Burnley FC's matchday volunteer scheme 'shameful'

[hadi123]

Some Burnley fans have described as "shameful" the club's appeal for unpaid volunteers to help stewards.

The Premier League outfit said the 'Match Day Hero' role would involve directing fans, validating tickets and checking passes at Turf Moor.

Fans on Twitter accused the Clarets of recruiting "stewards for free" despite tripling turnover to £121m and making a £22m profit in 2016-17.

All "here-to-help" volunteers "would be well looked after", a spokesman said.

However Paul Mulligan wrote on Twitter: "So it's like being a steward - but you don't pay them."

The club spokesman insisted that the club's Match Day Heroes would be similar to the "Games Makers" at the 2012 London Olympics.

"We would also like to clarify that although volunteers may not all see all of the game at which they are working, they will certainly have access when their duties are completed and they will also get clothing, refreshments and merchandise."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-45560424

 

[hadi123]

As a follower of Burnley football club, I feel this is very disappointing. When you ask someone as a volunteer, you should put yourself into their shoes and consider that YOU are the one who needs help. People can be so ungrateful sometimes and I never understand the logic of treating volunteers like slaves. If they're being paid, fair enough as they need money but when people are in volunteer positions, they really need to be treated better.

 

[HitWicket]

As a follower of Burnley football club, I feel this is very disappointing. When you ask someone as a volunteer, you should put yourself into their shoes and consider that YOU are the one who needs help. People can be so ungrateful sometimes and I never understand the logic of treating volunteers like slaves. If they're being paid, fair enough as they need money but when people are in volunteer positions, they really need to be treated better.

I don't get it, there's no suggestions that anyone's been mistreated?

 

[Itachi]

What I see here is, the volunteers are complaining after seeing the profit because they didn't get a share.

Am I missing something?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

What I see here is, the volunteers are complaining after seeing the profit because they didn't get a share.

Am I missing something?

Yeah you sorta are. I'll try to explain.

Traditionally English football has been seen as a working mans game. Majority of fans would support their local club and would pass down the support through generations.

With the establishment of the premier league and the influx of TV money many traditional fans now feel alienated by the teams that they feel they helped build.

They speak of tourist fans and how chairmen of clubs etc are ignoring traditional values and catering more towards making money and pleasing the board.

Many clubs make a lot of money through extortionate season ticket and merchandise. Traditional fans speak about being priced out of the game and the lack of atmosphere at the ground.

This is seen as another example of corporate greed in football and the lack of respect given to the people who are supporters i.e forgetting the grassroots.

I hope it makes sense. Im not the biggest football fan perhaps someone can explain it better.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

What I see here is, the volunteers are complaining after seeing the profit because they didn't get a share.

Am I missing something?

I think they are complaining because Burnley FC isn't a non-profit organisation, so they are being disingenuous asking for voluntary workers as free labour based on their loyalty to the club.

 

[hadi123]

I think they are complaining because Burnley FC isn't a non-profit organisation, so they are being disingenuous asking for voluntary workers as free labour based on their loyalty to the club.

Exactly. It's ridiculous. The culture should be like a family!