The Premier League has once again done its best impression of not caring — at all — about match-going fans.
Albion’s final home game of the season, originally pencilled in as a Sunday afternoon fixture, has been moved to an 8pm Monday night kick-off on May 19th, all for the benefit of Sky’s cameras. And, as you might expect, it’s gone down like a cold, soggy-bottomed pie in the West Upper.
“Absolutely shocking. League will be done by then, at best this game is ‘will Brighton scrape a possible Europa Conference League spot’, more likely a completely pointless end of season exercise.
“f** off Sky and anyone who agreed to this. Last home game on a Sunny day is one of the best days of the season. Monday night, f*** off.”*
The news was described as depressing, late, inconsiderate, and inevitable — a now-familiar mix.
“Well that’s pretty depressing news, but in keeping with a fairly depressing end to the season. x 3 in the North going on the exchange which will at least be good news for the local Liverpool fans.”
“I like evening games, but absolutely wrong the last home game of the season is on a school night. Massively inconsiderate – but since when has that mattered?”
Even those normally tolerant of the numerous TV reshuffles were unimpressed.
“I’m normally in the camp of ‘it’s annoying but that’s the deal with taking tv money’ but not only is this announcement late it’s also a total kick in the teeth for both Albion and Liverpool fans and will ruin attendance and atmosphere.”
“This is bullshit. Our final home game gets moved to an evening kickoff and the coverage will be all about Liverpool. The lap of honour will be in front of half empty stands, and loads of kids will miss out because it’ll finish late on a school night.
“They’ll have almost certainly won the league by then anyway.”
Some Albion fans have already waved the white flag — and their tickets.
“I was quite happy when I saw there were no more midweek games this season. How naive I was. Barstool beckons. A local plastic JJB scouse dimbot can buy my ticket.”
“Well done to all concerned. A good way of making sure 10k Albion fans decide not bother.”
“I was going to go with my two nephews and their dad but not now. 4 more tickets that won’t be bought. Someone really has to question Sky over such issues. Yes, we want the TV money, but the last home fixtures of any side in the Prem should not be night games – simple.”
And perhaps the most damning: no one seems to really understand the point of moving this particular fixture at all.
“Yet another evening game. Liverpool will have nothing to play for either by then so I have no clue why they’ve moved this.”
It’s not just Albion fans who’ve been stitched up by the fixture move — Liverpool supporters have every right to be equally furious. A late spring weekend by the sea — a few pints on the pier, fish and chips on the beach, and a sunny afternoon at the Amex — has now been replaced by an 8pm Monday night kickoff, 270 miles from home. That’s a 540-mile round trip, with the very real possibility of not getting back until Tuesday morning — if, that is, they can even get back at all.
Because after the final whistle? There’s no public transport. Hop on the train home? No chance. It’s either an overnight stay – costly and inconvenient – or an all-night drive back to Merseyside, navigating service station Costa machines, bleary-eyed and wondering how the Premier League keeps getting away with this nonsense.
It’s the kind of decision that kills atmospheres and tests loyalties — and all for a fixture that, by then, might not even mean much in the Premier League end-of-season shake-up. Unless you’re Sky, of course, in which case it’ll mean everything. Apparently.
One thing’s clear: ticket-buying, match-going football fans aren’t just disappointed — they feel ignored. Again.
