Non-league club Tamworth FC have sparked a backlash from football fans after revealing ticket prices for their upcoming FA Cup showdown with Tottenham.
However, some supporters are pointing the finger directly at the Football Association and insisting one-off price hikes will become more common after the decision was made to scrap replays.
National League North champions Tamworth will welcome Premier League Spurs to their 4,000 capacity Lamb Ground on January 12 in the third round of the FA Cup.
It’s one of the biggest games in the Staffordshire club’s history and fans would have been buzzing to get their hands on a ticket ever since being drawn against the top flight giants at the beginning of December.
There was even a video of a group of young supporters going wild at the club’s stadium as they watched the draw live and discovered their big-boy opponents.
However, some of them might have been left dumbstruck on Saturday morning when Tamworth released how much tickets to the game will cost – in a huge rise from their regular matchday prices.
The most expensive seat for an adult in the main stand will set fans back £42, while a ticket for a child under 10 in the same area will cost £29.
That’s compared to regular matchday prices of £20 for an adult and £4 for an under 10.
A spot in the terraces are generally a few pounds cheaper, but against Spurs it will cost £25 for a child under 10 – a ticket the club usually gives away for free in a regular season game.
It’s led to a huge reaction from the wider football fandom, not just supporters of the club, with some reacting with anger and accusing the club of ripping them off and profiteering from a high-profile game.
“How short sighted are these prices,” one X user wrote. “A chance to repay and respect the fans that go and support you every week, and instead you release this monstrosity. Shameful.”
“That pricing is an absolute disgrace,” posted another. “You should seriously reconsider what you’re doing. What a joke.”
Another was a little more blunt with their message, saying: “29 quid for under 10’s? You having a f****** laugh!”
Tamworth FC declined to comment on the ticket prices when approached by talkSPORT.
Other supporters understood, though, with many saying it’s inevitable clubs further down the pyramid will hike prices after being robbed of a potential replay after the FA’s recent rule changes.
“This is what happens when you scrap replays,” one fan wrote on X. “Not surprising that a small club is trying to maximise the fixture.”
One Tottenham fan also backed the prices: “Good on ya! The ones that will want to come will pay – the moaners will watch it on the TV anyway. Generational fixture make the most out of it! COYS!”
“Everyone going after Tamworth for ridiculous prices but no one’s remembering that this is what happens when you scrap replays”, another posted on social media.
“Come on – they deserve their pay day,” said another. “Football at this level is funded from an owner’s pocket. They are not owned by some multi conglomerate organisation with billions behind them. Let them have their pay day thus securing another 12 months of overheads paid.”
Tamworth have never played higher than the fifth tier of English football in their entire history, having only returned to the National League this term after being crowned National League North champions last season.
This isn’t the first time they’ve reached the FA Cup third round, but they will hoping it will be fourth-time lucky as they look to win a third round tie for the first time.
They’ve previously reached the third round in 2005/06 when they were beaten by Stoke, in 2006/07 when they were beaten by Norwich and in 2011/12 when they were beaten by Everton.
The ticket issues lay bare the issue surrounding the FA’s decision to scrap replays – which talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein branded ‘disgusting’.
Cup replays have been the lifeblood for lower league teams for generations, and in some cases that extra pay day can be the difference between a club staying afloat or ceasing to exist.
But the FA announced in April that from this season’s competition onwards replays would be scrapped from the first round proper.
It led to a huge backlash, including from the EFL who accused the FA and Premier League of making the decision without input from the wider football league.
The Premier League defended the move, insisting they had been in lengthy talks with the EFL and that ‘all parties accepted [cup replays] could not continue’.
That hasn’t stopped fans from complaining about the controversial call, though, particularly after a number of high-scoring thrillers in the early rounds that were settled on the night on penalties, when a replay seemed the fairer outcome.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown even believes the removal of replays has robbed the FA Cup of some of its trademark magic.
“I don’t want to kill that essence of the competition which is that dream to be a giant killer,” he said on White and Jordan in April.
“I think something is being missed with all this. Your best chance to be a giant killer is to do it in a replay and by taking them away you’re taking something away from the FA Cup.
“You’re taking away the drama. You’re taking away the ability for fans to dare to dream. I don’t like seeing that disappear.”
Tamworth have already done their share of giant killing this season, beating League One duo Huddersfield and Burton Albion in the first two rounds.
Being drawn at home against Tottenham was a huge boost for the club, but fans will be gutted to know that a draw will not see them enjoy a return leg to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as it would have in previous years.