Spoke to a guy whos grandson was a mascot for Saints recently. Can't remember how much this cost but it wasn't cheap. £300 ish? My mates lads have been mascots at City, sure this was £500 a go & a 2 year wait. Just a sign of the times.

Agree, I just think it's a shame as it means some families never get a chance to have the experience.

Doesn't make it right I know but I think it £199 at Saints and most other Clubs charge, I have had a word with the Club just out of interest and there will be three mascots each game next season two that pay and one that comes from a random draw from the members of a new kids/Airliebird Club that is to be formed. So there will still be some free ones I Guess! It is down to market forces, as we all agree, and I don't say its right however according to the Club Reception several folks have already booked in today! I answer to Standee yes I think you can pick your game.

Is there an age limit? I have a couple of middle-aged friends who I'd like to see do it and I'd be willing to make a fairly substanial donation to charidee. Full kit though, no jeans.

As said by others, a sign of the times - but experiences you pay for are [ugenerally[/u worth less, IMO, so a tiny bit sad.

Do all three mascots get the same treatment/package, if so then I have no issue with it, you can pay or take the same ride of chance that it has been in the past. I just hope all three kids (and their families) get treated equally, otherwise it'll be like being the kid in Pony trainers when everyone else had Nike (back when Pony were seen for the rubbish brand they were, of course)

i dreamt of updating my Gola trainers to Ponys

lol

I used to lay awake at night dreaming of owning a pair of Gola

Or in your case, My Little Pony instead of Action Man

I'll see your Gola and raise you Adidas 4 stripe!

In all seriousness tho, they often have the mascot package as an auction item at work (for charidee, admitedly) and usually goes for over £100, which shows there is the market out there. And as they are still having the randomly selected mascots, I don't see an issue with it.

Plus Standee, you said

The "free" kid has to stand in a different line, just like those on free school dinners. He also has to run out holding the referee's hand

They should also make him wear the star of David

Totally disagree with that, when we had a team we did a curtain raiser at both clubs, at KR the coaches, kids and 2 parents were accommodated for free I suppose the stance was it was a great opportunity for the youngsters and it was recognized that the parents would want to watch them and who knows they may enjoy watching KR and return as paying customers.
When we played at FC the coaches and kids were free but the parents had to pay full whack even though the game was against Catalans which meant there were lots of seats available. It has nothing to do with insurance as the youngsters are insured with their respective clubs. This was a few years ago so hopefully things will change, youngsters are the future supporters of either clubs.

Well, I guess it depends, people chose to have kids, so they should bare the expense that comes with them, as a non parent that pays a fortune in tax for other people to have kids it just annoys me, I see no reason why parents, or students, get any form of subsidy from the rest of us. But that is a whole different conversation.

Ref your 'different conversation' - Other peoples kids may look after you in your old age. And before you bite - I have that first bite thank you.

There seems to be a lot of fans who find this an insult to 'poorer people' I am sure some of those 'poorer people' will be spending £150 + on computer games etc for Christmas - If people have the money they will treat their kid - I am sure it is not the end of the world - most kids that I know are just happy to go to the game.

I will not be relying on anyone else's kids in my old age, I can guarantee that.

So you will be totally self-funding in terms of pension, healthcare and all other ancilliaries, no matter how long you live past your productive life?

When you trot out this "if you can't afford kids, you shouldn't have them" line, as you often do, there are some who despair that your parents didn't hold a similar position

my parents never asked for someone else to fund me cod'ead, nor have I ever asked soeone else to fund me and mine.

But you do realise it's boring as fook, don't you?
There's plenty of us who haven't had kids but don't blame the woes of the world on those who have and are maybe struggling to support them.

You need to change the record mate.
You just come over all bitter and twisted.
Do yourself a favour.

Wouldn't the fact that people work all their lives and pay tax and NI mean they have paid for their pension and healthcare?

And even if he went to Switzerland he would still need some -one elses kids to help.

Cock on but Standee forgets who will look after him

Not bitter, not twisted, just fed up of the "hard working families" mantra, what about the hard working folk without kids, are we without value?

aaaannnyyywaay, it seems the macot opportunity is still available as a lottery as well as a cashetrocity.

By paying taxes and NI he's looked after himself.