World Cup ticket prices have come a long way from what I paid in 1966

Sir, – In February 1966, I wrote to the Football Association in London asking about the price and availability of tickets for the World Cup competition which was due to be held that summer.

I received documents showing the details of venues, seating and standing areas and the prices involved. I duly filled in the appropriate forms and returned them to the Football Association, together with a postal order in the amount of three pounds, 17 shillings and sixpence.

This princely sum provided me with tickets for six group matches, a quarter-final, semi-final, third- and fourth-place playoff and the final. The ticket for the final cost me 10 shillings and all other matches cost seven shillings and sixpence each.

To put this in context, I began employment as a junior draughtsman a year later, with a weekly wage of three pounds and 10 shillings. This weekly wage would have very nearly covered the costs of the 10 tickets bought 12 months earlier. Things have changed. – Yours, etc,