Pete Martin (CTID)
Very well known Exeweb poster
It has been a difficult year for us all as football fans - and for the club.
One of the downsides of all of this is the loss of the 'City football fix' to many of our young supporters, as well as their elders.
I know personally of one in particular. He will be 8 years old in May next year. When he was 6, he wanted to come and watch City after starting to play the game at school. Neither his father, nor his mother, had ever set foot in SJP and neither previously had any real interest in football. He persuaded his dad to bring him, back in 2018 and, on Boxing Day that year, he was a mascot and ran out with Archie Collins. He loved it and has loved it ever since. His dad became as enthusiastic as his son and, when she was free, his mum started coming too. They all loved their spot on the big bank and coming to watch City became a real family occasion that they all looked forward to.
None of them have season tickets because, ocassionally, dad has to work on Saturday afternoons and also mum, from time to time. Evening games are obviously problematic with a young school-aged child. The boy joined the Junior Grecians, but neither have taken out Trust membership thus far (and wouldn't have been gold members by now anyway, even if the had done so from day one). Consequently, they almost certainly have no chance of coming to SJP this season and are gutted. There are almost certainly others in the same boat and their situation is replicated at grounds throughout the country.
Hopefully things will improve before next season and the enthusiasm of these fans of the future doesn't abate.
One of the downsides of all of this is the loss of the 'City football fix' to many of our young supporters, as well as their elders.
I know personally of one in particular. He will be 8 years old in May next year. When he was 6, he wanted to come and watch City after starting to play the game at school. Neither his father, nor his mother, had ever set foot in SJP and neither previously had any real interest in football. He persuaded his dad to bring him, back in 2018 and, on Boxing Day that year, he was a mascot and ran out with Archie Collins. He loved it and has loved it ever since. His dad became as enthusiastic as his son and, when she was free, his mum started coming too. They all loved their spot on the big bank and coming to watch City became a real family occasion that they all looked forward to.
None of them have season tickets because, ocassionally, dad has to work on Saturday afternoons and also mum, from time to time. Evening games are obviously problematic with a young school-aged child. The boy joined the Junior Grecians, but neither have taken out Trust membership thus far (and wouldn't have been gold members by now anyway, even if the had done so from day one). Consequently, they almost certainly have no chance of coming to SJP this season and are gutted. There are almost certainly others in the same boat and their situation is replicated at grounds throughout the country.
Hopefully things will improve before next season and the enthusiasm of these fans of the future doesn't abate.
