His kids were 15 & 17 ish - they have supported Liverpool all their lives and never been to Anfield - it's a once in a lifetime trip for them.
I'm not justifying it in anyway, but people pay £10,000 to take their kids to meet a mouse for a 2 week holiday. A once in a lifetime trip. I only imagine to a lifelong Liverpool supporter who has always dreamt of being on the KOP, a few grand is worth it.
This is the problem - touts prey on people like them. It's exploitation, it's wrong, but saying they have more money than sense isn't entirely true when many will have saved up for years to experience this one moment.
This. I am in this position right now. I'll be in the UK for the first time in over a decade. I've followed since the late Houllier days (03/04 my first recollection and I thought Kewell was the dogs bollocks when he first signed!). I don't know if or when I'll step on these isles again.
I've always wanted to go Anfield. It's only now that I've had the financial means of doing so. So I bought a ticket for the Kop end. I wanted to be there, sing my heart out, absorb the atmosphere.
The game that coincides with my trip happens to be United at Anfield. Cost me circa £400 through some local agent here in Asia. Until it got cancelled a few days ago because the bloke selling got his fan card cancelled (presume it was the recent checks?)
I'd gotten the ticket back in late November - and there was no real way of getting a ticket from official channels. Not for a game of this magnitude. And certainly not for a wool!
Now with all flights and hotels booked, I've to find an alternative 10 days before the game. Prices have now risen to £800+. Ridiculous. But it would kill me going all the way to Liverpool and not attending a game. It's hard enough getting to the UK for folks from developing countries - God knows how that will worsen with the Tories now in charge.
Bit the bullet and bought an e-ticket in the M8 section (Main Stand). Reckon these are posh seats? E-ticket. I'll likely be seated with some corporate fucks. It's cost me an arm and a leg. Bittersweet but at least I get to see Liverpool live.
This is a view from the other side. There's probably loads like me (genuine fans who want to get a taste of Anfield). This is why the touts succeed.
I know I've no God given right to be at Anfield let alone the Kop. But I'd rather this money go to the club not some no mark tout (obviously at a less obscene rate but would happily pay a bit more than the local rate. Maybe the excess money can be used to subsidize tickets for youths).
Touts will continue to prey on our desperation until the club steps in. Sorry state of affairs but that's how it is.
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