IAIN Martin’s letter to The Argus (March 30) lists a number of reasons for not renewing his Albion season ticket, which is of course his prerogative.

It’s unfortunate, however Mr Martin’s letter lacks some important and necessary context.

Unsurprisingly, and in the interests of keeping players, officials and other supporters, particularly children, as safe and as secure as possible, hard metal (or hard plastic) glass-lined flasks (which can easily conceal any kind of substance, not just tea and coffee) are banned at many top flight football stadia up and down the country, as are glass or hard plastic bottles with lids (this is because bottles secured with lids travel farther, faster and have greater force on impact than those without).

Far from being “converted”, the family stand – with cheaper seats for adults and children – has been a key element of the family experience at the Amex since the stadium first opened in 2011. To help increase capacity in this area, and meet greater demand for lower-priced seating for families with children, a reconfiguration led to a small number of fans being moved to alternative seats in the same stand at the same price two seasons ago.

Nobody was forced into more expensive seats unless they opted to move out of the family stand.

The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 made it a criminal offence to pass or sell on tickets to football matches without a football club’s expressed permission.

Since then, terrorism and, more recently, Covid has placed even greater importance on all clubs knowing exactly who is inside their stadia for any given match. Albion supporters now have the option to pass on their season ticket at any time provided they do so to registered club members. The one-off seasonal fee (£20) is only payable if a season ticket holder wants this flexibility.

Finally, Mr Martin suggests “increasing revenue” is the reason for making these various changes. However, the club has increased the number of cheaper-priced family seats, reduced the cost of hot drinks and water, frozen season ticket prices, and increased the value of season tickets by making them more flexible for fans of all ages.

Far from acting to “increase revenues”, the club continues to do what it can at a difficult time for everyone to meet increasing demand from families to watch top level football in a safe, world-class facility.

Paul Barber

Chief executive and deputy chairman

Brighton and Hove Albion FC