dune

Looked a good prospect and shortened to 7/2 so there was money on it. I had a tenner on the win. It'll probably win at it's next outing.

A typical democrat after the IRA supporters votes.

With the current squad I think we'd finnish 14th. With 7 or 8 good players signed 1st.

I think clubs with spare capacity would be more willing to reduce prices in order to fill their grounds and draw in more punters who would in turn buy merchandise and refreshments. A recent survey conducted by virgin money (think it was them) suggests the uptake for season tickets for next year is set to decline and this is very good news. For clubs like Man Utd this won't be a problem as there are plenty who'll fill the vacated spaces, but for less glamouress clubs it's not sustainable. Less people doesn't just mean less tickets sold, it also means less merchandise and less food and drink.

In English please.

You're wrong. Player wages have shot up during the last 20 years and ticket prices have had to go up to pay for it. The big clubs have got richer due to the SKY money/their merchandise income, and the smaller clubs have had to raise their prices to try compete.

Of course you're an expert having been a wannabe chairman. The fact is that players wages are the greatest expense and they are main reason for a 100% increase in prices in real terms since the mid 80's.

You stated that if money wasn't going to players it'd be going to shareholders.

Of course player wages are the main reason for high ticket prices. Wages are the main expense at clubs.

In case you hadn't noticed Saints are not listed on the stock exchange anymore.

They need to introduce a wage cap for players. Players on disgustingly high wages is why we're being fleeced.

For us, I can't see a change for a bit, but for midlands/northern clubs you can already see the rot setting in.

Using the Dell prices from 1984 for a fixture against Arsenal in the league: Adult standing £3, should be £7.20 in todays prices. Child/OAP standing £1.50, should be £3.60 in todays prices. Bench seats £4.50, should be £11 in todays prices. Wing seats £6, should be £14 in todays prices. Centre seats £6.50, should be £16 in todays prices. So roughly what we've seen is ticket prices double in real terms since then, a 100% increase. At the same time petrol/litre has increased from 38p to 140p where if it had tracked inflation should be 93p so there's another 50% increase. It's no wonder that the writing is on the wall for football attendances.

Palace and Ipswich are two my favourite away games. I'll probably stump up for them, but will abstain from a lot of games to balance the books. The days of going regularly are a thing of the past for me due to the costs involved. I've just booked flights to Malaga to stay with friends in Puerto Banus for 3 weeks in September. I've already made the choice that I won't be going to games at the start of the season - i'd rather spend the money on a holiday.

Correction, using the calculator on here http://safalra.com/other/historical-uk-inflation-price-conversion/widget.html £14 in 1992 is equivalent to £21 today. Using the £8 figure for the Milton road then that means that the equivalent price today is £12. Using the £12.50 figure for the cheapest seats (benchs were even cheaper) means that today Premier League seats in the Northam should be £19.

Looking at 1992/93 prices (Skys first season) and using the average of 3% inflation over the period upto and including 2010. The most expensive tickets for the most desirable games were £14 then, meaning premier league centre stand seats at St Marys should be £23.80. What were centre stand seats in L1 last year?

Just found the programme from the first SKY match at the Dell. Monday 24th August 1992 v Manchester United. I remember it well. Sky had the cheerleaders on before the game. It ****ed down with rain all match. Me and the old man missed the goal in the 90th minute (Man Utd won 1-0) making an early exit to beat the traffic on Hill Lane. Looking back no-one could have dreamt how the game would have changed so much.

Never a truer word spoken.

The hat is mine.

When we were at the Dell I seem to remember my old man playing £8 for the Milton Rd and it being £1.50 for a child. This would be about 20 years ago.

They could have started it at 99p for like of me and you to make a bid. When that Saints auction was on I bid £200 for a signed shirt when I was hammered and was gutted for the next few days as no-one out bid me. Luckily someone outbid me right at the end.

This. Would be happy to see Blackburn back where they belong too.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Princess-Beatrice-Royal-Wedding-Hat-Philip-Treacy-/230624681772?pt=Women_s_Accessories_UK&hash=item35b24d5f2c

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/ Contact them.