Getting back to Pontefract is the bigger issue for me. On a Friday and a Saturday last train at 9:35pm.
Maybe, but I doubt the EFL feels it will have anything to gain or lose by expressing its own disappointment or approval at SYPs ruling
It's been argued on another thread that this might be down to access requirements for those with impaired mobility, which is feasible. I don't see why they couldn't have opened up the full stand, as I struggle to see how the incremental costs of doing so wouldn't be offset by the increased likelihood of reasonable home attendance.
I think opening only one stand just adds to the vicious circle of driving the FA Cup onto the scrap heap. It seems we're treating it as no different to the EFL trophy.
Unfortunately unless you get to the third round and draw someone decent it is a mickey mouse competition. Football snobbery has done it.
But we share the gate receipts with the away team, after costs. Not many folk will turn up anyway - half term, bonfire weekend, cold and wet etc. Open as many stands as you want - it just means the game runs at a loss for both teams….. nobody benefits.
Same for my son and I. We were definites prior to the switch to Friday night. And then the restriction re the ESL means we're almost certainly not going to drive the 190 miles round trip. I get that it's chicken and egg - if fans like me don't go then there's no reason to open up other areas but I think I'd have been more inclined to also open the Ponty and reduce the ticket price for everyone to a quid in order to try to get more in. The trend for attendances forFA Cup games is steeply down and I think it's worth doing something to try to address it. Yes, it might cost a few £000's but imo sometimes it's about more than a short-term financial decision. At a quid, a few folks might go that haven't before and be encouraged to come back again sometime.
You're supporting them by making sure in their biggest ever game they make less money and play in front of less fans.
I think that the £10 and £5 ticket prices are the minimum allowed, as I seem to recall that there's a minimum ticket price regulation for FA Cup games at various stages.
Without wanting to appear patronising this is the !st round of the most prestigious club cup competition in the World - everyone concerned should be doing all they can to accommodate Horsham who`s biggest day in their history has been thoroughly tainted by The FA, SYP and by the looks of it our clubs`lack of support.
And precisely when have SYP ever listened to BFC…… It’s not like BFC have historically over-ruled SYP on several occasions. Don’t get me wrong, it should be a 3pm Saturday KO in my eyes. But there seems to be a lot of bashing against the club when it’s SYP who’ve made the call.
I think the ‘bashing’ is about the club’s lack of communication regarding SYPs decision rather than the actual decision itself. I’m sure most of us know that the club can only register any concerns/ complaints they have about the switch and hopefully get a re- think. Unfortunately we simply don’t know if they have or haven’t. If they haven’t then it shows a lack of support and understanding for fans of both clubs and probably makes SYP think it’s made a ‘good’ decision?
I might be a bit naive but i think if it was on a Saturday with all stands open,we would have got at least 7000 attending.
But because Khaled is a mute - we don't know this. All it takes is a statement that he could knock up whilst having his morning coffee about how the club recognises the situation and respects the history of the competition, but after consultation with SYP bla bla bla, we are left with no choice but to shift the game. Barnsley recognise that Horsham fans and players will be disappointed, so as a gesture of good will, we'll give them a free coffee/pie/bigger share of gate/footrub. It's not difficult. But then again it's Khaled, so he probably doesn't give a **** because it's not a pre season friendly with Man City or a photo op with some fashion designer that fcks up our kit.