DELIGHT at the Alex's Worthington Cup draw against Premiership side Tottenham next Wednesday has turned to disappointment and anger over sky high ticket prices.

"Fans were on a high when they heard who their opponents would be, but the lack of concessions for juniors and senior citizens at White Hart Lane has burst the bubble for many of them," said the Crewe's ticket manager Jane Eardley.

Tottenham set the ticket prices at £24 and £28 with no concessions, except £20 for disabled supporters. By Monday around 200 tickets had been sold from Gresty Road.

"That's not bad at this stage, but most of them are going in ones or batches of seven or eight which would indicate fewer families than usual will be going to London," Jane added.

To counteract the ticket prices the Alex are lining up cheaper coach fares for the Spurs trip - £9 compared with the £15 it cost for the trip to Fulham.

"Tottenham are offering concessions in their own members' stand but they are quite within the rules with the other charges. The fact that it is an evening mid-week match would have limited the number of school-age fans travelling anyway. It's a one-leg tussle and could go to extra time and penalties which means quite a late return. This match looks like being a night out for the grown-ups rather than a family occasion," said Jane.

The ticket prices have so angered borough cllr Brian Silvester, Conservative spokesman for leisure, that he has written to the Minister of Sport, urging changes in the regulations.

"It is an outrage. The Premiership teams have got a monopoly and can virtually charge what they want. Unfortunately it's a one-leg tie so the Alex won't be able to win back such a home advantage," he said.

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