JC looks at football as an entertainment.
Entertainment?
The fact that football's now an integral part of the entertainment industry and has to compete as such was brought up in separate conversations I had with people who travel from Dumfries and Annan respectively to watch Motherwell. Which kinds of puts my short hop from Glasgow into perspective. Actually, I don't know too many fans who actually live in Motherwell and those I did have ceased to come due to the poor fare on offer. Surely not everyone's a glory hunter or part-timer with either set of the gruesome twosome who lives in Motherwell?
I've mentioned in previous issues of this zine that I come to be entertained at football and although I chose Motherwell principally I also watch footie at all levels both here in Scotland and abroad as my limited resources allow. This season I've seen all three SFL's along with Junior levels, SPL games featuring Motherwell as well as a couple of Bundesliga matches, an Intertoto game in England, several Doc Marten's & Midland Premier Combination and one Conference level game. The pick of these have been our home game versus Aberdeen and a couple of Junior ties along with one of the Doc Marten's. OK, the technical skill level in the Bundesliga match was probably the highest, but unfortunately I'm not keen on spectating at sanitised all-seater surroundings watching what are basically two works teams play - afraid the experience leaves me cold. I actually enjoy standing at games, an option now denied at SPL and Premiership level. No doubt may of you readers have not been to games where standing was allowed except when Motherwell are drawn against a smaller club in a cup competition.
I shall digress slightly for a moment to relate a story about my friend in Germany who has followed the same side I watch for all his life and was a season ticket holder up to and including the current season. The club has moved to a new purpose-built arena with covered sliding roof and pitch, but in doing so has lost its traditional roots and support in the process. He went to the final game at the old stadium and has only set foot in the new venue when given a ticket by his friend who follows 1860 Munchen and stood with Die lowen fans. He's given his season ticket away and now watches old traditional German clubs at lower levels. He went to the German Cup Final and still considers himself a fan, but refuses to watch them in their all- new sanitised salubrious surroundings. He's not alone with his protest, quite a few watch the reserves and youth teams only now as they don't play at Auf Schalke. So all-new sanitised surroundings don't always go down too well with traditional fans.
Having digressed somewhat during my conversations with the Dumfries etc fans, they raised a moot point. Nowadays there's so many other distractions for kids that there's not so many interested in footie, either playing or watching it. Another point is that those who do are only interested in winners or attaching themselves to either set of the great divide. Children's attention wanders quickly even at the games. When they are let in free at Fir Park and the game is poor they quickly lose interest. So if the younger generations are lost, what hope is there for the Motherwell's of this world?
Being part of the entertainment business means we compete with other sports and leisure pursuits as well as cinema and theatre, music, arts etc. At the cinema and theatre you have a fair idea what you are parting with your cash for but with football it's taking a chance. Could be good, bad or indifferent, like a curates egg, so the pricing has to be right. Which leads onto the ridiculous pricing for the televised game at Easter Road. Of course you have a choice if you wish to finance another team or not. Again, I'll relate an incident at the Celtic televised game which I did not attend as I've decided enough is enough as regards silly kick-off times. A friend I know went for a ticket to find it top rate for this game. He pointed this out, stating he could walk to the Fir Park Club and watch it in comfort without the trouble of mingling with hordes of the unwashed. The club refused to barter so he did just that so they lost money.
This brings me onto television. I'll be frank - I've cancelled my Sky package and rarely watch live footie on TV. I don't say I don't watch some and the highlights but I prefer real live footie and can't stand the commentators and experts from Andy Gray through to rug heid McPherson. Even Pat Nevin didn't come over too clever when I heard him prattle on about a Ukranian and how the Germans would be scared stiff of him 'cos he played in Serie A in their play-off game. He never got a sniff until they were well ahead and cruising to allow him to waltz round Ollie Kahn for a late consolation. There's far too much footie on television, it's a complete overkill, a case of killing the Golden Goose. I see the ITV Premiership programme has poor ratings - no wonder with Gigolo McCoist appearing - what he knows about football isn't worth knowing. Pay-For-View isn't a goer either so the bubbles bursting. Hopefully seeing it in the flesh will become a better option for those who have the real interest of the game at heat.
SO KEEP FOOTIE "LIVE"!
John Creighton