An Albion fan said his dream to relive his first ever Seagulls game turned sour after he was made to pay a booking charge when paying for a ticket with cash.
Nick Fears, pictured, said he was shocked to be charged a £1.50 fee when buying tickets for the club’s League Cup tie against Newport County next month.
The 67-year-old fan, from Newton Road, Lewes, was looking forward to seeing a re-run of the first Brighton and Hove Albion game he ever sawat the Goldstone Ground back in the 1953/54 season.
But his joy turned to anger when he was charged £9.50 for an £8 ticket when paying in cash at the American Express Community Stadium last week.
Albion officials said the club had lost a “substantial” amount of money over previous seasons from the cost of processing tickets.
The club said the booking fee replaces a previous £2 charge for some purchases.
The old Goldstone Ground in 1959
It added season ticketholders did not have to pay charges for league games while platinum members are completely exempt.
Mr Fears said: “I gave him £10 and he gave me 50p change.
“I said that’s not right and he said there’s a £1.50 booking charge.
“I said but I’m paying cash, it took about 30 seconds to buy the ticket.
“You can’t charge people £1.50 for that, where is that money going?”
Mr Fears said that two other people in the queue walked out with him when they heard about the charge.
He added: “With things like this happening, fans are going to start wondering whether it’s all worth it?
“Every fan I have spoken to thinks it’s disgusting. It’s the biggest rip-off I have ever heard of.
“If I had known beforehand about the booking fee, I would have thought twice about buying a ticket.”
Jenny Gower, Albion’s head of supporter services, said: “We understand that there is an argument for these to be included in the price of a ticket; however, like most clubs and event organisers, we would prefer to break down the cost of the ticket and the booking fee separately and be clear and transparent on what portion of the price is for booking fees.
“Compared with other clubs and industries, our charges are extremely competitive.”
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