Athletic defend match-day prices

Oldham Athletic: good value?

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

ATHLETIC are pushing towards the top six on the pitch, but have already made it into the play-off positions in a new study.

The club ranks sixth in Sky Bet League One’s value for money league. The cost of cheapest admission, a programme, a pie and a cup of tea is £27.80.

That’s more than at Rochdale (£21.50), Walsall, Fleetwood, Crawley and Swindon. But a single day out watching Athletic in action is easier on the wallet than at all other rival clubs.

The research, conducted by BBC Sport in their annual ‘Price of Football’ report, shows that Athletic’s cheapest season ticket – £325 – is the third-costliest in League One.

That is more expensive than at nine clubs in the Championship and divisional rivals Fleetwood, where the cost is as little as £179.50. Manchester City’s cheapest season ticket for this term is only £299 – though the club’s wealth allows it to subsidise the price.

But Athletic chief executive Neil Joy says there is plenty of value for fans who bought season tickets ahead of the current season.

“We may not be the cheapest in the division for season tickets, but it works out at £15 a game for adults. For our under-16s, season tickets are £50 — £2 a game; and we also offer them at £200 for 16 to 21-year-olds. I think we’re a very attractive proposition.

“We hadn’t increased the cost of season tickets for seven years before this season, and we have an old stadium to run and maintain. The price structure fits our budget structure: we have invested in quality players and all the money we get goes back into the club.”