The Mail Bag
Ticket office fiasco Number 536
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When the details of the Cup Final Tickets where published, my 82-year-old father-in-law (yes, that's 82), season-ticket holder since Tommy Lawton's days, applied on-line for a ticket (yes, he is on-line... at 82). Now he hadn't been to any cup matches this season except the semi-final, so imagine his surprise and delight when he was e.mailed saying he had a ticket.
So yesterday my 82-year-old father-in-law, he's 82, troupes down to Goodison whistling "We shall not be moved" and generally in high spirits. Queue's up, gets to the front, produces his documents only to be told (and here's the bit we've all been waiting for), "Sorry, sir there's been a mix up and you are not entitled to a ticket."
Three suits appear from the back with the official explanation of, "We contracted the distribution of tickets out and the other company has made a mess of things, you're not the first and you won't be the last, don't blame us." Now my 82-year-old father-in-law, that's 82 in case you missed it, is quite a placid person and ? after arguing the toss for 5 minutes ? left ticketless.
however, a bloke at the next window who had obviously been told the same info, wasn't quite as philosophical, and was trying to rip the grill off the front of the cubicle with the normal "People's Club. my fucking arse!", then threatened to cancelled his season ticket. My 82-year-old father-in-law left before the other guy was (a) given a ticket, or (b) carried away by four burly security guards kicking and screaming.
Now correct me if I'm wrong but, taking out season tickets, don't Everton Football Club have facilities to sell over 20,000 tickets once or twice a month for home match's as well as away games etc? Which begs the questions, why the hell are we paying another company to distribute our tickets? Why the hell wasn't my 82-year-old father-in-law re-emailed with an apology before he made the trip down to Goodison? And why the hell have Everton FC not replied to the e.mail he sent them yesterday complaining?
Just one more story of the wonderful "People's Club" we all love and cherish.
Kevin Jones, Posted 21/05/2009 at 06:41:59
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Yes it is a cock, yes your father in law deserves an apology but unless EvertonFC have a complaint how are they meant to respond. If a complain has been entered, it was only done so yesterday.
Me and my mates picked up our tickets testerday but we are still waiting for the confirmation e-mail, we got the info from the e-ticketing site.
There was a mistake by the looks of it, did you expect anything else?
You don’t work for the ’People’s’ Club do you by any chance Joe?
I like the fact that the 82 year old fella is still going the game, My pops, 84 and former season ticket holder, gave up years ago... "they’ll always let you down in the end" he says.. hehehe
It is not about whether his father-in-law, who is 83 next year by the way, qualifies for a ticket. It is the way the club communicated one thing, thereby raising expectations and creating the probably non too easy journey to GP and then to pass the buck to a company they commissioned to do the work in hte first place.
Your story has got me wondering though Kevin about the way the club could show their appreciation for a lifetime of support.
I wonder how many season ticket holders have had their STs for more than 25 years, 30 years or even longer. The longest serving 50 STHs could have been offered a free Wembly VIP experience, ticket wine and dine etc. It might go some way to balance the sight of Chelsea pensioners that I am sure will be part of the day for Chelsea, at least ours will be true blues.
Oh and in case anyone was thinking it, I have no ST nor am I in my 80’s.
Hi Joe
I’m not moaning about the fact he’s not entitled to a ticket, I’m moaning about him being told you’ve got a ticket then having it taken away. I put the fact he’s 82 in for comic effect. He realised he probably wouldn’t be entitled to a ticket and was cockahoop, ( which isn’t easy at 82 ), when he got the e-mail. Like any Evertonian who’s after a ticket he thought strange but hey ho happy days and turned up.
I used to be a season ticket holder and went to all home and about 10 away a season for a few years (before wife & kids came along!) does that mean I deserve one too!
I sympathise with this issue but the rules were set out clearly from the outset, so if you got an e-mail advising you had a ticket with only 1 extra credit, I would have been immediately suspicious!
It's a bit like me calling the lotto at 8pm on Saturday saying I?ve got all 6 numbers and when I trip up to head office on the Monday presenting my non-winning ticket and being all shocked when they don't hand me a cheque for £7 million.
I?m 35 you know.
Sorry for having a little fun with you ! The constant references to his age cracked me up !
Your story though does present a image of ( an incompetent ) corporate side of things which is pretty soulless, and clearly dissapointing for your old man in-law.
To be honest, I’m gutted for the guy. I hope you can sort out something special for him on the day. If we have to wait another 14 years for a cup final, he’ll be 97, and it would be wonderful if the club could make special dispensation for such a life long devoted follower; It would be a classy and respectful touch....
Regards
Err, no you don?t.... Rocket surgery!
Everton, stop pissing about and give him a Cup Final ticket NOW!!!
Really poor.
Rocket Surgery? I disagree. It?s more like Brain Science.
Is someone who has been going to Goodison for 70 years more deserving of someone who has been to 40 games this season! There is no right naswer, just illustrating the difficulties the club has and that some people who believe they deserve a ticket will miss out.
Clearly more rocket surgery required!
Yes, he deserves a ticket more than someone who has been to 40 games this season. Thousands of people would be able to claim the same. There will, however, be very few who have continued to support the team and held a season ticket since Tommy Lawton was a lad.
The club are going to ballot the last few remaining tickets among ST holders with no credits, why couldn?t they give him one of them? For shame....
The fact that they only had 1 credit meant they shouldn’t have applied in the first place as the instructions said only people with 3 or more would be dealt with.
My point is not that they are deserving of a ticket, but that so are lots of other people who haven’t got one. There are proper channels to go through and processes in place, to ensure that the allocation is as fair as possible, but sometimes mistakes happen. Do you expect EFC to give tickets out to every sympathy story they got at the ticket office over the last few weeks!
The club have been left in a no-win situation because they haven?t got enough tickets to go round STHs. They have to pick one way of distributing tickets and stick with it. This year, they picked STH+3 credits (which was clearly advertised), so why hasn?t your father-in-law or a member of his family ?phoned the club to seek clarification?
Now I?ve been to all but 2 of this season?s games, missing away trips to Spurs and Wigan when I was on holiday. I am only 25 but intend to hold my ST for many years to come. Should I lose out on a ticket cos I?m younger than other fans and have held my ST for a shorter time? I could argue that they have seen it all before, whereas I was just 11 when we last won a trophy, and watched on TV. I was barely a toddler the time before that.
The people criticising the club should think about whether they could do a better job themselves, co-ordinating the response to a mass hysteria of fans clamouring for tickets, numbering circa 75k.
I?ll be back soon to look at your responses ? once again Kevin, sympathies to your father ? mine can?t go either, cos he didn?t have enough credits; as he said, that?s life ? the important thing is that we win it. NSNO
It would also be one less for the touts.
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1 Posted 21/05/2009 at 14:13:50
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It would be unfair if someone had been to three or four cup games and is rejected by the club because someone who is older than him who had been to one game (which doesn’t even count) wanted one!