<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'">Many thanks for your email and your comments have been noted.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'">Unfortunately the demand for tickets has outweighed supply and we are sorry we are unable to process your request.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'">Regards</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'">Barnsley</span></font><font face="Courier New" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"> FC </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" color="#000080" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" color="#000080" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: navy; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><hr width="100%" size="2" /></span></font></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Tahoma"><span style="font-weight: bold">Sent:</span> 04 February 2008 23:57 <span style="font-weight: bold">To:</span> Joanne Jackson <span style="font-weight: bold">Subject:</span> Liverpool Tickets</span></font><span /></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span style="font-size: 12pt" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">F.A.O. Gordon Shepherd</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Dear Gordon</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">I am writing to express my utter dismay at the manner in which Barnsley Football Club have distributed tickets for the forthcoming FA Cup tie.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">As a long standing season ticket holder, centenary society member, supporters trust member, attendee of the Southend away game (amongst others), Blackpool home game and regular supporter home/away supporter since 1976 I am appalled that since I could not afford a day off work today to queue for a ticket I effectively have been prevented from going to the game. </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">What makes this all the more galling is the decision to allow season ticket holders 2 tickets per voucher. With reputedly 7000 season ticket holders and 6000 tickets this was clearly flawed (at best) and has probably resulted in not only non season ticket holders effectively given priority over holders but in many cases tickets will have landed in the hands of people who have not even visited Oakwell this season. In some cases non Barnsley supporters have probably acquired tickets when loyal supporters that have given long standing financial backing go without.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Furthermore the club also stated in its rules for the distribution of tickets that season ticket holders “MUST PURCHASE TICKETS IN PERSON” at the box office in order to get tickets. This rule has clearly not been applied as many people were reported to be buying multiples of tickets. This has clearly accelerated ticket sales at the cost of those who could not make it today and like myself may have assumed that it would take at least a few days to sell the tickets in this manner.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Not that it affects me, but also a statement was made by the club that attendees from the Colchester game would also be given some priority to obtain tickets for the tie when it was apparent that given the number of tickets available and the subsequent? decision to allocate 2 tickets per season ticket it was highly likely to be a meaningless gesture.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Whilst I appreciate that it is not possible to sell tickets in such a manner that pleases everyone I think that had ticket sales been restricted to 1 ticket per season ticket (juvenile tickets accepted) much of the ill feeling that will result could have been avoided at little cost to the club.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">I believe the club has made a considerable faux pas in this matter and it will be of little surprise to find that a number of previously loyal fans are disenfranchised by the clubs actions and season tickets renewals / centenary memberships suffer as a result. I have to say that this matter has underpinned my opinion of the flawed unprofessional manner in which BFC operates its marketing and public relations issues.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Surely there must be better ways in which the club could conduct itself in these matters and perhaps we should look at methods adopted by other (successful?) clubs</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">I appreciate all that yourself and Patrick Cryne have done with regard to supporting the manager this season, and there is no doubt improvements have been made in other areas but I must stress that I am not happy with the handling of the matter, far from it Gordon, and I suspect, far from alone.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">I look forward to your reply.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Kind Regards</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Name and address supplied</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">Patron Code *****</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial" /></font></p>
Write him a letter... A long time ago I read that the best way to get your comments seen personally by somebody high up in a company is to write a letter, put it in a pink envelope and spray some perfume on it. No PA is going to open a piece of post that he/she suspects might be a missive from the lady he's having an affair with, and will probably hand it straight on...
I sent an E Mail to him and got the same reply as you,its just a standard reply and i dont think they will have even read them so that was a waste of time. (N)
WHAT DID YOU REALLY EXPECT????????? THE FANS MEAN NOTHING TO BARNSLEY FC ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR SEASON TICKET MONEY.
I am tempted to send him one , same title, then in the content........ Which is your favourite spice girl gordon? See if i get the same reply
That may well be but there's nothing in the response that indicates he will even get to see it let alone read it and respond. Ah well I'm sure I'll get some answers tonight....????
Perhaps forwarding an email to the Barnsley Comical may also provide further encouragement for the BFC Administrators to think more carefully about handing out 2 tickets per season ticket holder again the future. If you are inclined to email the Comical here it is: postmaster@barnsley-chronicle.co.uk (blagger)
