TARTAN BARMY
Charity slams Scotland football chiefs for not giving cut-price tickets to older fans
Penny Lancaster has told how a shoplifter threatened to stab her with a needle.
Sir Rod Stewart’s wife revealed the frightening incident happened while she filmed reality TV show Famous and Fighting Crime for Channel 4.
The former model, 47, came face to face with the thief on the first day of training as a special police constable. She chased the suspect, who then threatened to stab her.
Penny said: “I was aware of how vulnerable I was. I was wearing a stab vest but didn’t have a baton or a taser gun or mace spray.”
Despite the experience, she wants to train to become a real special constable.
The mum-of-two said: “Of all of the things I’ve done in my life, it was the one job I felt was the most me. Nothing else has given me such satisfaction.”
The episode is due to be screened at 9pm on February 11. is no discount offered to OAPs, despite pleas made by the charity last year. Age Scotland’s chief executive Brian Sloan said: “It ’ s extremely disappointing that the SFA has not added concession-ssionpriced tickets for older people, despite our previous suggestions of how it could fill its consistently empty seats while cultivating a loyal fan base of older Scots.
“Thi s is a huge missed opportunity opportun for older football ffansans , who may not otherwise oth be able to afford aff the regular prices with wit a reduced income post retirement. r “WWe encourage the SFA tto re- evaluate its new prpricing structure to be more inclusive of older people. “This option,op which could bring more fans to a stadium which is conconsistently three-fifths empty whih le tack l ing the public health crisis of loneliness, sounds like a smart and ethical business decision.” According to the charity, there are 200,000 older people in Scotland – the equivalent of four full Hampden Park stadiums – who go half a week not speaking to or seeing anyone.
In September last year, just 17,455 fans turned up to watch Scotland play Albania in a Nations League clash.
Just more than 21,000 people at tended the team’s next competitive home match against Israel two months later. Hampden’s capacity is 52,063. Belgium, Russia, Kazakhstan and San Marino are the other countries in Scotland’s Euro 2020 qualifying group. Hampden will be one of 12 venues across Europe to host the tournament.
The SFA was contacted for a comment yesterday but did not respond.