Some Magpies fans upset by £100 cost for 2021/22 season ticket

The Magpies released details this week of their pricing structure for fans to watch the first team in the National League North for

the entire 2021/22 campaign.

The club have been unable to admit fans to Victory Park for any of their home league fixtures this season due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the campaign was ultimately declared null and void in February .

With this in mind, the club has considered how to compensate those supporters who paid for a season ticket last summer.

Many fans had expected to either receive a refund or the monies they had already paid to go towards the cost of a new ticket next season.

However, the club have announced that existing adult season ticket holders will be charged £100 to renew. The cost for a new season ticket holder is £270.

In a statement, the club’s chief executive Terry Robinson said: “Following the early conclusion to our season we have been carefully considering our approach to season ticket pricing for 2021/22 campaign.

“There has been much discussion within the club and with other interested parties and we have tried to come up with a pricing structure that takes into account 2020/21 season ticket holders were unable to attend games due to a last-minute change in Covid regulations.

“We have tried to set prices based on fairness to existing season ticket holders, while trying to maintain a competitive budget for Jamie (Vermiglio) and the first-team squad as well as looking towards the longer-term future of the club.

“The club provided a streaming service for home league games prior to 2020/21 ending, but we recognise full value for money has been difficult to offer to our loyal supporters who purchased season tickets.

“Therefore, we’ve put together a pricing structure we feel represents a clear path forward, with major discounts for existing season ticket holders.”

Long-time Magpies supporter and season ticket holder Paul Bibby, who attends games with his 19-year-old daughter Alex and a large group of friends, revealed he is unlikely to renew given the money he will have to pay.

“I think it’s a bit of a joke,” said Bibby, who has been in contact with the club previously about the issue.

"I just think it should have been a full refund or straight swap season ticket. The other fans that I have spoken to, they have all said they won’t be renewing next season.

“Even though they have dropped the cost, it’s still £100 that we shouldn’t be paying.

“It is the principle of it. You pay for a service and we have not received it. I tried to speak to the club about it but got fobbed off.

“Some of the lads I go on with, they have families – they struggle to afford to go to the football and it’s them that I feel sorry for.

“Even though I can afford the £100, I am not going to do it on principle”

Bibby said it will be a shame as watching Chorley is a social outing for him and his friends.

“There’s about 10 of us who have been going on for years,” he said. “We have a pint in the Plough before we go on. I take my daughter on, she is 19 now and has been going on since she was four.”

Although the £100 cost of a season ticket has upset some fans, other fans have backed the club's decision.

A number of supporters took to social media to indicate that they are more than happy with the pricing structure.

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