To me it's another example of the culture of consumerism that is creeping into "supporting a team".
Supporting your side, whomever it may be, is a choice. Choosing to travel all the way to Middlesborough on a Tuesday night is commendable, but nobody's making people go. We go and hand over our money because we want to support the side. To say after the event "the team I supported were rubbish and therefore I want my money back" demeans the definition of "supporter" in my eyes.
But it's the philosophical point that gets me down. Football now is product, packaged, polished up and sold off at ridiculous prices. Even thinking of a refund for a poor performance is acting like a consumer rather than a supporter. By all means be fed up, swear all the way home, give the cat a boot up the jacksy when you get in if you have to, but don't sell yourself short by asking for your money back. Seriously, if people don't know by now that following Norwich City is one part joy to four parts wrist-slitting misery, they should pop down to Sports Direct and buy a Chelsea kit.
Hey, perhaps they should start printing those disclaimers on the bottom of each ticket sold, just so we're all clear about what supporting a team is all about:
DISCLAIMER: This ticket does not guarantee a good performance, or even a winning one. Teams are subject to change without notice; any resemblance to previous players, living or dead, is unintentional and purely coincidental; for external use only; if rash, irritation, redness, or swelling develops, consult a steward. Smoking this ticket could be hazardous to your health; disclaimer does not cover misuse, accident, lightning, flood, tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruption, earthquake, hurricanes, other Acts of God, or being struck by a wayward Bradley Johnson shot.
