The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
‘I want Posh to be around for my kids and their kids’
The vast majority of Posh season ticket holders have shown superb support by declining an invitation to accept a refund for the 2020-21 season.
Fans have been admitted to just one League One match at the Weston Homes Stadium this season because of the coronavirus crisis - a 4-1 win over Rochdale in December and that situation is unlikely to change before the end of the campaign.
But 90% of the approximate 3,500 Posh season ticket holders didn’t take the club up on the offer a full refund.
They chose instead to leave the money with the club in return for a possible four-year price freeze and the chance to help finance the Posh Academy.
The backing from the club’s fans in a time when football finances are at crisis point has impressed the London Road hierarchy.
Even some Executive Box Holders, who can pay £13,000 for the season, waived the option of a full refund.
Co-owner Dr Jason Neale said: “The fact Posh fans chose to support their club through the pandemic is of no surprise to any of the owners.
“When Stewart (Thompson) and I were looking to invest and help develop a football club we visited many clubs.
“In each case we conducted a ‘secret shopper’ exercise whereby we would visit pubs, hair dressers and other establishments and talk to members of the Peterborough community.
“Overwhelmingly people loved and supported Posh, so it’s no surprise our wonderful fan base came through. Darragh (MacAnthony), Stewart and I hope to deliver Championship football, a cat 2 academy and a world class multi-functional stadium in return.
“We are all really looking forward to a full Weston Homes stadium next season.”
Posh sold 200 season tickets
for the 2021-22 campaign on the first day of sale last week (March 17) even though there are no price rises for most existing season ticket holders until May 31.
Other benefits for those who chose to back the club’s Academy rather than ask for a refund include a name on a brick on the planned new dome at the training ground and free entry to all youth team games.
Posh season ticket holders have been given free access to live iFollow coverage of home matches this season. Non-season
ticket holders have to pay £10 per games.
Many Posh fans commented to @PTAlanSwann on Twitter on the club’s handling of the season ticket prices and not all were complimentary.
Some pointed out the options originally presented in December were based on fans returning to games at some point this season.
MAILBAG
Disappointed the fact the whole season has been missed has not been addressed. When
presented with options in December it was on the understanding we were moving back to crowds in the ground so this surely has to be reviewed?
@Deedz42
The options not to take a refund always carried with it a risk that this could happen and I don’t think people should expect anything from the club because it has. It would be nice if they did something though. @RMWC82
The fans paid £439 to see a single match with iFollow thrown in at essentially 20 quid a pop for season ticket holders and £10 for non-season ticket holders. @JimmyCross87
I will still renew my season tickets for next season, but £768 for myself and my daughter for one game of football is very expensive to say the least.
@alanposh
I’ve paid £750 for an adult and three under 18 tickets. I’ve seen one game and been charged £40 per iFollow game. They seem to have forgotten about the 15 home games since the options, and now want another £750. Either I’ve missed something or they are taking the mickey. @steve_nicholls1
Let them keep last year’s season ticket money and let them keep this year’s season ticket money. A thank you would have been enough, but hey ho, something’s changed. Where has this take it or leave it attitude come from? Staff are great though. @turpinmodernist
Going to look forward as no easy solution for the club with what happened last season. £15 ish a game to watch Championship footy and we know from the past the quality and entertainment that brings so I’m in.
@buckrodgersposh
Myself and my wife between us we have spent £878 this season plus £180 lost from the last five games of 2019/20. I’m hoping this is not taken for granted, but I guess time will tell. @pufc
Glad I selected a full refund in December as it sounds like those who took the price freeze on the premise that they would be in the stadium for the rest of this season have been shafted.
@garyclark1984
I think 99% of people didn’t pick a refund because they thought at the time we would be back as it was done at the time we got to go into the stadium! @X_Jaydeeeeee_X
Never going to please everyone. I will renew again regardless of being let in as I want the club to be here in the future for me, my sons and my grandchildren.
@ianstimson1
I appreciate the club is short of cash, but it feels a bit insensitive to come round with the begging bowl asking us to pay for next season when we have only seen one game this season. It’s a great shame they couldn’t have waited another month. @Werrington2
We were asked to choose season ticket options whilst a tier system was in operation. Suddenly we’re in lockdown and all fan attendance is off the table so it’s not overly fair that those options still stood. @kelimarie92
I gambled on getting back into grounds knowing a winter wave was likely. I now have a price freeze for at least 2 years and a team with the league title in their own hands. @amwright40
I will renew, but it seems like I have paid for a bit of the stadium that the owners are buying. @paullyon
These are unprecedented times and we are just lucky we aren’t on the verge of folding like a lot of clubs. It is what it is on season tickets. As long as fans are back from August I will be glad. @ChestneyS
Fantastic support from the 90% who rejected a refund and no blame on those who couldn’t afford/didn’t want to.