So who benefits from £5 tickets?

  • by Staff Writer
  • Tuesday, 22nd October 2013

West Ham's impressive community programme came in for some criticism this weekend after it was revealed that a number of local groups had been given tickets for the match against Manchester City for just £5.

The club's Community Sports Trust works with a number of local groups and organisations to "tackle anti-social behaviour, promote inclusion and inspire participation through access to elite sport".

However a number of supporters - some of whom have been priced out of attending home matches in recent seasons - have expressed their disappointment at the club not extending their offer to long-suffering, loyal followers too.

"I think it is a good idea to reach out to community projects and offer discounted tickets," KUMB member whitechapel hammer said today. "It is a sign of both being a community aware club and one that is interested in its fan base.

"But the choice of game and the scale to which the offer was carried out was a big mistake. Those tickets would have been snapped up by supporters - and you could still offer tickets to community groups."

Contrary to rumour however, the cheap tickets were not allocated to specific ethnic groups - although the unusual sight of a small group of men praying together in the concourse of the Trevor Brooking Lower towards the end of the first half caused one or two double takes from surprised regulars.

A club source told KUMB.com: "The £5 tickets were not specifically distributed or targeted at any particular religious or ethnic group. Those tickets were distributed to a number of diverse groups through the West Ham United Community Sports Trust. This is something that the Trust does on a regular basis."

Joe Lyons, who heads the West Ham United Community Sports Trust told whufc.com: "I am delighted with the success of our community outreach programme and it is fantastic that West Ham United are leading the way in supporting programmes that tackle anti-social behaviour and the other issues that affect our Borough and beyond.

"Our focus is on engaging with our community and making football more accessible to all and we want everyone from the local area to feel included at the Club. We are rightly proud of the positive feedback we've received from the campaign, which is essential for the Club to remain at the heart of the community.

"I look forward to welcoming more groups at the selected games throughout the season."

The groups who benefit from the club's community programme - and to whom several hundred tickets for the Manchester City game were distributed last weekend - were amongst the following organisations:

  • Stiford Centre

  • Barking Enterprise Centre

  • Active Newham

  • England Handball Association

  • London County FA UEL Sports Dock

  • Ramgharia (Asian Hockey Club)

  • Essex & Newham Beagles / Run England

  • NASSA (Newham Basketball Academy)

  • TKO Boxing Gym in Newham Sports House

  • Handball Centre Stepney Green and John Cass School

  • Lister School

  • Robert Clack and Eastbury Schools

  • Barking Abbey

  • Newham College

  • New Vic College

  • City of London Academy (Southwark)

  • Youth Offending Team in Newham & Tower Hamlets

  • Princess Trust

  • Rapid Response Team in Tower Hamlets

  • Fight For Peace


For more information on the West Ham United Community Sports Trust, visit their website.

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