Livingston chairman reveals plans for a football family

Sep 30 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Gordon McDougall

GORDON McDOUGALL has revealed plans to open the doors at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium to allow supporters of other clubs to join the Livingston football family.

The Lions chairman is convinced that clubs working together can help bring fans back to football grounds.

McDougall has come up with a revolutionary concept which could see season ticket-holders of other clubs allowed into Livi home matches at a reduced cost.

His plan is at an early stage and the Livi chief wants feedback from supporters first before taking it any further.

McDougall said: “I’d like to introduce a football family to Livingston.

“This would mean that every football supporter who has bought a season ticket for a club throughout Scotland can come here to Livingston when their team is playing away from home for just £6.

“It is just a proposal at this stage and the last thing I want to do is alienate our own fans who have bought season tickets, but I’d like to gauge their thoughts on this before taking it any further.

“I’d love them to let me know what they think by writing to the club or emailing us.

“It is my view that the proposal can only help the game and help the club.

“I feel that we must do everything in our power to attract football fans to matches and who are greater fans than the people who have purchased their own club’s season ticket — the real football family.”

The new football family scheme could see attendance’s at the stadium improve further if season-ticket holding supporters of other clubs take up the offer and make the trip to West Lothian to watch the Lions when their side are not playing at home.

McDougall continued: “Where do Hibs or Hearts fans go when their team are not playing? Maybe they could use their season tickets to come along to Livi?.

“I have always felt that our club suffer from the lack of second or third generation fans. There are very few supporters who can say their fathers are Livi fans.

“The absence of that group curtail our fan base, so anything we can do to attract extra people to watch our games is a bonus.

“The football family is an initiative which could help a lot of clubs like us and we hope other clubs might eventually adopt it

“We are happy with how things are going at the club, our attendance’s are respectable at a time when the game is struggling and our youth teams are developing well.

“Football is a results driven business but our players are also trying hard to entertain and I am a believer that if you watch your team play well and entertain then you leave happier.

“Livi will always have doubters because of the turmoil this club has been through but we want people to know that we are sincere.

“We have had a year now at Livingston and supporters of all clubs should be starting to believe we mean what we are saying.