If I recall correctly I first had one when the Enclosure was made all-seated. Our supporters club bought about 40 in two rows in the East Enclosure and then re-sold them to our members, many of whom up to that point had not had season books. But if you wanted in the Enclosure then you needed a book.
Those were great years on the pitch - made better by the camaraderie of the lads you went on the away games with every week and who you were now beside at home games as well. We were all roughly the same age - perhaps a ten year spread would have covered us.
I easily understand the attachment people get to their seats - the friends you make, the familiar faces, the memories perhaps of family members who once sat beside you. It’s not easy to ask someone to give all that up with a promise that it will all be better tomorrow.
My season ticket ownership meandered around the Stadium a bit. For a couple of seasons I was up in the Club Deck - a pal had bonds and I took two season tickets. Then I went back to the East Enclosure before ending up in the Copland Rear a few rows away from the Gub. Having him in your ear every half-time is enough to make anyone contemplate giving up a seat!
I can’t recall exactly when I gave up my season book but from then on I’ve bought game by game and am most often to be found in the Broomie Front - even if the game is dire the Blue Order and the Union Bears mean the time flies and the atmosphere is fantastic.
If you’ve got a few pals and are prepared to put in a bit of time then tickets for Old Firm games, away games, etc aren’t too difficult to source without a season book.
In the last couple of seasons I’ve watched games from the Broomie Front and Rear, Bar 72, Main Stand and the Copland Front.
Life moves on - a few pals who once went every week discovered that marriage and kids, new jobs, etc, meant new priorities gave up and moved on. Some drift back to other areas as their circumstances change.
My priorities changed too. Once I couldn’t have told you who our directors were or what the Balance Sheet looked like. Now I regard these things as vital to know. And I know how vital that season ticket revenue is to the club.
I don’t blame anyone for wanting to keep their season ticket. I would however suggest that every season ticket holder takes a deep breath and considers whether your seat is more important than your club. With-holding your season ticket renewal means you can help pressure the current Board to make sensible decisions which are good for the long-term interests of the club rather than the short-term interests of the Charles Green mob who continue to control things behind the scenes.
Last year the club only had around 50% of the eventual season ticket money in the bank by the 30th of June. Normally the season ticket office takes over a month to process the first wave of renewals. So there’s absolutely no pressure on you to renew now. Your seat will be safe. Fans groups are also recommending to Dave King that if his takeover takes longer than expected that season ticket holders who stood firm will get their old seats back. But that’s a minor consideration as far as I am concerned.
What matters is that the current Board have us on a fast-track to mediocrity and that handing them more money is like giving an alcoholic a bottle of vodka.
The club is bumping along now dependent upon short-term loans to pay the wages until the season ticket money comes in - giving this board more money is only delaying the inevitable. We need a sea-change in how the club is run, we need a new share issue and we need a new and competent Board of directors in charge.
They can threaten that the club will go into administration if season tickets are taken up. Don’t let them bully you.
There is a simple solution that doesn’t involve administration - the current Board need to go.
Their time is up.