A Pat on the Back for Hearts

It should probably be acknowledged that £12 is still an astonishing amount to charge for an SPL game given that many are close to becoming U21 fixtures. However, when you consider that four or five years ago it was costing £18 for away fans at Tynecastle, it is clear that things are moving in the right direction.

Whatever your opinion of Alistair Barron, he was aware that fans were being priced out of the game. His idea of giving season ticket holders discounts at away games was rejected by many clubs at first – including Hearts – and initially only ourselves and Kilmarnock entered into the agreement.

Aberdeen, Hearts and Dunfermline have joined in 2003/4 and season ticket holders can save a few pounds (or enjoy free admission for under twelves). The growth of the scheme can only be good for Motherwell fans and, presumably, fans of other teams who will also benefit from reciprocal agreements at various grounds.

Earlier in the season, Livingston made the excellent gesture of cutting all prices for their game with us to £10. Naturally we did the same for them when they visited Fir Park in November and hopefully a few more fans than usual would have been tempted into both games.

A trip to Tynecastle two days after Christmas would not normally attract the biggest Motherwell travelling support in the world, particularly when the game is televised.

Let’s hope that there is a good turn out, if only to encourage Hearts to keep the discount going for next season!