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The Return to Paradise

There has been a lot of chat and suggestions that this weekends game against Motherwell could involve 1000 supporters at Celtic Park to help pave the way back for more season ticket holders to attend in the future.  Adding another 1000 people on top of those already permitted in a 60,000 seater stadium seems like an easy feat.  Unless this number is confined to a specific small section of the stadium and it is then replicated with larger amounts in other areas of the stadium as we take further strides to the new normal with the ever threat of Covid-19. 

 

At the time of writing, a quick check of the club’s website and Twitter offers nothing to support people’s hopes and substantiate what has been discussed on various podcasts.  Although, I suspect the club are way ahead in their plans.  However, if nothing is sanctioned before, then at least the government’s indicative date of the 14th September is not that far off to look forward to. 

 

Although I am bursting to get back, just as I am sure you are, I have some concerns as to how it can affect the support negatively.  My fear is that as initial numbers of admittance will be low and people’s desperation to get back to the place and watch the team they love increases, further divisions will materialise within our support.  In my opinion, our support can have an unhealthy bond with one another and are all too often quick to react and turn against their fellow supporters for what can mostly be through offering a simple opinion. 

 

This season is far too important to add to existing rifts and cause further disruption in the support.  I fear dark forces could use this to their advantage.  I hope that some sense and equality is used for the allocation of season ticket holders to specific games.  I also hope some consideration is afforded for the difficult task ahead and faith given in those who make the choices.  

 

I believe that the allocation should be done on an equal basis.  The value of the pence and pounds used to buy everybody’s tickets is the same, regardless if your ticket is a concession, middle of the road or at investor level.   Credit for those who go home and away, including overseas trips, should not come into the equation as the ticket was sold for home games only.  The same goes for those in the Home Cup Ticket Scheme against those who are not unless it happens to be a home cup game of course.  Once you have attended a game then you should go to the back of the queue, allowing those who were not lucky in earlier ballots to get a chance.  The luck of the draw should determine your attendance at specific games.  The more glamorous, sought after games should not be given to those who see themselves in the ‘Ultra’ fan group at the expense of those who are perhaps less reserved in their support for the team. 

 

Should the technology around ticketing and seat allocation be sophisticated enough, it could allow several tickets from one household to be reallocated together.  This could help maximise the capacity, keeping those who are in permitted groups stay together, allowing the juniors stay with their parents while also getting a fair shot at attending games with a reduced capacity. 

 

Finally, through responsible actions and fans adhering to the rules, more faith and trust will be given, and enough fans are allowed entry that could see us attend more games regularly which hopefully comes sooner than later. 

 

Till the next time.  Hail! Hail!  

 

M

 

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