Thoughts of a Non-ST going to the game...

As a non-ST holder, like many on here, I want to say my peace. From the outset I don't want to gloat about having a ticket like some morons.

The point of this post is to try and justify why I feel I should have qualified for a +1 ticket. The club offered that option and I took my opportunity as others did. Please note - and not wanting to sound cheeky, I posted something earlier today about the chance of getting a ticket outside the ground. This was from a good source - an avid LFC fan.

I've already been to 25 games this season. If we start from the first real 1st team game at Morecambe (which I didn't go to last minute due to family bereavement), its 13 at home and 12 away for me. The only time I don't see us play is in June these day.

I would have bought a ST but since non-reserved seating was banished in '96 it just isn't worth the hassle when the number of those who want to go with me varies match-by-match. You don't have to be Einstein to decipher which games more people want to go to! I'd go every week but I'd rather spend the Saturday with my little girl then spend the day at the game on my own.

I appreciate ST holders pay into the club with a guaranteed lump sum so this debacle does punishes them unfairly.

But here is my attempt to slightly re-address the balance of a very sensitive argument. If STs only went to the games they pre-paid for, and many I know only do might I add, they would have been to 15 games this year. Not many of those will have gone to 10 away games thus equalling the amount of cash I have spent following us this season all over the country (like every season). I would have gone to more but not everyone I venture to with have the finances each time - plus reasons already mentioned.

Last season I only went to about 30 games, about a 50/50 home-away split again.

[Truth behind that is I hate the morgue atmosphere at Oakwell these days and us that go away sing!]

Anyway back to the point.....It worked out I paid as much to see us at home last season as a ST holder. They got the extra 7-8 free games I didn't go to of course which is fine as they committed to that in the July. I'm a pretty constant 2/3 of games a season man. I (happily) expect to make 'a loss' on the home attendance by the end of this season.

So, I was fortunate to get a ticket from a chap who I regularly see at away games. In summing up, I'd like to point out that
1) I still think it would have been fairer just 1 per ST, but that
2) the club should have had a category 2, 3 etc. for those of us who go to so many games a season - for me its 66% so far this season. Maybe in categories of 15 games, 10, 5 would have appeased people more. Although in truth how many would have saved their stubs, how many grounds actually don't give you a stub, plus we have never needed stubs before really so how many would have even considered keeping them? I can't recall the last time we needed them. I'm 27, first attended in 1988, but even in the days of the Prem there was nothing like this. When I wanted to go to an away game I got a ticket no problem for Highbury, Old Trafford, err Selhurst Park on a Tuesday night etc. I did have a ST that season but then I went to University so couldn't renew it for 98/99.
3) they should have made the situation with Colchester stubs clearer i.e. more realistic. Although saying that, the crowd was no bigger than normal to be honest.

The club take my "first line of your address" and "number" virtually every other week in that empty box office, so there is something to be said about how the computer system works down at Oakwell as no doubt my games aren't being tallied up. The inability to make use of that system is probably the biggest factor in all this debacle for tickets. Had something been set-up it may have changed the views of those who decided 2 per ticket.

Ideally it was just one per ST holder then make use of the computer system would have left everyone agreeing those who got tickets deserved to do so.
Regards

PS - In the event of a reply, the 5 per ST is rubbish rumour, or at least I hope so. At most 2 again (2x6000 = 12000). LFC would only qualify for less that 4000 (15% so 2/3 of North Stand) so would leave 4000 approx for others. Alternatively, like my suggestions above, 1 per ST, then category basis based on games which benefits me but only after STs get their opportunity. Now where are those ticket stubs???

 

All very sensible

Enjoy the match!

 

The computers in the box office must have details of which matches people have attended. I know I have been down and been given tickets for where I've sat previous matches, without having to tell them where.

Although I don't have a season ticket I have attended every home match, and quite a few away matches this season, plus the fundays they held (soapstars v footballers etc), program every match, both the Blackpool and Southend cup matches, pay my centenary every month, half time draw tickets at home matches, and the countless trips to the club shop for the kids. I know quite a few people already that are Liverpool fans, never stepped a foot in Oakwell all season, and they have tickets for the match.

I know that whatever system the club used, someone somewhere wouldn't be happy, but I do think that there was other, fairer ways this ticket allocation could have been done. One look on Liverpools website shows this. Its not exactly rocket science, and it gives the season tickets first chance, but also for those who for their own reasons, don't buy upfront, and instead pay all year round.

I think the club needs to acknowledge these fans. I understand that ST get first priority, and rightly so, but I think that there are a lot of fans who are constantly putting thier hands in their pockets to go and support their team, to be pushed aside at moments like this.

I can remember the receivership time when the future of BFC was looking very doubtful. Fans trying to keep their beloved clubs head above water, putting in money from their own pockets, and trying to get others to do the same. I wonder now how many of those people are without tickets, and how many of the Liverpool fans going on a Barnsley ticket even cared at that time.

There was always going to be some without a ticket, who would be dissapointed, but if things would have been handled differently a lot of this could have been avoided.

I will be there on Saturday, and every home match again after that, plus the away matches I can get to like before this whole fiasco, to support the team I love. But I feel deeply that BFC have let a hell of a lot of fans down.