Thetownend.com

So.....what is everybody doing?

1 per season ticket from 9am onwards but how many season tickets can you take!?

I am tempted to queue but from what time?

I take it that the telephone line will be a waste of time.

Views and abuse welcome.

Follow on the TEF.  Or somewhere else if it's being shown on a screen.

Am queing from about 4 am :(

I have no choice but to try and ring. Already booked train tickets to come down for the game about 1, before I knew tickets would be going on sale.

I'm going to email Nick Watkins, explain my situation and see if I can arrange them to call me or something as it will be virtually impossible to get through on the phone.

Getting down there at 8am.

do you know anyone in the town who is going to queue up for tickets? Could post em yours maybe?

Nope, afraid not.

I'd offer but already hoping to pick up 6 tickets (2 of which are for people who don't live close by either) so would feel a wee bit cheeky asking for any more!!

Also, I'm a cunt...

Fingers crossed you get one though, worst case scenario is :beers: down the county ground though. Going to be a cracking day whether we get tickets or not!

No worries mate, worse case scenario we will go and watch it at the CG, not quite the same though!

Never been to an Oxford away game either.

Will have to try on the phone, although don't hold out much hope if getting Leicester tickets was anything to go by.

Worst thing is, if we can't get tickets & decided to come down to the county ground to watch we would have to drive through Oxford to do it.

Maybe we should just go & sit on the fence :)

I will probably end up getting about ten tickets.....

Is it tomorrow that they go on sale?

Saturday.

I'm already queueing.

my towel is already down

Bloody Germans

Not joking, I expect most people to want minimum of 2 tickets. If most people buy 3 or 4, then only the first 300 or 400 in the queue might get served!

Camping chairs and sleeping bags for me I reckon!!  :nod:

I remember queueing up for tickets for Man Utd away in the premier league season.

There were people with carrier bags full of season tickets buying 40/50 tickets at a time.

I gave up in the end, and like a lot of town fans bought tickets direct from Man U.

Unfortunately, that's not an option for this

Good luck with that - can't see them calling you somehow.  Especially seeing as there will be several queuing since the early hours.......!

Forgive my blunt response but a) how the fucking hell is that Nick Watkins' problem, and b) what makes you more important than every other cunt, myself included, who wants a ticket and can't get one?

Moving to London the night before. That's me fucked then.

a) It isn't, but he has always been very helpfull when I have contacted him before about tickets.
b) Nothing, just trying to increase my chances by explaining that I live in London, already bought train tickets, can't afford to re-book etc. Got to be worth a try.

I've booked the day off work, does that give me a pass too ???

In all honesty, I'm just gonna hope I can watch it in the Legends Lounge.

There is no definite news on the Legends Lounge yet is there - its a possible rather than a definite. It was the latter then it may reduce demand for tickets.

If that's a non starter then listening (nervously) on STFC world beckons.

All you need is to book an open top bus and park next to the fence. Problem solved.

Or a bouncy castle and see half the game (ish). Work off the calories to the half time pie.

Serious question. What would happen if 100 or so Town fans turned up without tickets and stood on boxes looking over the fence ?

Police just move them on ?

Yea, surely the Police would just move them.

There is probably about enough time before March to dig a tunnel, Great Escape style.  (But in reverse, obviously.  You'd be trying to tunnel in to enemy territory.)

This satellite view (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=grenoble+road,+oxford&hl=en&ll=51.717345,-1.205009&spn=0.004945,0.009624&sll=51.297758,-0.755221&sspn=0.009982,0.019248&hnear=Grenoble+Rd,+Oxford,+OX4+4XP,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=17) shows a copse just a few hundred yards to the north east of the ground.  We find a secluded spot there and start digging, aiming to come up again underneath the away stand.  Getting rid of the excess spoil could be a problem; a little ingenuity, like in the film, would overcome that though.

Who's with me?

I'm in.

Like Prison Break this.

I am turning up at 6am for tickets.....no way am i turning up at nine waiting to 11 then get turned away,will have to dig my flask out :gay:

I just wish they would announce whether they are definitely showing it live at the CG. Its like they're letting us down in stages. First of all a temporary stand - then no. Then 1200 tickets and we'll try and beam it live on a big screen - no. Then we'll try and show it live at the CG on smaller screens - but no news yet. 

There's a wedding event in the Legends on the matchday I believe!

tcchhh this is much more important than a wedding, chuck em in the arkells concourse that'll do

It would look like duck hunt at the fair?

Cannot believe you had this idea and didn't reference Escape to Victory - all we need is a tunnel under the communal bath, a pitch invasion...

I'll probably be sleeping outside the club shop in a sleeping bag.

Yeah, fuck doing any of that. It's only football

not missing this match for the world. 5am for myself via greenbridge macdonaldes

Pardon my ignorance, but what gives you preferential treatment over everybody else just because you had already pre booked train tickets?!

He has already said it doesn't.If you don't ask you don't get.On a more serious note if i was Ralphy i would email saying considering i commited to a 5 year season ticket then maybe they can bare that loyalty in mind for this game.

I could be the Donald Pleasence character who deal with the forgeries if you like, my eyesight's not that good, and someone could help me through the tunnel (it'd need to be quite large though)

Escape to Victory, classic. John Wark is the only player from that film I've seen play. I thought he was about 100 in 1996, turns out he was about the same age as I am now. Fuck.

So you were right in the first place...

I must have had that, subconsciously, at the back of my mind as well.  Poor omission on my part (not least because Ossie was in the bloody film as well!)...and a good spot on yours.

Nothing. Gotta be worth a try though :)

Didn't you see Ossie play for us? Sure I saw Russell Osman play too

I can't remember him playing for us, just checked and it was 2 sub appearances (Sunderland and Oldham, Aug 1989), my first game was Bolton Wanderers ( 21 Nov 1989).

Im planning on getting up early on saturday morning. Was hoping for decent weather, turns out its going to snow.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/sn1
This will see some intresting commitment in the early morning of saturday!

Will I be able to buy a ticket with a ST of somebody who isnt me? Never had an ST always pay on the day or in advance and normally source my ST holder only tickets via a good friend who isnt so good at the moment.

I'm hoping so. I'm going with my ST plus 3 others.

remember Histon

Is it not one ticket to one person with a single season ticket?

We've got 7 season tickets between our lot.

It wouldn't make any sense, given you can buy over the phone, to have to be there in person with your ST. What time do people realistically think we'll need to be there?

Yes though it would be avisable to know the postcode and address of the person who's ticket it is.
They may ask.

Welcome Hammond, you cunt!  :D

Camping out Friday night, hoping to be within first 50 people in the queue Sat morning!...Good luck to everyone trying!

Good luck you nutters, supposed to be approaching -10 C on friday night/saturday morning.

Fuck it, I'm taking my duvet then.

Update:


http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/AwayTickets/0,,10341~2590180,00.html

Its going to be a cold one!!! Im suprised there offering phone bookings. Hopefully they will be fully staffed up.

We should a loyalty scheme like tottenham's, rewards being a season ticket holder or member with points , actually going to the home games with points and away support, so then when these big fixtures come out its all done online and only the people with the top amount of points automatically get the tickets and then if they refuse the people below them get the tickets.

Ah cheers for the warm welcome Beast  :clap:

Some of us can't get the time off work/afford away games every other week.

I'll actually run around campus naked if I manage to get my hands on an Oxford ticket.

Not letting that one go.

That could be up there with Ralphy's balls for misconceived public statements.

(It was Ralphy, right?)

Bushey.

Nah it was Bushey Boy, and I caught that quote too :D

In 39 years I've never been to Oxford, anyone who can get me a ticket or preferably two then appreciate knowing !
Cheers
 :toocool:

Didnt herthab make similar claims maybe about eating his own testicles if Lukas Jutkiewicz scored in the Premier League?

Well he didnt for Everton anyway....

Here is the ill advised statement:

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,22064.msg406140.html#msg406140

And here are the consequences.

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,28516.msg540922.html#msg540922

Happy TEF days.

How cliquey  :) Think i'll resist the urge to click on the second link though  :girlgiggle:

yeah

fucking good luck with that one Mr 5 posts

Steady on there Fred! This bloke could be invaluable for Jills tickets in April.

How many people are seriously considering camping out/getting up early to queue for the tickets?

I'm not sure how much of this is hysteria or genuine fear of missing out. I know of 2 lads who will camp in the carpark tonight for fear of missing out on the tickets. As much as I would like the tickets, I don't really fancy hyperthermia or pneumonia as I'll not only miss tomorrow's game but will probably be bed ridden for the rest of the week as well!

One of my friends is supposedly camping out. Don't think it's necessary at all, but if there are 50+ doing it it could be mildly amusing. Not worth the cold though!

That's mental.

I'm in two minds whether to even queue up at all or just chance my arm at phoning the ticket office, while at home, in the warm with a mug of tea.

He better fucking get me one that's all I can say! ;)

After a lot of thought and soul searching i have decided to give the Oxford away match a miss now.
The early kick off combined with the fact i maybe away that week means i have decided to pull the plug on it.
I have been to every away match at Oxford since 1979 so a bit of a wrench but i am having to pick my matches carefully away this year.

I'll be going for a run tomorrow morning, so should be going past the CG at about 8.30, I'll have a little chuckle to myself if I do see some tents!

Maybe we should all go down and start a camp fire, eat marshmellows and sing camp songs  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I'm turning up at 7:30. If I get one, great. If I don't, well I've been there before and hated it!

Getting up at fucking 6. Not happy.

Me too, getting first train in from Didcot. Am really looking forward to queuing in the cold

Good luck chaps.

I hear leon clarke has laid on a couple of hookers for you all to keep warm.

Think it is a tad over the top really.Some people (my other half included) think they are the worlds biggest supporters and this is another way to prove it  :) But then if you want a ticket you can be sure you'll get one if you are queuing really early.Just hope no one gets too cold.
 Personally if i was going to use my brothers season ticket,i'd turn up at 8 and i'm sure i'd get one then.But as i have a baby and its a 12 kick off and i'd struggle to get to the ground,the game is a no for me  :cry:

Anybody who camps out in this weather is extremely foolish.  I'm not convinced they'll be as much of a panic as people think.
 
I think it will be a lot of the younger element who end up going.  My dad has decided not to go, as he thinks it will 'get nasty there' and I expect a lot of the older season ticket holders will be the same.  I don't want to take my 8 year old and as Larwood said the midday kick off isn't ideal when you have kids, so I'm going to have to give it a miss and hope there is a feed shown at the County Ground as mentioned on the OS.

Me and my son both have season tickets if anyone wants to PM me for the numbers and my details to try and book over the phone.  First come first served (my son is an under 10 though, so I'm not sure if that means it could only be used against a child ticket?) 

I dont think they are foolish, just insane :D

I cant go anyway

I'm camped out.its good fun.

I don't even have a season ticket I just thought I might chance my arm

PM sent chap!

If there is any season ticket holders on here aren't going i would be very grateful for your details so I could try and get a ticket over the phone, Thank you.

What he said chaps, would be willing to also supply at pint or two at a home game prior, don't have a season ticket as work shifts at GWH!

JUst sent you the details via PM, as you were the first responder!

me too, which department?

Could you imagine camping out but oversleeping.........

DOH!

Even if you used someone season ticket number over the phone, they will probably send them to the season ticket holder address.

That's a good idea, anyone want to buy me a ticket tomorrow :)

I got someone getting me a ticket. He's going down at midnight...

In York with only a dodgy mobile signal = no chance :(

On the plus side, I'll be nice and warm.

Got my ticket sorted, delighted. :pint:

A long shot now but if anyone can lend me their season tickets or numbers, I'll be forever grateful. Will offer you £15 for each season ticket.

Minus 10? fuck that!!!

Anyone know if will be able to buy an Adult Ticket with a youngsters ST details on the lines in the morning?

Congrats to anyone thats already out queueing.

i've just walked back from the SU which is about a 3 min walk and it is fucking cold!

i just drove past the CG, there looked to be about 40 mentalists queuing up.

i'm currently in my bedroom.

Inside with central heating and i'm pretty cold.

I cannot imagine how cold the people outside the CG are right now..

A bit like this i would think
[url width=640 height=480]http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/48148/frozen.jpg[/url]

Just don't steal his ticket  :D

It's not that bad, about 40 people here.

Whats it like now axs ?

On my way soon  :(

I'm half an hour away...and hoping they need a hand whipping the covers off so I can set foot on the hallowed turf...

Queued to the corner of the townend now. Freezing!!

My mates are currently in the queue at the moment. I've just got in from work, thought the tops of my ears could snap off after that walk home!

Hats off to anybody at the CG this early.

hats on hopefully in this weather :)

All dressed and ready thinking shall I bother ?

We have so many games coming up - including Hereford away which is always a good crack, Tuesday Saturday, Tuesday Saturday

Why would I queue up in minus 7 to go to a non league ground ?

Ah fuck it - in the car then !!!

Very cold now. Only two hours to go.

Great effort by everyone who is out there queuing for tickets. If I had a ST I would be there too. Just been outside for a smoke and it was unbearable.

Those that are lucky to get tickets will be in for a very memorable game when we win 5-0 at the shed.

COYR

I shall be chancing my arm on the phone since the missus isn't well and I can't leave her home alone (selfish if you ask me). Well done to all those in the queue, I thought I was hardcore thinking of queuing at 7am but I think it was around the corner then.

In queue now, back to entrance to Town End.

Bbc wilts are covering it - I'm trying trying to make axs a mini celeb  :D

I may not have much chance of getting through on the phone, but at least i'm warm  :)

On hold already.......

My mate has been queuing since 6.30. He's by the Town end exit, queue back to SAS office

lost my place, credit on mobile ran out :(


£10 more worth then I give up

This is becoming increasingly expensive. That fucking woman is starting to piss me off as well!

The phonelines weren't supposed to open until 8.45am?  Unless they've got someone purely manning the phone, I'd imagine they've got their hands full with people in the queue.

Anyone on here get the first ticket?

I know not everyone can get there in person, some old, young, less mobile etc but I bloody well hope the fans out in the cold all get a ticket.

It's just like Willy Wonka...

 :D

They must have been serving someone as it's gone 8.45 and i'm still on hold...

Yeah, practically 0 chance of getting an answer before this credit runs out as well, but better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. £10 is my limit on this :)

I'm using my Mums landline, so i'm happy to wait all morning  :)

Unless they're sending all phone calls to hold until the queue outside goes down?

If I was queueing for a ticket and missed to somebody that called in while sat at home in the warm, I would be mightilly pissed off.

I'm guessing they may shift the peeople queueing first.

I thought you were supposed to be on a train?

Queueing at the ground... Rumour is 2 serving and 3 on the phones.

Apparantley there is 2 people serving and 3 answering phones......

I just tried ringing on my mobile and they aren't even letting anyone go on hold anymore, just telling you it's too busy.

Hoping that is the case

Not yet...

Right....my season ticket number is ..... :)


Nah, there will be one answerer and the rest on kiosk I reckon. To be honest I can't complain if all 1200 go to this queue. Would have plied one of them in the queue with beer to get me one if it wasn't such a pfaff getting the ST back in time for Tuesday (hi Ghanimah)

A bit of a pain for those of us stuck out of Swindon today. Just hope that the game is somehow shown at the CG or on t'internet.

I was told there would be 2 manning the phones and 2 at the Windows. If I lived near Swindon I would've queued,but fuck that.

Doesn't sound like it if there is genuinely 3 people manning the phones and 2 serving.  Also seems like they opened the phonelines earlier than they said they would?

I don't reckon they shut them, just let people queue up from whenever :)

If I was queuing this morning I really wouldn't worry about not getting a ticket, if it's who I think it is on the phone then it'll be a miracle if he sells more than 2 an hour. The guy took half an hour to work a PDQ machine when I phoned up.

And I'm out...:(

Was on hold for 15 mins, blew my nose and the phone dropped onto my lap and hung up. :furious:

It's a rubbish away day, Batch.  Save your money for a game that's within walking distance of a decent pub.

Has anybody actually been successful yet either from queuing outside or via the phone?  Maybe the whole thing is a myth and the tickets don't go on sale until next week!

Still on fucking hold.

How long for? I'm back on hold for 10 mins

50 minutes and counting.

Good point, the only time I've been we lost to a Louis fucking Jefferson goal and I nearly had a fight in the car park. Shit ground no stand, shit ground no stand.

I've queued up for almost 4 hours and people are apparently getting through on. The phone soapy tit wank...

Was on hold for 50 mins, and then my call was cut-off.

If you don't want to sell tickets over the phone, then just say that at least we wouldn't have to waste time & money trying.

Some ppl saying on twitter phone lines are closed?

I hope I get through but I wouldn't begrudge anyone who got one who queue over me.

I'll be pissed off if they are. Totally not got a problem with the queuers getting the tickets. Have got a problem with spending £10 trying to get through but with 0 chance.

I suspect they just cut the phone queue at a certain point leaving those already in it to queue on, in which case I have no complaints.

I have a ticket. And now for a hot bath.

Queuers 1 Fonejackers 0.  Fair play they deserve to be served first, proper supporters that lot. 

Its only right people on the ground get first refusal. They are the ones freezing their nuts off. Its just an advantage of supporting a club near to where you live. Id say the same thing if I lived away from Swindon.

I do feel sorry for the fans who live away from Swindon and go to most away games. But I know fans from Hungerford and Melksham who were up there at 5am. Weve had worse allocations, 700 for Brighton play off semi 2nd leg. Its not nearly as big a game as that was.

 :clap: :clap:

Demand is higher for this one. For Brighton away I was a non season ticket holder and got a ticket on the phone on  morning of the game.

Crazy. I have got a ticket. Mate was in queue at 6.15 and at least 200 in front of him.

People buying 3's and 4's at a time.

I was also on the phone for 30 mins but hung up as soon as my mate told me he got mine.

Reckon they will sell out in 2-3 hours.

My sister's been queuing since 7am. Won't say another bad word about her if she gets us tickets!

Got mine and my lad's. Result!

My brother caught the first train in to Swindon from Cheltenham got there at 6.30am.  He's still an hour or so from the front of the queue.

Shit!

To be fair queuing in these temperatures takes some doing.  Especially as, if the match is on, they'll go home warm up/thaw out, then go back and sit in the cold again for a couple of hours.

Dedication to the cause!

Congrats!

Fuck me it's cold out here boys.

Yup!

In my brother's case (and a few other out of towners, I'd imagine) you could substitute 'home' for 'to the pub'.

Silly me Ardiles, I'm turning into a domesticated dad thesedays. I suppose popping to the pub at opening having a few beers til 2.45pm will mean you won't feel the cold during the game, a few more beers and you'd probably not even notice the match has been called off!

Bored with holding, I'm out.

I have a ticket. Now to sort transport.

How are peeps getting there? Mini bus?

That ground is a long way from civilisation.  A pack of huskies or a team of sherpas should do it.

I know. Train is a no go. It's either mini bus or with the window lickers on the coach...

No. Home and hot bath. This is getting difficult. Half an hr I reckon....

Lined up at 5am, finally got my ticket at about 9:10. There were three windows open and two on the phone, the queue was right back as far as you could see so there will be a lot of disappointed people who have queued for the early hours who won't get a ticket.

I feel for the people who live absolutely miles away, but in hindsight the club should have said if you have a post code within 30 miles of the ground they won't serve to you on the phones. I think it's disgusting that some smug cunt sat in his central heated bedroom in Swindon gets a ticket as he rolls out of bed at 9, when there's people freezing their bollocks off out there who won't.

I don't recall the club advocating staying out all night to secure a ticket. We have plenty of season ticket holders outside the 30 mile radius.

In this situation it's impossible for the club to please everyone.

We just need rivals with proper grounds.

Exactly.

Yes! Finally got 3 tickets. I was giving it until 11 before I gave up and I got through at 10.58  :)

For these type of games they should do a lottery type thing. you register your interest and tickets are allocated randomly

I'm in, Brother was there from 6am to 11am, top man.

Good job the game was called off, or I wouldn't have got through!

Precisely.  I've been saying this for years.  We need out of this league and then some proper derbies with the Traders and Reading.

Just went up and had a wander, fuck that. Fair play to the people who camped out mind, freezing!

Got one, hung up after ages earlier chanced my arm 20 mins later and got though with a 2 min hold.  :shrug:

Started queing at 3.45 am, had a kick about, was interviewed live on the radio, about 30th in the queue, freezed my nadgers off. Finally got my ticket at about 9ish, get home and find they sold me a concession ticket rather than a student ticket, now phoning frantically to try and get it sorted out !

Concession is a student ticket isn't it?

Only charged me 11quid so I guess it isn't

Students are £14.50 on the OS.

Good shout. Superiority complex season ticket holders wouldn't like it though.

Finally got a ticket, after 5 hours queuing. About 200 left when I got mine

Queued from 7am and 4 hours later I get a ticket... Not fair that people could buy 5 tickets each and certainly not fair on those who queued that you could get them over the phone at the same time. At least 500 going to Oxford are lazy cunts.

Oh, and I've been to Siberia and it was warmer than that!

we still havnt sold out yet, so I rekon they got the 5 per person thing right.

Theres no way it should be on a ballot, some people just want it more than others. But people do have a duty of care to themselves. If you got frostbite this morning then it is no one elses fault but your own.

As for the Brighton game, only 67 tickets went on sale in the morning so it really was a question of queing all night for one, which put a lot of people off. The main difference was there were so few season ticket holders back then. How much is the STFC ticket line per minute?

It was the fairest system, and I was there from 6.30. The fact some people can't be there doesn't make them lesser fans. The fact people aren't season ticket holders doesn't mean they care less either. One thing that was great today was chatting to complete strangers in the queue about Town over the years. It's very easy to begin to think you are the most dedicated fan etc etc. This morning showed the lengths people go to because they love this club, and I know a load of other people that if they could be there, or if they had a season ticket, would have been there.

Agreed. Met some new Town fans today.

We have sold out now. That is it. Hope there werent too many turned away dissapointed.

They should have allocated a certain number of tickets for phone sales and the rest for in person.

Only gripe is that loads of people at the back of the queue had no way of knowing if they'd wasted 5 hours of their time. Staff and stewards did not give a shit about them either. Honestly don't think the club realise how long it took to queue up.

Agreed, it was nice to chat to several town fans today and it took my mind off the cold! Oh, apart from that old bloke who chatted to EVERYONE in the queue!

5 hours in the queue for me. Got a ticket though. Now home nice and warm.

I particularly liked "get your burgers"
,"I was there Tuesday...." and "there's litter" as his conversation starters. What a social animal he was.

Oh shit there he is again. Don't make eye contact.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: That's the one.

...and did you know we've sold 6700 for Barnet. Well I do now x 12.

I'd put money on him still being there waiting for unsuspecting  fans buying barnet tickets.

Bullshit phil? He's harmless and been going to games way over 20 years.

Not old phil was it?

Maroon fleece ?

I think I know who you mean :D

Queued from 6.45 to 11.45. Finally got 3 tickets.  :)

That's him. Absolutely harmless, and quite entertaining (so long as he's taking to someone else).

Just walked in...8 hrs,10 mins round trip and well worth it.

He's quite funny. Walked up to Tans at Supermarine in pre season and burped in his face :D

Fair play though, he goes home and away watching the Town.

Cunt

I queued for over 4 hours in the end, got the entrance to the ticket office to be told they'd sold out.

I'm freezing and mightily pissed off.

Phil's hearts in the right place, just best to try and avoid him (eh Tans)

Club needs to try and sort out a loyalty system if they can. Fucking mental that there must have been people there today queuing for 5 hours and some cunt gets one ahead of them on the phone while still in bed.

And this is what I was talking about in my previous post. The club should have told you there was no chance before you got to the 3rd hour, let alone 4th

Dont blame you. Would have been nice if they'd have given us an indication of how many were left and whether it was worth staying or giving in and going home.

If anyone hears of a spare ticket, let me know  :cry:

Nick Watkins did walk passed the queue a few times giving updates on numbers left.

man that is piss poor

I just hope I can watch it in the Legends lounge.

I remember that. I must have been stood near you at Supermarine.

:no:

I heard one person say they were buying a mate a ticket, even though he was unlikely to go. You might be lucky.

Really empathise with those who are now saying that they missed out on tickets, however, a loyalty system wouldn;t really work whilst in this league. If we were mid-table we would have sold out but, in my opinion, you could have still bought tickets on Monday.

Easy for me to say though as my nephew queued for 5 hours to get mine this morning.

Who wasnt ;)

Why wouldn't it work???

 :D

Tickets today were for ST holders only which is essentially a loyalty system.

You can ask questions over how many tickets should be allocation per person but I think that's about it (it would have been nice if the club said to fans at the back of the queue, "You are unlikely to get a ticket, it's up to you whether you choose to continue to wait").

We've not had this much demand for an away ticket for a League game (not including Play-Offs) in years. We got an awful allocation which Oxford could not justify amending.

It's unfortunate that many missed out.

Whatever way they did it would mean someone is hard done by. Personally, i would have not given season ticket holders priority for an away game but that is the clubs decision. There will be plenty of more regular away fans who won't be there due to it.
As soon as the numbers were announced and how tickets were to be sold i wasn't bothered about not going. Won't be like it should be.

Similar experience to you though not for that long. I didn't think I had much chance as couldn't get there till too late. I squarely blame the scum for manufacturing a shit allocation for us !

Club made it clear that tickets were on sale in person and on the phone.I fail to see what the club has done wrong tbf

If we have aspirations of moving up the leagues then we need to move with the times and sort out a loyalty scheme that rewards people for attendance (home and away) like most of the teams in the top 2 leagues.

Half see what your saying with your last point arriba but if we stuff the cunts then I wanna be there when we do. Regardless of who I'm stood next to.

They did make it clear but fail to see how it's fair.

I agree with you in that away games should be treated differently to home games. Trouble is as a small club it's difficult to manage and these type of situations are rare.

Giving season ticket holders priority is the fairest way, and easiest for the club. There have been seasons in the past where I have gone to most of the games and missed out on an important one as I didn't have a season ticket to get a ticket.

Which is one of the reasons I started getting a season ticket a few years back, we all know the system. Can't see why the club would ever reward people for going to more away games than home ones, they want the season ticket holders paying their money in to the club.

Yes I'm a cunt and have a ticket. (Still not warmed up though brrr)

How many people go away every week but dont have season tickets?

Genuine question - anyone on here a regular away attender without a season ticket?

I was until this season.

I'm sure there are plenty who do it, people who are exiled etc.

Queued for 5 hours and got a ticket when there were about 40 left.  I am wondering though why everyone had to wait so long?  Wouldn't it have made sense for this morning only to just sell Oxford tickets and cash only?  The number of people who were messing about wanting JPT tickets and away tickets to Barnet just slowed everything down.

Yep I agree they are rare but we have a few (albeit not to the same extent) due to playing in a league where demand outweighs supply. At Reading they have a loyalty points scheme where you obtain points ( of varying degrees for every ticket you buy). Those with the most points get first dibs on tickets for a day, then those on the next band get a chance the next day and so on. Might not be that easy/cheap to implement but it has to be the way forward. There will be people who haven't missed a game this season who haven't got a ticket today. That ain't right.

By giving preference to ST holders you are rewarding people who support the club.

Going to away games doesn't benefit the club financially at all. And without making all of our away games all ticket how do you know who is going.

I don't think the club did anything wrong, And NO I haven't got a ticket.

Me
I would say to be fair i have done more aways than home in the past year

The proposed loyalty system wouldn't be at the expense of season ticket holders though Posh. For example 500 points for buying a season ticket. 20 points for a home cup game, 10 points for an way game. Then those who attend both home and away get rewarded. It works!

Like you say difficult to track the away games as easily but even in this league 9 times out of 10 tickets are sent in advance. Just have to allocate these against a "member card/number".

We were only given 1,252 tickets.

Season Ticket holders were rightly given priority.

I really don't see what the Club have done wrong?!

The club did nothing wrong just saying they could do it different going forward.

Well saying that they shouldn't have taken phone bookings.

You cannot expect every ST holder to go down to the CG and queue, can you?

True, but I think phone bookings should have only been taken for the people who live outside of Swindon.

As I pointed out though, how does the club know who went to Southend on Tuesday.
For Leicester & Barnet it's easier, as these games are/were all ticket.
So unless we go down the route of making all of our away games all ticket it just won't work.

Unless we give priority to people who book travel through the club, and I think that would piss most people off.

And to be honest, one of the benefits pointed out when you buy a season ticket is preference for away tickets.

It bothers me more that people without season tickets (because they have borrowed one) have got tickets for this game in preference to people who have. But even then I still think the club have done what they can.

They should have offered Oxford tickets to those who travelled to Southend on a freezing Tuesday night.  :toocool:

How many away games are you talking to class as regular?

I'm thinking at least half to be considered an away regular.

They should have dropped all the tickets off the John Murray building, scrambles.

Of course they should.

If they want a ticket that badly then yes. Plus they didn't have to anyway as one person in the queue could buy 5.

Am I strange in feeling it's unfair for someone who queues for 4 hours only to miss out because someone got lucky from the comfort of their bedroom?

Yes. The situation was laid out very clear a long time ago. If people are stupid enough to go and stand in the cold, they know the risks.

People are just complaining for the sake of complaining. Nothing more the club could have done. Get on with it

I wonder how people will be going to their first away game v Oxford? Anyone brave enough to admit it?

Thought I'd chance it at 1050 and was within about 30 people of getting one. When I joined the queue I was told it was unlikely I'd get one but chose to stay. With about 250 left they stopped taking phone bookings. In the past when cash was king, you'd walk through the turnstiles of the Town End to get your ticket which was a lot easier and quicker. I recall queuing up Drove Road for the Spurs game in 1980.

Everyone who wanted to go should have phoned in or turned up to buy a ticket in person. Not 1 person with 4 tickets for their mates etc.
Anyone stood in the queue and then missed out should rightly feel pissed off.
An away points system is the only fair way, and as we don't have that someone will miss out who shouldn't.

I'd hazard a guess at no-where near as much as you think, you bitter moaning arse

Bollocks! I work nights and there's no way I was going down there after work, instead of going to bed.

The club are taking some stick but the blame simply lies with Oxford for not giving us adequate tickets for a derby game. The demand outways the supply by far so it was always going to leave plenty of people disappointed. It's a shame we don't get a few more fans as keen to come to home league games.

So I presume that you want all of our away games to be all ticket?

So someone who did misses out? that is bollocks fella. Like i said there is always going to be someone pissed off about it

ST holders should always take top priority in my opinion.

I personally think there should have been no phone sales for this game.

Why not? or away clubs could be asked to provide a stub of some kind for supporters to keep as proof?

We always get this when Swindon have a small allocation. Face it, there will be 1 or 2 games a season when demand outstrips supply.

Last time we had this was before Charlton away in the PO's and then we didnt even sell out.

Thus denying ST holders who don't live in Swindon the opportunity to purchase tickets?

Being a twat as usual BD. Is it fair that someone who travels to most away games can't get a ticket? Or someone goes along with 5 season ticket books, on the off chance they might use the tickets? Cunt.

Yes half

Actually, I think the opposite. They should have made it ALL phone sales or allowed all the ST holders to apply online or through the post & then had a draw


But then I would, if I had made a 250 mile or 5 hour round trip and then still not got a ticket I would have been really pissed off

It is a waste of time.  You would have to give names & addresses otherwise people just pass on theit stubbs to someone who wants it.

Anyway, how often does this happen or is likely to happen? Not worth the hassle.

That's my opinion anyway.

I and the two people I queued with don't live in Swindon. We all have season tickets. We made the effort to get to Swindon. It's not that hard.

I'll be my first game of the season if my ticket comes through.

Although its only a 0.0000000001% chance so not even worth thinking about.

Away points system isnt any fairer than season tickets. Infact less so, season ticket holders should get priority - they are the people who commit to a full seasons worth of home games upfront.

I fail to see what the issue is.

Ok, some people might have been able to stay at home and ring up who live locally but that option was there for everyone. Baring in mind how many staff they have and how useless they are at answer the phone and how long the phone call would take compared with buying in person I expect very few got a ticket over the phone in comparison. It was there risk to take, I expect loads of people stay at home and didnt get a ticket where as if they'd queued up they would have.

I live 30 miles from Swindon, haven't got a ticket, still think phone sales should be scrapped for this game.

Those who braved the cold deserve their ticket.

You're point is more than logical regardless of your location. It would still irk people though, obviously.

Could we not just do it on distance travelled to watch Town games ;)

To be honest, we don't go to as many away games as each home game is like an away trip for us.
I guess that makes me less deserving than someone who travels to 10 games a season.

My Mates went with 5 ST books for 5 tickets for 5 ST holders. I think that's fair enough to me!

I did literally fuck all apart from give my season ticket to Si Pie yesterday. I had a lovely lie in and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I have been to about 5 away games in the last calender year.

So for everyone who is moaning...

wwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh UN-FUCKING-LUCKY

For everyone else, see you at Oxford xx

How is it less fair?

Why would the club give priority to people who don't get a season ticket but go to away games? Season ticket holders rightly have benefits. The club gave everyone plenty of notice and did it on a match day (wasnt cancelled till 10 and you should have been in the queue by then) those not from Swindon you would imagine would make it to here for the game. It's a very rare occurrence this will happen and those who made the effort benefited. I'm fed up of reading that someone who goes to every away game but doesn't go to home games is more than a fan then I am. I go to all the home games and 10 or so away each year and deserve my ticket. We all knew the score and those who got down there benefitted. They even let you get tickets for people who had work etc. The club have done the best with a bad situation. If they do do a loyalty system home games should be worth the same as away games. And those who went to Southend who think they deserve priority - not everyone can get time off work at short notice. Well done to the club and the fans who made the effort. We will have a great day!!

Hope the neanderthal youth give you a good kicking then  ;)

ST holders pay money to the club.

Away fans pay to another club.

LOVE this.

Nobody asked them to do it though! That was their choice.

In most cases, yes of course. My daughter had a ST last season and went twice! I wouldn't give her priority over someone who watches most away games.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Not as much as I loved writing it. :D

The point stands. Some people queued for hours in the cold and didn't get a ticket when some people who laid in bed with the phone on hold did.

Not right.

Luck of the draw innit

So what? An away system would reward away loyalty.

It could be argued that our support on the road is as important as at home regardless of who gets the gate reciepts.

Not right though.

ST holders who queued should be given the tickets.

Don't agree with you sorry fella.

And it could be argued that our home support pays the players wages.

We wouldn't have a team to watch if everyone stopped going to home games & just went away instead.

How is it not right? The club gave fans an option (rightly so), the people who queued took a risk. If they missed out then hard luck, that's life.

Would it have not been as bad if it was a beautiful sunny day?

For me the only thing that should be question is the amount ST holder were allowed per person and even then I can see why they did that.

Well, for starters - what is Oxford away was like the 3rd away game of the season or something. Then you could have people go to the first two away games, have a 100% attendance - get their Oxford ticket and never go again.

Its not possible to pay for all the away games upfront like you can and do home games, even if you dont go you've made that commitment and paid for it.

You could have a very london based or even northern based division and Town fans who live locally and clock up loads of local away games - why does living up north make them more deserving of tickets to Oxford away?

Lastly, you'd have to record everyone who went to each away game - and sell all the tickets in advance. Plus you'd have the same as you have had today - say a season ticket holder isnt going to an away game but someone who isnt a season ticket holder, then the season ticket holder could buy the ticket so it registers on his loyal points and still not go. Someone who works nights and doesnt finish till 6am saturday morning wont do many away games but could pass his season ticket round each week and abuse the system.

Also, away tickets offer the club naff all financially. You could in effect attend every single league away game and put £0 into the clubs bank account.

The only long term commitment you can make to a football club is by buying a season ticket. You've paid for a whole season of home games in one lump sum. You've put in your money and you've put in it in one lump sum and at the start of the season - thats the best commitment a fan can make to the club with regards to tickets and thus should be rewarded with priority - which they are.

Away game attendance and loyalty systems are only worth it and a fair way of doing it when the demand far outweights the supply. For example - even a cup final Wembley allocation isnt enough for the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City season ticket holders

Why do you hate season tickets so much?

The biggest dissappointment is that I won't get to take my son to an away game at the scummers.

Because after this season it will hopefully be another 10 years before we have to play them again :)

More fool them for getting there too late. We all knew the score and got there early. Surely they realised getting there at 9 or 10 was too late. Not having a go, just disagree with anyone moaning. All season ticket holders had a fair chance if prepared to get up early enough.

I think the cold and early start has got to my head. Sorry for being grumpy, I feel proper evil today.

Bang on. Well said DV.

Yeah, hilarious, well done to you, you pair of fucking cunts

After a night out in Swindon I joined the queue in the early hours, I gave up after about an hour and walked home. Not a bloody taxi in sight  :doh:

Can't they just ask for a season ticket and two recent away ticket stubs for high priority away games? Then the next day season ticket holders with no stubs.....

Why would someone go to the first 2 away games and never go again?
people with season tickets have abused the system and given their ticket to someone to use anyway.
I don't hate season tickets at all.  Just don't think it should count for first dibs on away tickets

Possibly.

However, you'd have keep your ticket stubs and certainly in recent years more and more away games have been pay on the day and involved no physical ticket.

....and of course, another system in place that is really easy to abuse.

You could propose hundreds of different schemes.  Don't need to turn this in to an industry.  It's not completely fair, but nothing much in life is.  The club made this as fair as they could without tying themselves in knots.  Most of the people who got tickets thoroughly deserved them.

Calm down HARD.

For every point made there is a counter arguement. This is a bit like a religion-politics thread innit?

You're right Ardiles. I'd like to add that I did get a ticket, I'm just sticking up for those who didn't and who normally travel.

I don't go to as many away games as I used to, probably about 10 a season now.

I didn't queue in the freezing cold all night, because I live 84 miles away and have a fucking life.

I also knew there was going to be two people manning the phone lines, so I rang at 8.25, was on hold until 10.00, then bought 2 tickets, one for me and one for my son.

If some people don't like the fact I managed to procure tickets with little hassle, tough shit.

This whole thread is a waste of time coz at the end of the day we all want a system that suits us individually regardless of attendance etc. Me included.

Thanks for bringing that home Herthab.

This whole thread has been hilarious - thanks all x

Well done to those who got tickets, hard luck to those who didn't.

The fact is there is not a perfect system.

Personally I would have stopped phone sales, as they take too long to process. I would've allocated around 200 into a draw for ST holders who couldn't make this morning sale due to various reasons, but anyone who went into the draw, and didn't 'win' a ticket, could not then arrange for someone to queue up for them. The rest went on sale this morning, one per ticket, up to 4 at a time.

First allocation should go to people that live in Asia

Then have visited Thailand in the past.

Fuck.  I've just realised you're a reincarnation of someone else.

I'm a bit slow.  Welcome back (belatedly).

Thanks

 :D

Can do

Who was gnasher previously?

System. Why, I am a cunt?

Of course you are.
That wasn't my reason for asking though. Just couldn't work out who you used to be

Okay, thanks.

You do realise that we're not Man Utd don't you ;)

Well done to everyone who got a ticket.

I've read with interest all the views and changed my mind about 4 times about the system and fairness.
I'm an STFC fan - who moved to London last year, and could never get back every other weekend to go to all home games so pointless me buying a season ticket. But have been back about 5 times this year, plus done half the away games. On top of that, before moving had a season ticket for previous 6 seasons.

Oxford away was the big one for me - never been there and was looking forwards to it from the day the fixtures were released, so this whole situation has been a real disappointment to me. It was impossible for me to queue this morning, and without a ST couldn't phone through either, so won't be able to go.

I do wish that there was a way of the club being able to record the attendance of every fan like a points system and give priority to situations like this based on that, but like has been mentioned, I cant see a way this will work or be implemented. So at the moment, the season tickets getting priority probably is the fairest, as I cant see another way the club could have done it.

So fair play the ones who queued up outside the ground in the cold, I have respect for everyone (especially the campers). Even more so if you didn't brag about how "loyal" you were all over facebook and twitter this morning!

Oh and if anyone has a spare ticket they want to sell me, please private message me!!

Oh and I put the whole blame on Oxford. Biggest game of the season and they treat us like twats. I hope we do exactly the same to them (we wont though as Wray is better than that)

What I'm unsure about is that I've been to the Manor and went to the cup game in 2000/1 with no problems getting tickets.  Had I wanted to go this time (can't make it) I wouldn't have been able to get a ticket.  What's changed?

They gave us 3000 tickets last time, only 1200 this time. Plus Oxford sold out early because we haven't played them for so long.

We never used to sell out the Manor because it was a dump and there was always trouble.

Alright, thanks.  So they've screwed us out of 1800 tickets to sell to their own fans.  Or did they have to offer 3000 as it was a cup match?

Not sure. I think I heard that there's 1000 empty seats between the two sets of fans, so that could explain it.

I think we could have taken 4000 there easily this season. Maybe even 5k
Both sets of fans are bang up for this one and with our current form tickets would sell like hot cakes

Blimey, they're obsessed:


yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7524

The fact that we keep checking to see that they're talking about us proves that we're a bit obsessed too.

Not at all - there's a big difference between occasionally rummaging around another football forum in contrast to saying

"There's four... big matches to play before we get to THAT one..."

Pffft! How did you ever reach that conclusion!?!

Camped out from 1am last night, got my ticket at just before 9am this morning, slept until now...Cannot wait for 3.3.2012 where the -8 temperatures will hopefully seem like a distant memory when we're stuffing the Scum!!!  :D

That quote you've given suggests nothing of obsession? I don't understand.

I'm with Samdy on that issue. The fact people are looking on their boards proves that any 'obsession' is not a one-way thing

I've never personally seen the need to rummage on other teams message boards. I care about Swindon Town and nobody else.

The only thing I notice is that the comments are exactly the same as Swindon Town every over club.

I remember being squashed in that pathetic away end a few times.

Truth

Apart from the Cup game i can't remember tickets ever being sold for Scumland. All they did was pile you in the away end. sometimes it was Ok, sometimes it was fucking rammed. 

I am pretty sure for the FA Cup the allocation given to away teams is around 15%?  A fair bit bigger than the league allocation rules.

Well.....well done to those who queued up.....I made the decision on Friday night that I couldn't be fucked....sub zero temps swayed it in the end.

Would of like to of gone as you will know I have been to a fair few over the last few seasons including last seasons pile of shit....but that's that...never mind.

There is another angle I am exploring ref tickets but I cannot discuss on here.

Anyway...fuck it....I wouldn't mind if we got stuffed 5 zip against the cunts and went on to win the league and the JPT....I dream...

I'm always quick to kick Watkins in the bollocks when he fucks up.

He fucked up previously with the Club Red bullshit by giving a paid-for plastic loyalty scheme priority over season ticket holders. That was fucking wrong and I said so.

He's done fuck all wrong with distributing the meagre supply of Oxford away tickets in my opinion, though. Credit where it's due, season ticket holders pump money in during the summer when the club need it, and Watkins has rewarded them for what has to be the ultimate golden ticket fixture that is Scum away.

To those who missed out by fucking around trying to get through on the phone, or couldn't be arsed to get up early enough to get a ticket - give the club a fucking break, you miserable, bitter cunts.

Decent enough post, just wonder how much Watkins and co. made out of all those phone calls that went on hold for a long while, at 10p a minute they must get a decent enough return out of it!

For the first 25 years or so of going to the Manor, I don't recall there being an away end. All you did was pitch up and go where you wanted, so I'd been all over that shithole....Cuckoo Lane if sunny, London Road if cold and wet, or maybe one of those funny little side bits if wanting a mong free game. I'd have the first time there was an away end as such down as being around late 80's, and then it was always pay on the day...

I tend to agree.

Club red members never had priority over season ticket holders as far as I can recall. I don't think anyone has moaned because they've missed out, more so that they spent a lot of money on hold or hours in the queue but to no avail.

No bones about it, this is all the scum's fault though and I said that when I arrived at the county ground early morning.

Anything that is critical or has an opposing view gets labled as 'moaning' on here.
I thought it was a decent few hours of posts to be honest in this thread yesterday.

I can see why people would be annoyed at missing out but I do agree that essentially as a club and as fans we've been shafted by the scum on this one. 1,252 tickets for a big local derby with both teams in the top 7. What were they thinking? There was always going to be huge demand for this. They could have at least consulted STFC and the police properly before they sold all their tickets 4 months in advance. So we get left with a poxy allocation as a result of the fact they were desperate for cash at a time when their home games were few and far between.

This meant that the club couldn't really win either way once the allocation was announced. There was always going to be plenty who were going to miss out. Those that really wanted tickets are the ones who froze their bollocks off for 5 hours plus in the queue or spent a fortune on the phone on hold. I can understand why people who were on hold for ages may be annoyed at not getting a ticket and paying a huge phone bill but at the end of the day they would or should have known it was going to be a nightmare getting through what with the high demand etc and the fact it was a national rate number. If you don't want to risk missing out and getting a huge phone bill don't phone up simple as that.

I do feel sorry for the ones who queued for hours and missed out but that's sometimes the sad way of the word with these things. In regards to taking phone orders the club surely were stuck in the middle as there would be out of towners unable to get to Swindon but also people waiting in the queue who wanted a ticket badly. Who do you give the priority to? Tough call.

I don't think they could have done much differently. The only mistake I think they made was allowing up to 5 tickets to be purchased per person. I think it should have been 4 max. Maybe then the people towards the back of the queue who missed out may have got a ticket over people who just lent their ST to their mate to get a ticket for them.

there is no right answer. one per person and no phone orders would have been my method. then general sale on Wednesday had Saturday's game gone ahead.

I didnt get any tickets and really don't have a problem with what the club did in terms of sales.

The thing to bear in mind, is that even as a ST holder you only had a 1 in 4 chance of getting a ticket.

Even fans of the biggest clubs in the country would have a better chance of a cup final ticket than that.

The club were put in a no win situation by the scummers up the road.
The only thing I hope, is that we remember that next time those fuckers come down here again.
Personally I would rather see the bank empty than sell them tickets for it again.

If we could sell out all of our home stands, why would we give you any more than is necessary? The more support for us the better.

Whereas your board gave us loads because they knew you'd struggle to shift the tickets, and at £25 a pop it was easy money.

This will be the first time since I have supported Swindon that I won't be going there. Considering we are in the bottom tier of football that is a strange fact considering the leagues we were in during previous visits.
We all have differing views on how the measley allocation of tickets could have been distributed,but we are universal in our blame of the scum giving us the allocation we have recieved.

This is THEIR cup final remember!!!

Ummm no we gave you the same allocation all away clubs get because our ground is big enough to cater unlike your shit tip. You were charged the same as home fans too.

Should have got a ticket in the home end! That's what "loyal" supporters have done  :toocool:

And your "World Cup Final" according to your manager.

He's new.   ;)

Think I agree with the idea of no phone sales. With tickets going on sale on a match day, most of us out of towners would only have to make a small adjustment to plans to get to Swindon a few hours earlier.

Having hearing what Watkins said, he said the phone lines were originally meant to be off for the sales of Oxford tickets.

But anyway, maybe the club should of put aside 252 (maybe more) tickets aside, opened ONE phone line and accepted sales to those with a NON SN post code (maybe more than 40-50 miles from Swindon), the elderly and disabled.

But for those within a 40 mile radius of Swindon; get down to The County Ground and queue.

Unfortunately whatever suggestion anyone comes up with is always going to be open to flaws

Just my opinion.

Also Phil (one who natters) missed out on a ticket as could not cope with standing hours and hours in -10 conditions. Yet you get a NON Swindon fan who managed to blag a ticket

Every team in top 6 is Paolo's Champions League final !!

He shouldve got si pie to get him one

If non season ticket holders got tickets then that is not the clubs problem blame the people who gave them the season tickets to use

Clutching at straws already for March 3rd? ;-)

My main gripe is slot of fans that travel alot will not being attending whilst those who maybe have never gone anywhere this season can give a mate a ST and go it's half an hour away.

Away stubs would of been good but the club were snookered due to poxs late decision not to build the temp stand so no such idea could be introduced.

Whatever.....I hope we go there and do em.

I said that the temporary stand scenario was a non-starter months ago. The fact is that Pox stiffed us, due to them not being able to count to 4 !!

Forgive my ignorance, but I thought the temporary stand would be populated by Pox fans. Therefore our allocation would have been the same.

The plan was to give us the temporary stand, thus freeing up 1800 more tickets for them.
The 1252 we got plus the ones used for segregation.

Okay, ta. I recall they only had 150 on the waiting list for additional tickets, which also went against erecting a stand.

The Police and their council would never have allowed the scum to give us a brand new temporary stand. Rightly so it would have been an absolute liability. Our fans should stop moaning about the allocation, its absolutely pathetic on our behalf. But on the other hand I would say that the demand would not have been nearly as big if our form was not as good. We are on fire, our team is leagues above L2 standard, and every Town fan thinks we are going to the Kassam to batter the Pox.

A new topic, Ive heard that bloke who hasnt missed a Town game since 1976 hasnt got a ticket.

I take it you're sorted for a ticket then ;)

He'll end up doing the radio commentary then I expect!

You've never met him then.

Nope, I'm thinking of that Rob Hartley who hasnt missed a game since 82 or something that sometimes does the radio commentary.

He could soon be the consequtive games record holder?

I already thought he was? seen as he gets a mention and what not due to the number of games being over 1,000.

Dont hear about this '76 bloke?

Not Dave Walker?

Yeah.

Maybe thinking about it, we could've gave coach one of the SAS Travel tickets (coach one is usually full of OAPs who haven't missed a gave for 20 odd years)

Is he the bloke who lives in Northampton?

Nah. Think he's from Melksham. He gets the train everywhere because he's an ex rail worker and gets free travel.

There are a band of these 'consequtive gamers' who will quite often be on the very first train for away games because they are so paranoid about something going wrong on their way up there and missing the game. 

Yeah he is from Melksham.

I know exactly who you mean....strange bunch ???

He, like everyone else, knew when the tickets were going on sale. Who ever lost out knew the time. It was obvious people were going to queue early.

The guy from Northampton is Derek Elston or something like that. As of a couple years ago he hadn't missed a game since '81. I assume this is still the case.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of the allocation of tickets, the sooner we leave the cunts behind, the better.They can still pretend they're a big fish in a small pond while we go and play at cliubs where we give and take a decent allocation.
I didn't get a ticket but tough shit. I would have loved to have been there but on the positive side there will be plenty of Scummers there to see them humiliated when the circus rolls into town.

100% agree. Most of the hype is because of the standard of our team and not because its Oxford.

Going back to the fans who never miss a game. Before Virgin really got their teeth into their rail franchise, I think there were direct services from Swindon up to Birmingham on saturdays? But for the last 10 years, there has only been limmited services north from Swindon. If you go north for the west coast you can either get the 7am or the 9am train. I have only seen 3 sorts of football fan on that 7am train. The hooligans. The alcoholics, and the consecutive gamers. Very strange mix at times.

This wouldn't have been a bad shout.  Only a certain amount should have been available for phone sales.  Personally I think it should have been a maximum of 2 per person, that maybe would have ensured all who queued got one.

just out a matter of interest what sort of time did those who missed out join the queue?

I joined the queue around 8am, and got one of the last 30 tickets.

hmmm how you know me alcoholic????

I have a huge thanks for the person who has helped secure me two tickets for myself and loyal friend who have travelled up and down the country over the countless seasons. I have had to beg my employer for that weekend off, now have to work the next four minus this one just gone. Will be the best Birthday ever for my friend!

To get 5 per person was a bit heavy, I thought 2 would have been about right. A chance to get one for an elder parent etc as well as yourself.

I got one on the phone but that's because I couldn't make it out and I think the limiit should be 1-2 on the phone only and even restricted somehow.

if i remember correctly when the brighton play off tickets went on sale was there not a priority window for season ticket holders with a specific numbering on their season ticket to indicate how long they had held it?

i assume since the new ticketing system came in this information is no longer recorded and hence this wasn't an option

shame as it would have given the people who have earned them a chance to get one

I think i'd be opposed to any scheme which attempts to Rank season ticket holders in any way

Same as. If someone has a season ticket, does that make them more of a fan?

No, but it does mean that they put money into the Club for 23 home games as opposed to some that may only make 6-10 home games a season.

How much was a season ticket this year?

I am guessing about £250.  So someone in money terms who goes to 10 games a year paying on the day puts the same amount in a season ticket holder.

The season ticket debate is a minefield. I have a season ticket for many reasons; being a fan, being lazy so I don't have to queue for a ticket every fortnight, being tight (it's cheaper).

I don't think it makes be a better fan than those that don't have one but more willing (or able) to pay upfront for all those reasons. Does that mean I should get preferential treatment? I don't know, I guess the only fair way to prioritise is using a point scoring system like the England Fans loyalty scheme, points for home and away games.

Yeah but that's different as the club has no clue (until that specific match day) how many "walk ups" they are going to get.

To try and organise finances based on "a few people might pay on the day" would be almost impossible - whereas people taking up season tickets is known and guaranteed income that the club can rely on.

Also, season ticket holders have made a commitment before the season starts to go and watch the games, walk ups pick and choose depending on a lot of things - like the current form of the team

I know some people cannot afford the commitment up front, but I think season ticket holders should get priority

there is no fair way, regarding the england fans scheme.. i was a member for years and it worked but only due to the fact it was england who play home and away.. 1 point for home 2 for away

but that would mean someone who went to more than 1/2 the away games would get preferential treatment over someone who went to all home.. is that fair?

i would vote for the length the season ticket has been held if there was a vote

Season ticket holders are not better fans no matter what some of them think. People don't have a season ticket for many reasons and plenty tot up numerous games during a season and are still as good a fan as any season ticket holder.
The ideal fan would turn up every week and pay full whack on the day.
Season ticket holders do it for themselves to save money. And fair play to them for doing so.

As has been stated there is no way that would have suited everybody (apart from the yellow scum giving us a decent allocation!).  My son and his partner live 50 miles away, both of them have season tickets and also travel to most away games.  He works nights, came off shift at 6-30 pm on Saturday morning, she took the decision to ring for tickets, spent £10 on hold and still didn't get any!  He isn't complaining, but not happy that so many people were allowed to buy up to five tickets each.  That is where Watkins could have tweaked it a bit better in our opinion.

It wasn't that they were allowed 5 tickets each, they were allowed to get a ticket for each season ticket they had up to five.

is anyone posting here under the impression that moaning about the ticket allocation is going to change anything? unfortunatley we just have to accept that oxford have a fuckin shit stadium that has a fence instead of an away end. we just have to make sure that the fans that are going to be there will make plenty of noise to get behind the men in red. COYR

I would have thought the club would want as much money as possible in the bank account in the summer to adjust their spending plans and budget for pre-season onwards...

How many are getting the train down to oxford....bargain of £9 return???

you reds!!!!

You getting the tickets Dredgey as Lew says you are?...See you tomorrow!

I think fans should participate in rap battles and dance offs in order to get tickets where there is limited allocation.

Lets face it with such a shite allocation, many were going to be very disappointed.

Lets hope come the 3rd March, the only disappointed ones are the O*ford fans

Who would have thought that train tickets would be less than a tenner to go to our LOCAL rivals.

Amazing.  ;)

Anyone know when we'll hear if there will be a live feed at the CG ?

Next Thursday at 4.13pm.

And how much to get to the yellow manure heap from the station?

Not as much as the cost of the disinfectant you will need after

I wonder though how many non ST holders have got tickets that have hardly been this season

Only the ones with mad rhyming skills.

 :D

This is quite funny - Friend of mines parents decided to cover both eventualities when getting Oxford tickets - one got in the queue about 5am, the other decided to wait until the phone lines opened - 10.30 arrived and the one that phoned got 5 tickets before the guy who had been queuing for 5 hours got to the ticket office therefore had queued for nothing in the freezing cold!

Did anybody think of calling for tickets whilst queueing?

I'm glad you think its funny

Ummm yeah. This was the point people were making as to why they shouldn't have been available on the phone. I tried but after being on hold for 10 minutes gave up. They were quoting 10p a minute from a landline so dread to think how much from a mobile.

There was a chap in front of me, with his daughter, who queued from 7am. His wife was also trying to get tickets on the phone. Just as we reached the door his wife phoned to say she got tickets, so he buggered off. We also had two kids in front of us that queued for 3 hours and then gave up! They would have got a ticket.

Someone offered to get me a ticket. Who would turn that opportunity down?

How many games have you been to this season ?

The system was open to abuse and people abused it.

I feel sorry for the ST holders that could not get there to queue up and could not get through on the phones that now miss out

Not many. Does that make a difference? Do I claim to go to loads?

That was my problem with the 5 season tickets per person, Fred. Some of those at Oxford who borrowed a ST simply do not deserve to be there.

[and no I'm not having a go at the club, and no I don't blame those who took advantage, even if you are wankers!]

Yes it does in my book

Season ticket holders had prioirty and priority they should have, if non-season ticket holders have obtained tickets at the expense of season ticket holders not getting them than that is clearly wrong.

Although I would have done the same  ;D

Did you get one Fred?

To stop non season ticket holders getting them, surely the only way around it would be 1 per person, with a Passport/Driving licence to prove its there season ticket.

No

My brother was going to get me one but I declined.

I have taken one too many kickings in my time there

Then we go over the same argument again, why should season ticket holders have preference over non season ticket holders?

Because I have to pick and choose games due to funds, does that make me less of a fan?

If someone has offered me an Oxford ticket, then surely I'd be mad to turn it down?

I hope you get a shoeing you jammy cunt.

If any season ticket holders didn't want an Oxford ticket for whatever reason it would make sense to let another Swindon fan who doesn't have a season ticket to use it.

No .............. what would make sense would be to let another ST holder that wanted to go but cant get tickets have it

It's not so much about preference to season ticket holders for me.

It's about preference to those that attend home games and travel the length and breadth of the country to the less glamorous games that should be rewarded with a ticket to games like these.

If you don't go much and you were jammy enough to get a ticket, then furry muff. But you should at least be magnanimous enough to recognise that more deserving people missed out.

but why would a season ticket holder want to use someone else's season ticket?

Because that was the system, and you abused it.

You just cant have a free for all for 1200 tickets that were always going to be like gold dust.

I am not saying you are any less of a fan, just that there had to be a priority system.

Right or wrong that was the way the club wanted to go.

If this would have happened to you last year when you did have a ST then you would have been whining like a bitch about it

 :nod:

I think he means those who queued or missed out on the phone.

Read again what Fred said:

Oh dear

4000 ST holders and 1200 tickets ?

How many ST holders do you think wanted to go, but still didnt get tickets

You going tonight fred, changing the subject

The system was abused by some.  As I was queuing someone came out boasting that he had bought 5 tickets and had 2 spare and offered them for sale at £50 each.

I hope you smacked the cunt

I tried that, was on hold for approx 30 mins then gave up.

Wiffy was at home on hold for over an hour also, but no luck.

In hindsight I should've got to the queue earlier than I did (approx 8:45am), but then I got up too late.

So it's no-ones fault but my own, obviously, but queuing for 4 1/2 hours, getting to the entrance to the ticket office (approx only 10 people in front of me at this point) and they advise us the tickets have all been sold, was quite infuriating, to say the least.

Oh well, hopefully they'll be showing it on a screen at the club.

Got to work mate  :cry:

Only just started the job so need to keep the nose to the grindstone

That reminds me, I've got two spare tickets for Pox, £50 each....



 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Cunt  :smugfu:

 :D


Is it worth making it 2 tickets per person? So if you wanted 4 you have to go with someone else..?

The last couple of pages only cement my view of an away loyalty scheme being fairer then awarding them to season ticket holders.
Those who would have gained credits from away games would not be likely to give them to a friend like season ticket holders have.
They would be regular away attendees and wouldn't give up the chance of going to oxford.

A system is in place and it was open to abuse.
 Do i blame people for taking advantage? nope, but that doesn't make it right.

Did I mention that I got a ticket?

I think tickets should have been allocated to the most self-righteous fans. This thread is embarrassing.

well said.

That would make every debate on here where people are giving their personal view self righteous.
Give me a thread like this with decent debate over a stupid one about cheese any day

In fairness, season tickets are transferrable for home games within the same age group so there is no reason why they should not be for away tickets. i.e. if you know someone who wants to go to Oxford and you have a season ticket and cant make it becuase you are working for example, no reason why someone else cant use your season ticket, No different really to someone using your season ticket for a home fixture. I have a season ticket and didn't get a ticket to the match because I didnt want to sit outside forever.

I didnt give my ticket to anyone else, just saying that if a fellow supporter could get a ticket and you have paid for a season ticket, why shouldn't they be able to accept your perk for having the season as they could use your season ticket for a home fixture, why not an away fixture? so either way, home or away the system is not water tight unless you check ID alongside season tickets. Club was spot on with this.

Cheers

slef righteous cunt, cheese is important

Must say i have just had a read of the thread,nothing self righteous about it Sie?

Now we know you are a staunch defender of The Swindon Town FC republic(good on you)but people are allowed to a bit miffed,pissed off,happy or even in the case of some darnright rude and fuckwitty.

Surely not that self righteous :D

Because they commit to all the home games, in one go, at the start of the season - which is best for the club financially and the most long term commitment you can make as a fan.


In terms to your long term commitment and money going into the club then technically yes.


Yes, you would.....but if the shoe was on the other foot....


In terms of finance, away loyalty does fuck all for STFC.

I bought a ticket for a season ticket holder as a favour because they got in at 6am and wanted a lie in. Another season ticket holder offered me their ticket to buy for another person if they wished. Naturally I wouldn’t have bought on behalf of a day tripper as I'd prefer it to go to someone who was a proper fan (that's my prerogative for spending 5 hours in the cold) but the likes of Sippo have been to plenty of town games before and I wouldn’t have had a problem getting a non-season ticket holder a ticket. After all if you want one that bad you get there at 7am or before, everyone knew the queue was going to be crazy, if not so slow.

A small percentage who queued missed out, as Ginginho said earlier, the main disappointment was that he had to queue for hours without being told he would probably miss out and thus wasting hours spent in sub zero temperatures. That isn't very fair.

Debating allocation methods is fine. Grumbling at the allocation is fine. Maybe even moaning at the system for ticket sales is fine. But the ‘xxx fan is better and more deserving because’ argument is saying one type of fan is more righteous than another.

which in itself is self righteous

I know,but in distributing away tickets i don't see how that is an issue.

Just been on the yellowbellies forum. I think some of 'em live in a parallel universe!  One reckoned they always sold their allocation at our place  ??? Well, the few times I saw the pox at our place they brought no more than about 1200. They also mock our crowds for the fixture  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: . The last time they had a crowd over 10,000 against us in the league was in 1971  :doh:

When I stewarded a game with the Pox in 92 when we drew 2-2 and there were less than 700 of the scum there. Lying wankers.

I remember that game JJ, fucking dave penney scored a scissor kick?

I think it was, a late late goal, we battered them all game and Kerslake played a blinder.

Another frustrated fan who failed to get a ticket. Who's to blame? No one IMO, well no one our end. Let's not even mention the shocking allocation we received from pox, revenge will be a dish served cold on 3/3. The only slight thing I'd have changed was 1 ticket per season ticket plus 1 extra per another season ticket book.
Don't seem fair that people were walking away with up to 5 at a time.

Saying that, ive heard from a lad at work they have got a big flag display lined up for us? Anyone else heard this?

Its a constable flag or something gay

Probably be a white flag  ;)

You misheard. It's a big fag display.

Or drag.

Surely getting to Wembley is a bit of a balm for all those who didn't get tickets for the pox game  :)

In fact the only person who won't be happy is Lucien Sanchez  ;)

It's made me feel better.

any news on trains and what time most people are getting on one?

Last point not correct as for Cup games you get 50% of gate receipts.

Also I believe you may get something from the home team for selling away tickets in advance (from a conversation with someone who works in a Ticket office at another club).

Anyway far more important that that I go away to SUPPORT MY TEAM

Sounds as if they're scared.

http://yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7699

Oh dear.

 http://yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7737

Or

 http://yellowsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=7739

I love that John Lennon character. He takes hating us so bloody seriously.

Utterly embarressing for them and the whole club, pathetic little boys, wouldn't stand a chance if they attacked real men, quite frankly they would probably end up in hospital if they did. They only attack the vulnerable.

I just hope that our players can handle that 'hostile' hotbed that is the Kassam! :D

I'm more worried about the flag display. Sounds like a rather camp affair.

Its already on display dan



 [url width=555 height=333]http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x480/tanswell2010/it_remix_banana_republic_flag-555px.png[/url]

[url width=401 height=299]http://mrskandcaptainj.com/files/2012/01/white_flag.jpg[/url]

It looks like their fans PR is as good as the clubs.

They don't come across too well on that forum do they?

That's quite spectacular in its stupidity.

You really have to laugh. Hostile ........Do me a favour. All 3 sides.......I am really worried for Fodders when he has to defend the Car Park end. So bloody hostile....the worse ever.

They have always been deluded, but not all bad.

Anyone would think we are playing Galatasary.

They do have an over-inflated opinion of themselves off the pitch and I'm sure they can't wait to intimidate the shirters and season ticket holders - oooooooooh, scary!!

Then they moan about their shirters getting a slap at Bristol Rovers (no surprise there with them there Brizzle twats).

Bristol Rovers getting a bad reputation for attacking innocent fans.
Scum Bags.

Londonroader sounds proper naawwttyyy though doesn't he? It seems he knows some young boys who popped into Swindon for a swift half on Saturday. Very kind of them to help our ailing pub trade, just hope they weren't asked for ID. Such a shame their forum readers will probably hear about "the famous half a shandy we had in Swindon" for the next 30 years. :clap:

@Spready89 on twitter says she was one of the women attacked by Pox fans on the train saturday.

inflatable bananas on ebay for 1.99 are a must for this fixture!

No doubt they "took" the CGH.

And the Town End.

Well if they are doing gay flag, why not gay costumes:

[url width=313 height=447]http://www.thefancydresswebsite.co.uk/images/products/large/bananaman_costume.jpg[/url]

I love the way some bloke on that forum talks about "taking the Brunel Rooms" in the 80's!! Ha ha, you couldn't make it up (although he probably has). How sad must you be if spending a night in the Brunel without getting punched is one of the defining moments of your life? That said, it probably was quite an achievement in those days.

I've been to a few gigs at the 02 Academy in Oxford, in the past year or so. Does this mean that I 'took' the 02 Academy?

If you look back on here somewhere you can see the pictures where I 'took' the technical manager of the o2 academys office by covering it with STFC stuff.  I was particularly proud of the 140 small town badges hidden all around his office.  Including on the base of his kettle.

Little things please little minds I guess.

I worked at the Homebase in Oxford in the early Nineties.

For four years I went in via the Botley Interchange, took it easy. And where were all their hard men then eh?

Fucking pussies..

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,37992.msg795252.html#msg795252

You mean you didnt travel in on the starship enterprise?

Yes, my friend, and you are now the govner of our new firm! We'll call it the Swindon Whispering Squad in honour of our yellow friends who, apparently, come to Swindon on a regular basis, take it, shag our women, drink our beer and then go home to diligently write a forum update of their adventures. We must strive hard to master the ninja arts that they possess though as, astonishingly, this all happens without anyone, especially the women, noticing. Sssshhhhhh.

I do not wish to 'Engage' with you.

[url width=375 height=300]http://gi59.photobucket.com/groups/g295/6SQSJOY947/facepalm.jpg[/url]

:)

See you tomorrow captain picard

Argh! How late!

Have we got any chance of being allocated an early-opening pub like the Merlin did for their fans?

I would say that's risky as they will deffo have a pop at our lot. And it's not like we are taking 3000 there either

I'm going to the away bar, away bar (bar71) to watch it. Better than the radio.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

It really is one big spastic farm on there.

They really are the most deluded self important bunch of twats , I dont give a Fuck about them in all honesty and if they beat us so what as long as we are out of this tinpot league come May. That forum has as many threads about us as it does about themselves I think there is only one set of fans obsessed probably because of the inferiority complex and the fact it is mighty cold in our shadow during the winter.

Can we please stop using this. it is only a complex if it is only a feeling of inferiority. Oxford do not have an inferiority complex. They are inferior. On every measurable scale.

And for the record I want to beat Oxford more than any other team except:

Beat Oxford or promotion : Promotion
Beat Oxford or win JPT : JPT
Promotion or JPT: Promotion
Beat Oxford or win league : Win league.

This can be expressed as

Win League > Win promotion > JPT > Beating Oxford > Beating Accrington Stanley

Hope we can now put this to bed.

So do why so many people on here go on there? I don't see the point myself.

Totally correct.

The only reason this game has more significance is that it might well be 10 years before we get the chance to beat them again ;)

Morbid curiosity.  You know you shouldn't be looking - and that voyeurism/preying on the unfortunate for your own amusement is morally dubious - but it draws you in, like a fly to a lamp.  You are powerless to resist.

It's a bit like one of those Victorian freak shows.  Just with added aggression.

[url width=450 height=350]http://ephemeralnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/humancuriosities.png[/url]

Will be drinking in Oxford before the game as I always have done, just a shame it's so early, have to make the extra effort to get their even earlier.

I like your thinking!

Mate managed to get scum to do him another ticket after his Mrs chucked his out!

As an aside, if Oxford did win they could be as little as 10 (t e n) points behind us, assuming we lost Tuesday too.

:)

Burton haven't won any of their last 10 (t e n) games. As long as Paolo doesn't go overboard with his reaction to today's performance a defeat really shouldn't be on the cards.

Good

Can't fathom why somebody would do that. Putting Swindon/football loving aside why would your partner deprive you of something like that? Doesn't matter if it's football, opera or a seat in a fancy restaurant. It's such a selfish act.

Tell your mate to hide the ticket.

She might not have done it on purpose BR

Ah

My cynical mind didn't think of that.

Looking on their forum, there seems to be a massive shift in attitude after todays games. Its a realisation. This game they have been looking forward to for so long is now upon them and STFC are coming with one hell of a team.

But enough already! Tuesday is MASSIVE for us. We can go 4 points clear at the top, and beat the club record for wins in a row again. 10 wins in a row? Stick that in your pipe scummers!

Agreed with that Spencer.

Some of it is funny reading.

Ha

It's a full blown meltdown on there. If we beat them next week it could be a bit too much for some of them.

The ticket was "safe" in my bedside drawer, the mrs decided to clear out any rubbish in there and threw my ticket away in the process! The managers from both ticket offices had a chat and decided to re-issue my ticket! To be honest the Oxford ticket office were very understanding and co-operative.

Still absolute scum though!

But what about the Oxford ticket office?

The bloke who sorted it is a Liverpool fan, which is probably why he didn't mind re-issuing it.

:doh:

Anyone wiling to swap a town end season ticket plus £40 for an oxford away ticket?

Youre willing to give away your season ticket in order to get an oxford ticket?

You fucking mentalist, there are more important games than that one

I haven't been getting much usage out of it. I have to travel and haven't been makign ti to games. Plus my best Swindon game ever was beating them away at the last game between us at the old manor. Plus it genuinely depressed me a bit last time. Revenge.

It could be that he wants to swap his Oxford ticket, it's not that clear.  :hmmm:

Haha, in her defence I'm pretty sure it was accidental, although she did have to go into his bedside drawer to find it...

Edit - Oh hey Fergz!

I've got two oxford tickets in Row W going spare if anyone wants them, just let me know :)

oh go on then

yours if you want them, you going on Tuesday? if so I'll meet you at the ground.

ill have them ??  :pint:

Fuck off they're mine

Not what he just told me  ???

I will fight you for them.  :starwars:

Do you want the ticket or are you messing about?

You said there were 2 tickets

Umm, oxford fan?

smells like bullshit.

whatever, I've got to work Saturday so can't go anymore, and I'm not looking to make money off the back of another town fan as I only want the face value of them.

I'll have them and light my cigars with them when we piss this league.

Why can't i have them?  :cry:

Cos you're a big old cry baby.

And a cunt ;)

Correct, two tickets..

[url width=900 height=675]http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/7088/19311135.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/62/19311135.jpg/)[/URL]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Just seen this...are they away tiks.....in with the Swindon fans?

If they are i would be interested.

Block 28 is the away section.

Ta muchly.

I want them. Will collect them asap. Why no seat numbers on the tickets?

They're covered up

But why, :sherlock:

To protect his identity.......

Simples.

Every ticket has a fan number which could be linked to the purchaser.

 :suicide: That is understandable, well someone has got an unexpected day out this Saturday.

Spare one ill have them, how much? 

Sent an offer by PM....no reply yet!!!

Likewise, though i never expected to get them

I've got them.

I thought you had first dibs?

I did ask first in the thread and sent a pm days ago.

Still reckon it was an ox fan on a windup

Dunno? Was a strange set of events with him-her popping up on here at the same time as the other new poster asking for them. They were then offered to that poster and a little later that post deleted.
I'd buy them if the offer was genuine but aint fussed to be honest.

Wind up I reckon.....if samdy got them then m happy enough though....

I was offered a spare ticket tonight. Just thought I'd be a cunt and mention that.