Tiny Chasetown Football Club face having to charge fans up to £40 a ticket for its dream FA Cup clash because of spiralling police costs.
The non-league side’s ground only has a capacity of around 2,000 - but FA rules mean that it faces difficulties in moving the game to another ground.
Today it was trying to find a solution to the financial headache that would avoid having to overcharge its loyal supporters.
Police are keen for the game to be moved because of the danger of trouble from Cardiff fans.
But FA rules prevent two FA Cup ties being played at the same venue in one weekend, ruling out Molineux and Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium.
That leaves the Hawthorns as a possibility, although the club would have to pay West Bromwich Albion rent. Another rule means the club can only receive the gate receipts of what their own capacity would bring, with the rest going to the FA.
Chief executive and secretary of the British Gas Midland Division club Mick Joiner said: “We had a police bill of £8,000 when we played Oldham in the FA Cup two years ago.
“And, based on the ratio, our concern is that it could be double that. But we are determined not to over-charge fans.”
Burntwood councillor and ardent Chasetown fan Paul Atkins today urged police to keep costs down for the tie.
Staffordshire Police said today there was no specific figure yet set for the cost of policing the game
Richard Caddy, spokesman for the Staffordshire Safety in Sports Grounds team which includes the police, said a solution was being sought to allow the game to continue at Church Street.
A decision is likely to be made in the next couple of days.
6 Comments
CHARGE CARDIFF FANS £100 PER TICKET SO THEY CAN ON BRING 15% OF THE CAPACITY SO THATS £30,000 SHOULD PAY ALL THE COSTS FOR THE DAY END OF
Why can’t Wolves ,Albion, and or Walsall, help Chasetown out by paying the Police Bill?, It would be a sad indictment of these bigger teams, if they couldn’t help out their smaller neighbour.
I agree with U2 Wolf make Cardiff fans pay the extra on tickets!!It’s because of there idiots that a police prescence is required.The likes of Walsall,Albion have well trained stewards who could help Chasetown out to reduce costs.There is likely to be more trouble in the Walsall area between Cardiff and millwall fans who have past history.So having both games in the same day should be looked at anyway releasing Walsall’s stewards to help out But Don’t tell Mr Bonser.
Cardiff fan here. Why is the police bill so big. If we are only allowed to bring 350 these will probably be club officials and guests only, surely WMP can handle 350 blokes in club blazers and their wives.
Most City fans really hope that the game is played at Church Street, proper cup ground for a proper cup tie. My missus is from Walsall and thus local contacts would help me get a ticket. However I wont take it up as it would take it out of the hands of a Chasetown fan. You deserve to see your team play, however glory seekers will be likely to get your tickets, just like real Cardiff fans missed out on the trip to Anfield this season.
Dave, the indictment of this is the F.A itself, if they switch the tie and get more than 2,000 fans the rest of the money goes to the F.A, how is this supposed to help grass roots fooball!!!. And i agree with you on your other comments…
Up the town…
Chasetown probably know their most loyal fans, so therefore they should charge them the normal rate & all others £40.00 a ticket