Early Bird Season Ticket Renewals 2013/14

[SPARTA]

What killed the fun, enjoyment, excitement and anticipation for me, bizarrely was the end of the 2006/07 season. We had just had the most successful season in our history and came within a goal or two to actually qualify for Europe. Imagine that. Reading competing in Europe Anything else after that would not be any better. We all knew that we didn't have the resources to compete with the top 4 and the other very well established clubs in the PL. Therefore, we became a club where the only realistic ambition was to stay at the top table. I doubt if there will ever be a season to compare with 2006/07.

Players' attitudes changed thinking that they were big time stars and fans' expectations rose to unrealistic levels.

Absolutely this.
It was the aspiration to get there that kept me going.
After over 40 years watching us grubbing around in the nether reaches of English football, I saw the club climb all the way up to the top; and when they made it to the top of the hill, I realised the view was very over-rated.
Like most of us who were looking in from the outside, Sir John realised that what he called "the promised land" with the massive television money was little more than an illusion, as the virtually exponential rise in player wages consequential of elevation to that level actually wipes out most of the additional income.

The Premier League is a busted flush, whose sole legacy is making the big clubs even bigger, even richer, to the detriment of the rest of English football.
This engine room drives player wages ever upwards, forcing smaller clubs like ours to flirt with financial armageddon on the high altar of trying to remain competitive in order to gain and then sustain their place in that league.
Football is broken.

Completely agree with both posts 100%. Watching attitudes change and greed take over really did kill my passion for the game at the time. I went from rarely missing a home game since 94 to picking and choosing for three seasons before the bug came back and I started to feel that connection again with the team. Then you see it all again last year, along with the great achievement of getting there and once again not investing to stay there; it does leave you thinking 'what's the point?'. I detest the modern game, and I'm a lot less passionate about it as I used to be; but it's my distraction, it's my 'my time' to get out of the house and do something I enjoy, albeit a lot less than I wish I could again, so for that reason I can't stop going. Saturday's would be very boring without this club ruining my weekend!

I have told myself though that if the club ever goes tits up and someone creates an AFC Reading, I wont stick around. I don't love the game enough any more. That would be my time to walk away from it. I don't take much notice of the Premier League or Football League as it is; it's only my club I take notice of, and if they were to go, so does my support for the game in general.

[Westwood52]

I am a real saddo-what else am I going to do on a Saturday Afternoon-I even listen to Dim Tellor when we are away.It just has to get better-oh for those Steve Coppell days and Doyle/Kitson/Little/Super Sid etc.

Have to admit however that I will pass on those mid week games in January & February-when its cold , pissing down & I never know depending on traffic whether to go straight from work( I work miles away) or go home first.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'd definitely be jacking it in next season if it wasn't for my dad. Don't want him to have to go on his own.

[RoyalBlue]

Absolutely this.
It was the aspiration to get there that kept me going.
After over 40 years watching us grubbing around in the nether reaches of English football, I saw the club climb all the way up to the top; and when they made it to the top of the hill, I realised the view was very over-rated.
Like most of us who were looking in from the outside, Sir John realised that what he called "the promised land" with the massive television money was little more than an illusion, as the virtually exponential rise in player wages consequential of elevation to that level actually wipes out most of the additional income.

The Premier League is a busted flush, whose sole legacy is making the big clubs even bigger, even richer, to the detriment of the rest of English football.
This engine room drives player wages ever upwards, forcing smaller clubs like ours to flirt with financial armageddon on the high altar of trying to remain competitive in order to gain and then sustain their place in that league.
Football is broken.

Completely agree with both posts 100%. Watching attitudes change and greed take over really did kill my passion for the game at the time. I went from rarely missing a home game since 94 to picking and choosing for three seasons before the bug came back and I started to feel that connection again with the team. Then you see it all again last year, along with the great achievement of getting there and once again not investing to stay there; it does leave you thinking 'what's the point?'. I detest the modern game, and I'm a lot less passionate about it as I used to be; but it's my distraction, it's my 'my time' to get out of the house and do something I enjoy, albeit a lot less than I wish I could again, so for that reason I can't stop going. Saturday's would be very boring without this club ruining my weekend!

I have told myself though that if the club ever goes tits up and someone creates an AFC Reading, I wont stick around. I don't love the game enough any more. That would be my time to walk away from it.

The sad thing is that that is when going to football would be fun again. I used to love going to watch my son's teams play at the semi-pro level. Supporters really do become an integral and genuinely valued part of the club in those leagues.

People can and will take the piss but the top level of the women's game is also enjoyable for similar reasons.

[peterroyal76]

I'd definitely be jacking it in next season if it wasn't for my dad. Don't want him to have to go on his own.

You could rent him out to other people who don't want to go on their own. Win Win I'd say.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Sounds like a good plan. Are you interested in renting him for the Bolton game? I'll give you m8s r8s.

[peterroyal76]

Sounds like a good plan. Are you interested in renting him for the Bolton game? I'll give you m8s r8s.

Does he get his round in?

[Pepe the Horseman]

Sounds like a good plan. Are you interested in renting him for the Bolton game? I'll give you m8s r8s.

Does he get his round in?

Yep.

[Royal Lady]

He sounds nice, what is he wearing?

[Pepe the Horseman]

A trench coat and pedo glasses.

[Royal Lady]

Sounds lush - I might start going to games again.

[Silver Fox]

I'll be renewing and considering this year's ST barely cost more than the one I bought 10 years ago they'd probably have to double the price to even make me have a second thought about it

[Squelchy2507]

I'll be renewing and considering this year's ST barely cost more than the one I bought 10 years ago they'd probably have to double the price to even make me have a second thought about it

+1

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

I'll be renewing and considering this year's ST barely cost more than the one I bought 10 years ago they'd probably have to double the price to even make me have a second thought about it

Much like they have on match day prices. St is good value.

[Hoop Blah]

I'll be renewing and considering this year's ST barely cost more than the one I bought 10 years ago they'd probably have to double the price to even make me have a second thought about it

+1 to this, but also to the many comments about not being that motivated to actually go or enjoy modern football as much as the old days (for many reasons, not just the loss of atmosphere, sanitisation of the 'match day experience' and the changing type of person and their expectations of the game/team).

I've tried not renewing before and it didn't work. I ended up renewing anyway and know I will this summer too. Will I actually use the ticket as often as I used to? Nope, I don't think I will as my attendance has been on a down trend over the last couple of seasons and I don't see much chance of that changing.

[Royal Biscuitman]

I'll be renewing and considering this year's ST barely cost more than the one I bought 10 years ago they'd probably have to double the price to even make me have a second thought about it

+1

If any club officials are reading this, please note that these two are highly paid bankers, one of them drives a Bentley and the other arrives at games by helicopter.... the rest of us are all humble peasants on minimum wage who live in cardboard boxes and make sacrifices on things like food in order to cobble enough funds together for our tickets.... in fact we're all down the library now because it's warm and has free internet.... so don't almost double the prices of our tickets!