Leeds wage war on an age old problem!
Eeh what a naughty lot some of you are!
At the weekend, Leeds announced that they are cracking down on "Concession Cheats" - that is grown adults pretending to be kids (a bit like "Wee Jimmy Krankie" above, but in a much less sinister way as 'Jimmy's' long-suffering sidekick Iain was actually his/her husband!).
Basically some grown-up folk have allegedly been gaining access into ER on matchday's using concession tickets and Cuddly Ken, ever keen to squeeze the last penny out of the Yorkshire Pound has told his troops to crack down on it.
An announcement at the weekend said: "In light of adults and teenagers attempting to purchase junior tickets fraudulently for their own use at recent matches, proof of age will now be required from any fan wishing to purchase concession price tickets."
It says something about proof of ID being required at point of sale, such as passport or birth certificate. How this will work with internet and telesales is obviously something more obvious to the powers-that-be than myself.
In my own working life, the subject of concessions and age have blighted me somewhat! Whilst at university, I worked in a bar and was often confronted by under-aged drinkers trying to snaffle a quick half pint or three. However during my time as a railway guard, I was confronted by "adults" trying it on to get kids fares! (usually young lasses, tarted up to the nines going out on the piss on a Friday/Saturday night!). Oh and how could I forget the erascible old git from Eccles who did not have his pass and threatened to report me because I charged him full fare.
One supposes it is not fair on the vast majority of Leeds fans who pay the correct price. However there is an element of me (blame the Criminology module I took at uni) which is compelled to look at the potential root-cause of the problem, notably the overpriced tickets at Elland Road these days!