Town set the trend for the rest of league

match the price of £179 this term, but with the Latics looking increasingly likely to take the drop into League One, it leaves Huddersfield Town as the undisputed kings of accessible football for all.

After spending the past decade campaigning for such a cause, arguing that the greedy and derisory prices supporters have to pay didn’t just extend to Premier League fans, it was refreshing to see such a progressive stance from the football club last season.

But what has been even more pleasing is how the club’s bravery to buck the trend of the myopic majority has not only been rewarded with 15,000 fans taking up the season card offer but also 13 of the top 20 best-ever John Smith’s Stadium attendances occurring this campaign.

In terms of percentage of the stadium filled each matchday, it equates to an average of 82 per cent with only four other teams filling their ground closer to capacity (Newcastle United, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Derby County).

The bumper crowds should be a ringing endorsement for other football club owners up and down the country to adopt a ‘if you build it, they will come’ mentality and lower their own ticket prices for next season.

Yet anyone who has taken a trip to the John Smith’s Stadium this season will testify it’s not just footfall the move brings about – it’s a moneycan’t-buy atmosphere which has helped propel the club to third in the Championship, experiencing only three home defeats along the way.

Town’s current league position and possible promotion to the Premier League could have provided the hierarchy the perfect excuse to adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to next year’s prices before conveniently hiking them up accordingly.

But announcing the price of £199 this week has shown a real commitment to the cause of sustainable and accessible football for all with the modest 11 per cent cost increase more than reasonable.

That’s not only taking into account the entertainment provided on the pitch under David Wagner but also the possibility of watching Premier League football too.

Huddersfield Town really have put the rest of the English game to shame, with the announcement not only greeted with delight from Town