BURNLEY’S decision to increase season ticket prices by up to 50 per cent after the early bird deadline has been described as an ‘own goal’ by supporters.

The Clarets have already sold between 12,500 and 13,000 season tickets after freezing prices before the March 31 early bird deadline.

But they resumed sales yesterday with a significant price hike following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

Adult prices now range between £685 and £499, having cost between £485 and £329 before the early bird deadline.

“It’s a classic own goal,” said supporter Angus Williamson.

“It doesn’t apply to me because I bought mine early, but I can understand that people aren’t happy with the prices.

“I think it will affect the attendance. I have a friend in the south who bought two season tickets last time we were in the Premier League but he’s refusing now, even though he can afford it.”

The new prices include a £100 ‘retainer’, which will be redeemed if fans buy a season ticket for the 2015/16 campaign.

“The retainer worries me, whether it sets a precedent and it’s something that will happen every year now for all fans,” Williamson added.

“I paid £485 and now they’re £585 with a £100 retainer on top of that.

“I think £535 would have been the right price given that the club is already receiving a windfall for promotion.”

Meg Steele, of the Central Lancs Clarets, said: “I don’t agree with the retainer because you don’t know what you’re going to be able to do in a year – whether you will be able to buy a season ticket.

“I’ve already got my season tickets but they are overpriced now.

“There should have been some sort of prize freeze.”

Alan Beecroft, of the Colne Clarets, said: “It seems expensive, but I did half expect it.

“Burnley is a poor town though and at that price I can’t see them selling them all.

“Can people afford it? Time will tell I suppose.”

Bev Todd, of Rossendale Clarets, added: “I think it’s too much. “We had a meeting of the supporters club last night and we were discussing it.

“I don’t think they should have added the £100 on.

“But I think the proper fans have already bought them, I bought mine in January, I’ve been a season ticket holder for 40 years.

“The people who are buying them now will be the one-season wonders.”

Joyce Haluk said: “The prices have gone up quite a bit and maybe some people might not be able to afford that, but the prices were bound to go up.

“Anybody could have got a ticket at the early bird price. People were maybe waiting to see how the team were doing.

“But for me those who only come when we’re in the Premier League aren’t the true fans.”

 

The Money Go Round...

The cost of watching football in the Premier League...and elsewhere

Everton’s cheapest season ticket is £544 rising to £719

Liverpool’s prices range from £710 to £869

Crystal Palace charge between £550 and £680

Manchester United’s season tickets are hard to get hold of but they cost between £532 and £950

Champions Manchester City’s ticket prices range from £450 to £799

Sunderland’s season pass for the Stadium of Light costs between £400 and £525

Newcastle charge between £378 and £722, although that top price includes access to a lounge

Aston Villa’s season tickets are between £335 and £615

The cheapest matchday ticket at Tottenham Hotspur for a Category C game is £47. They rise to £81 for a Category A game

Across London the dearest matchday ticket for a game at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is £126

The most expensive ticket for a Chelsea game is £87

German giants Bayern Munich sell a season ticket for the equivalent of £110, reputed to be the cheapest in Europe

The cheapest matchday ticket to watch Barcelona costs £76.51