Chelsea
Supporters’ Trust chairman Tim Rolls believes the club should be doing more
to help boost the atmosphere at matches.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho says his side are finding games at Stamford Bridge
more difficult because it is “like playing in an empty stadium”.
Rolls admits that the atmosphere could be better but he told Sky Sports News
HQ that enough isn’t being done by the club to encourage singing and a more
vocal support during games.
“Mourinho’s got a point in that the atmosphere often isn’t that great at
home games, but to be honest it’s not just an issue with Chelsea – it’s an
issue across the majority of the Premier League,” he said.
“One issue for me is that the average age profile of supporters in the
ground is over 40, and the people who want to sing are spread around.
“There is no focus in terms of how people can start chants and get behind
the team. It’s not that people don’t support the team; it’s just that the
atmosphere isn’t all it can be.
“The fans do have a responsibility to lift the team but you can’t make
people sing. All you can do is create conditions so they’re more likely to.
And frankly, they’re more likely to if you have got a wider variety of
younger people and they’re actively encouraged to sing.
“The problem at the moment is if people stand up and sing, they get told to
sit down by stewards and are likely to receive warning letters from the
club. That doesn’t encourage people to get up and demonstrate their support
in a vocal manner.
“I think there is a responsibility on the club to do all they can to try and
encourage a wider variety of people in the ground, reduce ticket prices and
get young people in.”
Pricing
Rolls’ comments on ticket pricing were echoed by Football Supporters
Federation chief executive Kevin Miles, who says football risks losing its
prized marketable asset of a passionate atmosphere at packed grounds unless
they stop pricing fans out of the market.
"Traditionally the atmosphere generated within English football grounds has
been one of the things which sets it apart from football elsewhere, and
ironically is one of the main drivers between the television revenue
streams," said Miles.
"Even just looked at from the economic angle, it would be short-sighted to
jeopardise that in pursuit of the immediate bottom line.
"The section of the fanbase which has historically been responsible for
generating the cutting edge of the atmosphere in grounds has been young
fans, particularly teenagers and those in their early 20s, who are currently
the most vulnerable to being priced out of the game - and the outcome of
that process is detectable at every Premier League ground."
The FSF believe introducing such changes could only enhance the product
which currently generates billions of pounds of revenue for Premier League
clubs from collective broadcasting deals around the globe.
"It is the tradition and atmosphere within English football grounds which is
a large part of what overseas television markets prize," Miles added.
"If professional football wants to guarantee that it takes place against a
background of passionate noise and commitment, then a few simple steps needs
to be guaranteed.
"There has to be ticket prices which young people can afford, encouraging as
large as possible away fan attendance and locating the noisiest supporters
from home and away clubs in parts of the ground where the atmosphere they
generate is felt to maximum effect."
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