on the City database. Those who committed more the club than others should be entitled to first dibs. I would expect ST holders to be rewarded in this regard at the Devils, Blues, Glamorgan and any other local team. However, once the opportunity to those is taken then tickets should be available to anyone else.
I myself have only gone down to the City once this season. I’m not a ST holder and never have been (never had the funds to have both a Devils ST and a City ST). If I could I would but simply can’t. So, I am a plastic fan? I follow the club’s results every week, watch them on TV whenever they are on and support them as a Cardiff boy. Even if I didn’t follow them but had a ticket, is that a problem? My money has helped contribute to the club. Would some City fans rather not have that money for their team?
It pains me to say but when it comes to local teams being precious about their club, a lot of City fans are the worse by a country mile. Fans of Cardiff teams, and any area for that matter, should be welcoming new faces in any event that will support their club. If someone had a ticket the Devils playoff finals but had never been to the Devils I would be very thankful for their support and would hope based on their experience would invest again into it.
Gutted about the result on Saturday but Blackpool on the day were the better team. This is a shame for City and Cardiff as a whole, including the Devils.