Passion on and off the pitch: The struggle to watch football

Odd One Out is all about breaking out of your comfort zone and attending events on your own that you would otherwise attend with others. I usually go to football games on my own and I never feel out of place because, despite only having one ticket, I know once I go through the turnstiles, I will be there with 75,000 others.

Today, the Euros have begun and the English football community finally have a chance to redeem themselves after the Wembley heartbreak of losing to Italy in the 2021 final.

This year though, I will be watching from my sofa because it’s simply too expensive to go to Germany. But the problem with affordability goes beyond the Euros. I can’t even go to Premier League games anymore to support my beloved Manchester United. There’s something about watching at home alone that isn’t the same as going solo to the stadium and feeling the camaraderie all around you.

It isn’t just me experiencing tighter purse strings in response to price hikes for Premier League games.

This upcoming season, fans across the league have seen the prices of their tickets increase, as 19 out of the 20 Premier League clubs have announced increases. In a recent survey conducted by BBC Sport, 1,494 fans said that they will be paying “slightly more” or “significantly more” for their season ticket. Despite these price hikes, more than half of respondents felt that the quality of food, kiosks and stadium infrastructure does not reflect the price they pay.

Christian Bell, 22, is a singer-songwriter and a diehard Manchester City fan, who lost his season ticket because of price rises a few years ago.

“It was a shame to lose the ticket, but when you are paying over a grand for tickets, you just can’t afford it,” he says. “Football was made by the poor but stolen by the rich. It’s become a commercial affair.

“Football was made by the poor but stolen by the rich”

“Tourists pay crazy money to watch the big games against Arsenal and Liverpool, but they won’t go to the rest. Not only are you gutting the core support, but you are removing the atmosphere from games. Empty chairs don’t want to watch games, it’s the fans.”

As the editor of Odd One Out and a solo football fanatic, I wanted to find a solution to enjoying football in its purest form. No hype, no drama and none of the ludicrous price hikes that the Premier League offers. After all, Odd One Out is all about alternative experiences and non-league football offers something different from the hegemony of the world’s most famous league.

Luke Ridley, 26, a Crystal Palace fan, lost his season ticket at Selhurst Park, and decided that instead of falling out of love with the game, he would move down the football pyramid and support his local non-league team, Dulwich Hamlet.

“I used to spend more on my Palace membership than I did on tickets, so when you can watch a game at £12, you have to jump at it. It is so much more affordable and the players are only 3 feet away – it’s great,” he says.

“Non-League clubs have a more intimate relationship with the fans and the club can act as the village square,” he adds. “You meet so many people, with so many stories. The club puts on events, that have nothing to do with the sport, so the club is a mecca for people in the community to come together.”

“Empty chairs don’t want to watch games, it’s the fans”

I was inspired by Luke and decided to go to a game myself. I learned that non-league offers a very different experience – one I highly recommend. It’s like stepping back in time to a grassroots version of football. Fans are closer to the teams on the pitch and feel as though they are kicking every ball right along with the players – not miles away in Row Z of some grand spaceship of a stadium.

Local vendors are often brought into the mix too, giving you a chance to support people from the broader community. It’s a refreshing change from lukewarm bottles of mass-produced beer.

Despite being at the lower end of the British football pyramid, National League football is like a time capsule. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on players or tickets, it’s about supporting your team, regardless of the result.

More than that, though, it’s a chance for people to develop a sense of community beyond traditional team-based rivalries. Club colours matter less here, and it’s more about the game and the people around you.

Want to join in?

If you are looking for something to fill the void left by the Euros, Odd One Out is offering a trip to see Clapton CFC play Fisher FC on July 23. Don’t worry if you think football tickets are too expensive, as Clapton CFC offer the cheapest football ticket in the world–for the measly sum of a penny you could be bouncing in the home end at The Old Spotted Dog Ground.

If you fancy supporting Odd One Out magazine and Clapton CFC check out our Membership Page to secure a spot on the minibus – don’t forget to bring your singing voices.