Leeds United have astonishingly made the forthcoming clash with Bristol City a category A fixture where it could cost up to £42 for an adult to attend on January 23rd!

Many, many years ago queuing to get into the Leppings Lane End at Hillsborough, I remarked to an Owls steward that I couldn't understand why my ticket had cost less than the previous season. He diplomatically replied that Wednesday operated at category pricing system and basically Leeds had become that bad post-1992 they could no longer justify charging top-whack when we were in town.

It was my first introduction to the murky world of category pricing at football.

I'm torn if I'm honest. I suppose it makes good business sense to charge more when the big clubs turn up and exploit a bumper pay day, but if I was a fan of said "big club" and there's no specific definition of a "big club" then I'd be a bit vexed to be paying through the nose every time I went away.

Even though they were in League One last season, Bristol City have been rated category A opposition. Adult tickets are on sale now, priced up to £37. On the day itself this could rise to £42 including the controversial "pie tax" refreshment voucher.

As a season-ticket holder I've been oblivious to the match-day prices but I'm told Bristol City represents the SEVENTH category A fixture this season. Preston, who were also in League One last season bizarrely was another top-dollar fixture. Who makes these decisions?

I'm going to the Rotherham FA Cup tie on Saturday but putting aside the added-drama of where Neil Redfearn will park his car, am I the only one who thinks £20 for an adult is a bit steep given this fixture is pretty much run-of-the-mill? Surely £15 or even a tenner would have been better? More bums on seats, better atmosphere, more refreshment sales on the day itself.

I know it was 15 years ago since but I remember paying just £20 to see Barcelona at Elland Road. In that Champions League season the whites' repaid the loyalty of their long-suffering fans by offering a package deal where for just £60 on the Kop we got to see the mighty Catalans, Beskitas and AC Milan to boot! What good value that was given our dramatic progression out of the first group stage when everyone, myself included had written us off.

I know times have changed but I can't help but think Massimo, or whoever makes these odd decisions has got it wrong charging this much to watch us take on Bristol City. It also strikes a hammer blow against the very valid argument that Sky rescheduling is killing our attendances, charging ridiculous prices for average, second-tier football might just be a contributory factor as to why attendances are plummeting this season.

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