Published: 10 March, 2016
by STEVE BARNETT

I LOVE tradition in football. Like how every March Arsenal fans everywhere suddenly start reminding us all that the FA Cup is the oldest club competition in the world – roughly at about the same time that it becomes the only silverware they have a sniff of winning. 

Should they lift the trophy come May those same fans will suddenly forget to mention that, not for the first time, they beat the likes of Hull, Burnley and Sunderland along the way. 

And who among us doesn’t have a good old giggle at the tradition that sees the Spuds stumble upon a moment that will prove once and for all that they are finally contenders to win… well, anything, and cockerel it up. 

When they took a 2-1 lead against the 10 men of their old north London foe on Saturday we all knew, including their own fans, that the Spuds were destined to fudge it up. 

There are just some traditions in football that make us feel good – like Chelsea losing, Leicester winning or Louis van Gaal being Louis van Gaal and telling us how “horny” Manchester United are or diving around the touchline like a swooning fan at a Michael Bolton concert. 

There is one tradition, however, that I’m delighted to see the back of – and that’s football clubs milking the fans. 

OK, OK, maybe I’m getting a little carried away – but the news this week that Premier League clubs have agreed plans to cap away tickets at £30 for the next three seasons is still a belated step in the right direction. 

Yes, the clubs could have agreed to make it £20 like the Football Supporters’ Federation campaigned for. 

Or better still, the clubs could have taken the decision off their own bats without any supporters having to march in protest in the first place. 

But this landmark moment is not one in which to be a negative Norman. 

This moment means those unhappy, and surely broke, Hammers fans who are currently paying more than any other club this season at £85, will be treated to the cheapest tickets in town by paying just £25 next time around – a deserved reward after being made to suffer Big Sam’s brand of ball banging for four years. 

And those FA Cup loving Gooners? Well they get to swap their £64 tickets for £26 away days, which will leave them with just enough change to get Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s name on the back of their shirts next season. 

So for this week at least, it’s 1-0 to the fans.

Just don’t be surprised if your clubs still strike back to steal the win as the prices of half-time pints and pies rocket.