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This week’s piece came courtesy of an idea from Tom Williams after the National League decided to move two National League games on Saturday 15th April with less than two weeks’ notice.
We’re used to seeing Premier League games moved to various kick off times and days of the week, most with a decent amount of notice but usually without much thought for the supporter in terms of distances travelled than don’t coincide with public transport.
The two games in question here are Barnet vs Wrexham and Notts County vs Woking, 182 miles from ground to ground for Wrexham fans while it’s 141 for Woking fans.
Now while the time taken to travel of course doesn’t change the new kick off times impact those who were up until a few days ago set for 3pm kick off’s. The former game has been moved to a 12.45pm kick off while County and Woking will kick off now at 5.20pm which might not seem too extreme as both matches still take place on the Saturday.
But, the different timings have effects on supporters for both sides. You probably wouldn’t be surprised to find both Wrexham and Woking fans will have arranged travel by train or in some cases travel to stay overnight the day before or after the game.
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Whilst the hotel stay wouldn’t be in question for either set, train travel causes the biggest problem for any travelling fan. To get the best price tickets are usually bought well in advance and to change them now is likely to find quite an increase in cost, something most are having to budget extremely tightly with in order to make as many games as they can.
The same will apply for Woking fans for the later journey too, and for some in both cases there is the likelihood of no attendance from some at the two games due to the movement in times.
It’s not just visiting supporters either. What about those who work Saturday mornings and have time to make The Hive for a 3pm kick off, but now have to forfeit watching the penetrating force of the Red Dragons pitting their wits against the play-off chasing Bees? Likewise County fans who might have evening plans that fitted in to a game finishing around 5pm and now a finish time of closer to 7pm or after, is it fair?
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It’s not as if Wrexham and Notts County haven’t been in a neck and neck title race all season, surely BT Sport could have made an earlier decision and the fact of how much this race has gone back and forth why not kick off both at the same time either earlier or later? I admit that doesn’t solve the issue but then its in tandem.
It’s not something we expect to see at non-league level the inconvenience of supporters for TV, it’s not acceptable in my opinion when there are plenty struggling to keep themselves floating above water in the cost of living crisis and use football as the getaway from the perils of the working week.
What should they have done differently? Do you have an opinion or a view? Let me know in the comments below.
