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Post by Vodkab1ock on Mar 25, 2008 20:07:26 GMT
they should of made it 16 then no one could really complain. but at 14 your still a kid and shouldn't be kicked out of the family area in my opinion could of been handled a bit better. lets not forgot tho that the club pr has been alot better this season they were due to mess up all the good work eventually
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 25, 2008 21:19:32 GMT
Mike, Been off-line all day. I might have taken you up on the idea of representing the FS at some of these forums you mention but thats part of my complaint, the average Stoke City supporter is treated like a mushroom...you all know the rest. Unless you are in one clique or another nothing is ever publicised. I live in Burton so we don't get the Sentinel and my only avenue for Stoke news is the various websites. There's been nowt on them. The first I knew of anything to do with the latest fiasco was before the game on Saturday when my mate showed me his eviction letter. Guess when I got mine. When I got home from work tonight. Bearing in mind the arrangement to move seats from the family stand had been on all day did that give me a fair chance to get a decent seat? The bloody Royal Mail stagecoaches must have been held up by Dick Turnip on the old A50 turnpike. Unfortunately it does make me feel that despite some recent good work the underlying message is of a club struggling to come to terms with its PR. Anyway despite the clubs best efforts to shaft me from all angles I took the bull by the horns and swapped our 3 ST's this morning having mulled over the advice from Old Stokie, so I'm in the Seddon next year with all the other ruffians. You say the ticket increases are generally good I disagree. Even before my move (which has cost me a whopping £190 extra on last season) if I had stayed in the FS my ticket had gone up £50 a 17% increase and my 15 yr olds had gone up £100 a 140% increase (not taking into account the £40 bribe er sweetner). The only one who you could describe as good was my 12 yr olds which had gone up just £6. Stoke City is run by hard nosed businessmen and the only real revenue they have is from the paying public. If they get away with this attempt at hiking the ticket prices of 14-17 yr olds... which they will.... just watch out the rest of us if we're in the prem next year. Better get some overtime in now.
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Post by northantsmike on Mar 25, 2008 22:09:43 GMT
Hi "torch" I am in the JS Upper and I was agrieved last year when we were hit with everyones increase and they they added the £4 on top per game that used to be charged on match day if you were not a "Premier Club member (that finished for this season) but overall I have to admit - with gritted teeth - that the value compared with other Clubs has been good and compared with the Premier will be amazing. That said for none of us will ever have the same opinion on pricing until Uncle Peter lets us all in free - even then we will complain about the price of the Wrights Pies --- which is far too high. Fans Forum. They have members from Manchester, London, Birmingham way, I believe they had one from Northampton but they are a good group - active as far as they can be but they are undermanned to know what goes on in all parts of the ground. I pass info to them that I hear on coaches and at games and I know they have been very forthright on numerous issues - sometimes they are too "anti club". What I know they do not have is enough people from around the ground and i am sure - NO - I am CERTAIN - that if they had the knowledge that you guys have for your particular section then this position would have been different. They would have still said "the family stand is for families with "younger" children - due to the large amount of complaints they have had over this past season and more but I am sure they would have handled it better. The PR at the club is improving tremendously - but they had to come a long way and yet still some to go. TS - believe it or not actually listens and implements suggestions - the 10 month interest free idea came through the Forum (though I will say that the £20 set up was not the Forums) though I suppose if it was truly "free" then no one would pay for a ticket up front. You do not have to turn up at every Forum meeting - but you would get the minutes and be consulted for views and you would need to turn up only to specific and important times - for example - the discussion with the club re Season Ticket prices, meeting with PC etc. Think about it -- OR anyone else reading this who would like to make themselves and those around them heard. The Forum represent you - and do it by looking at message boards and listening to supporters clubs but I estimate that is less that 10% of the supporters. That is why they need people from each area.
Hope you think it all worthwhile when we stuff Man U next season.
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Post by redstripe on Mar 25, 2008 22:27:37 GMT
I am also being evicted along with my 2 daughters ok I appreciate neither are now under 14 but I dont recall the club saying anything about this last season when they even sent a letter asking if we would like our names on our seats,my daughters were over 14 then.Oh but just a moment there was no sniff of the premiership then was there now the club decide to s--t on the people who over the last few seasons have watched some real rubbish but have still been there come rain or shine. On saturday as directed by the judas letter from the club I e-mailed Chris Gater (customer svcs manager) asking for a meeting, I am not even expecting a reply let alone a face to face. Therefore I will make my way way down to the Brit with my cheque for over £1000 hoping to secure three decent seats in the seddon stand but if I cannot get anything to suit I will be one of many I believe will tell them where to stick that bloody wind tunnel they call the West Stand.
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Post by redstripe on Mar 25, 2008 22:50:59 GMT
sorry to go on but forgot to say just one last thing I would like T Scholes to sit next to the foul mouthed guy who sits behind us in the fs who cannot put two words together without one of them being f-----g because he will still be there with hjs son of about 12 good luck to all you young families who will have the pleasure of this (gentleman), and before you ask I reported this guy to a steward last season but surprise surprise no result
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Post by prem4stoke on Mar 25, 2008 23:11:01 GMT
A good thread here, and a very hard one to comment on although I find it hard not to Most who are complaining about the rule changes seems to be those how have kids between 14 and 17, right not too strange as this is the age to whom it affects. This should be judged on circumstances it seems very clear to me. A dad/mum with a 15 year old son or daughter should not be able to now sit in the family stand, I agree on this as you can watch a 15 cert film full of bad language so what are you complaining about! Now it gets tough when you have a family of 3 or more and THIS should still be allowed. A Dad/Mum a 9 year old and a 15 year old. As quite rightly pointed out you can't all sit apart. It is quite clear in my mind that Stoke have made the right decision here. If our beloved team is going to make the Prem then some rule changes are bound to happen as the influx of youngsters wanting to watch our club will be massive, so do you want all the younger kids of 5-13 years old listen to abuse all through the game while 15-17 sit in the family stand? Now ask yourself that question or don't you care about future supporters.
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Post by jonesinamillion on Mar 26, 2008 0:33:30 GMT
Money talks I'm afraid folks! If we were mid table or worse then they would have been giving ST's away in cornflakes, never mind these "trivial" age discriminations. The club has done well over the last couple of years to encourage fans of all ages to attend and that should be commended, however this looks to be the start of "cashing in" for want of better words; hope they don't undoo all their good work during the closed season.
The sad fact of modern football is that money talks louder than fans sing :-(
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Post by mcf on Mar 26, 2008 7:16:07 GMT
We seem to create problems for ourselves.
If kids' prices were uniform across the ground then there wouldn't be a problem.
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Post by stalbansstokie on Mar 26, 2008 8:48:10 GMT
What worries me about this is not that we will no longer qualify for family stand seats in a year or two (although it will be sad to no longer be able to sit with our other relatives). What is of more concern is that if we are in the premier, we could end up not being able to get season tickets at all anywhere in Seddon or Boothen when we can no longer buy in the Family Stand. After supporting Stoke for 37 years and having a sesason ticket for well over 20 of those years I would be less than happy. If we are in the premier , unless a certain proportion of the 2 "affordable" stands are kept back for matchday tickets or newly ex-family stand season tickets the club would be in danger of encouraging young families to come only for them to be cast out atogether once the kids have reached 14. The club should be able to tell how many people are going to be affected by this each year and act accordingly.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2008 12:32:55 GMT
We seem to create problems for ourselves. If kids' prices were uniform across the ground then there wouldn't be a problem. You want to stop coming on here making sensible points, or people are going to start worrying! The issue isn't all kids prices, it's the "cheap ticket" for U17 in the Family Stand (basically it's daft to offer an incentive-price to keep U17s in the Family Stand if you want to kick them out). All other kids tickets (U14 down) should be cheaper in the Family-Stand as the little ones are protected from all the nasty people/drink/smoke. Think of the children! (PLEASE NOTE: U17 shouldn't be cheaper in the FS, and you can therefore see which way this one will go if it is resolved!) Listening to Scholsey last night it did not sound as though he was for changing his mind on this issue (I know the tone of voice ... and that's was the "I'm not moving on this issue" voice). He has agreed to drop the "No Adults in FS on their own" for night games but that sounded like that in terms of concessions. What he wants to stop is Adults buying an ST for themselves and a kid's ST, and then never using the kids ST. Stokies, always up to summut! (Made me laugh) and there is no other way of doing it, other than banning the practice. So if you are over-14 and not accompanying an adult, then get out of the family-stand! Some people are gonna moan; they've been in B32 as long as I've been in B31 ... but there ya go ... there's always someone moaning and it's nearly always over summut they shouldn't really be doing! Hopefully - as a charitable gesture - they drop the U17 price (when bought with an adult ST) in the Boothen and Sentinel stands for this year (or whoever is now sponsoring the stands). But there's no guarantee he'll do that either (I have asked). ah
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Post by stalbansstokie on Mar 26, 2008 13:09:23 GMT
I didn't hear Tony Scholes. Did he address the concern that I have posted above?
"What is of more concern is that if we are in the premier, we could end up not being able to get season tickets at all anywhere in Seddon or Boothen when we can no longer buy in the Family Stand."
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2008 14:02:37 GMT
... "What is of more concern is that if we are in the premier, we could end up not being able to get season tickets at all anywhere in Seddon or Boothen when we can no longer buy in the Family Stand." His view is that - if you need to move, because there are no longer any U14s in your group - then you will be able to get tickets in another part of the ground. U17 and adult cost more, but your "family" is no longer suitable for the "protections" offered by the Family-Stand (neither is mine, and hordes of other Stokies are in the same boat). Whatever you decide - Move now or hang on and move when you absolutely have to - I would not suggest "biting off your nose to spite your face" (this goes for any of those complaining above) or you will end up either not getting an ST at all, or paying far more money for it than you will have to pay now. We have 9000 ST holders and 24,000 home seats (without changing how the Away-Stand works). So you will get seats together "somewhere" ... go see the ticket office before 31/03. I very much doubt they won't be able to sort you out with X number of seats either in Boothen or Sentivale, and if you can afford it, the (unsponsorred!!?) West Stand. ah
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Post by stalbansstokie on Mar 26, 2008 14:14:37 GMT
Thanks Andy My concern was for when we are an established premier team and selling a lot more season tickets. Judging by the terms and conditions I think we should get 2 more seasons in the family stand. We will of course be renewing our season tickets as usual before 17th April
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Post by jacksscfc on Mar 26, 2008 16:19:06 GMT
All here are the letters my Brother in law and I sent to Mr gater this weekend Sorry if I piss any part timers off ;D Dear Mr Gater
I am writing to complain about the club’s decision to basically evict my son and I from the Family Stand for next season. I have been a loyal season ticket holder with my son for several seasons in the Family Stand, and I feel totally betrayed by the club, if this is how you treat your loyal supporters.
I work in an industry where great emphasis is placed upon ‘Treating Customers Fairly’, which is obviously not the case with Stoke City FC. The club have made yet another PR disaster decision, which is going to alienate many fans in the Family Stand. Not only are you telling me that I have to move seats, but you are expecting me to pay another £20, to remain in the Stand, in another Block where seats will be limited.
The club has not consulted the fans before making this decision, as the first I heard about it was on the morning of the Blackpool game. The club has failed to recognise that over several seasons, fans build up relationships with those people that sit around them, which all adds to the experience on match days. I actually sit just behind my brother-in-law, (Name removed)together with his two sons, (name removed), who is actually my Godson, row 37 seats numbers 714.715 and 716. Your decision for next season means that he will have to sit on his own, after going to the match with me for the past several seasons. Mr Jackson has Nathan aged 14 and Callum aged 10, so if he wants to sit with me next season, it is going to cost him an additional £73, which is not fair.
If the club is not prepared to let us all remain in our current seats for next season, then I feel that it is only fair, to allow us all to pay the same price, in another block of the same stand. This action would be classed as ‘Treating Customers Fairy’ and improve the relationships with supporters, which you have got to admit has been sadly an area the club needs to improve on, to attract new fans, and to retain those who have shown their loyalty to the club.
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future, as I am sure that the ‘Sentinel’ would be very interested in my predicament.
Yours faithfully
Dear Mr Gater, I too would like to make my feelings known with reference to the above. I fully support & agree with Dave' above comment's the facts are there for all to see no fan's were consulted on this issue and no consideration has been shown to the fans who will have to move, and those who will remain without the friends they have made over the years and family who are being forced to move area. This club is quick in shafting the loyal season ticket holders after it has taken their money (with reference too the 2 for 1 offer and the games for £5 and £10) this ultimatly leaves the season ticket holder out of pocket. Now the club are basically saying (in my opinion) thanks for your support now move so we gan charge you more for your loyal support, and get part time supporters in those seats and charge them less while we are in the Prem. Unfortunatly these fans won't be around (unlike Dave, myself, and our 3 children) if Stoke get relegated. If Dave and Niall are not allowed to keep their seats (which they have been in since 2000) I feel the club will be letting down TRUE SUPPORTERS for the wrong reasons. I can understand why the club are doing this BUT there should be a rule allowing people who have had a season ticket for a number of seasons to keep their seats, not kick them out without a consultation. I would like to ask if their have been complaints about language and behavouir in this area, and if so I wish to see these complaints please as any good business should log all complaints including dates and times. If you cannot provide evidence of these complaints I don't see how you could justify your reactions of moving INNOCENT people to other parts of the ground. I am aware that plain clothed officers have been in this area during matches,and welcome this as would any fan, but I would like to know if any arrests have been made? If yes then it should be those people who are moved not the innocent people. I am also aware that the club have been giving away complimentary tickets in this area are these complimentary tickets issued to people with children under 14???? and if not WHY???? I also believe (my opinion) that the Club will sell tickets on a matchday in this area to anyone. As such I would like to know this, If on a matchday (next season) I see adults in this area without a child of 14 or under and I report this to a steward will the steward be instructed (under the clubs new policy) to remove them? If not WHY??? because I will report anyone from next season (as a loyal fan to the club) who does not attend with a child under 14 and WILL EXPECT them to be removed from that area in keeping with the clubs new policy. I too look forward to reading your reply with interest Yours Faithfully
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Mar 26, 2008 20:45:04 GMT
St Albans
Sounds like we are in a similar predicament. Do we wait for 2 years paying cheaper prices but end up with the dregs of seats or move now, pay more money but get a better pick of seats. I bit the bullet and decided to move now. Cost me an extra £190 tho' (including the general price increase). Up to you mate but if (when) we get in the prem seats together might be at a premium and I wouldn't be happy sitting seperated from my 14 year old in with all those rough, swearing men!!! I'd have put a smiley thing but I aint got a clue how to.
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Bonkolina
Youth Player
You Know You Want It !
Posts: 283
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Post by Bonkolina on Mar 27, 2008 12:52:21 GMT
Personally kids, like women shouldn't be allowed at Football matches anyway.
GD
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Post by jacksscfc on Mar 27, 2008 13:09:21 GMT
Guernsey, are you sure your name's not JERSEY DAVE? What orphanage did you work at
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Post by superliamlawrence on Mar 27, 2008 15:22:14 GMT
WONTO- Pete ya are a FUCKIN TOOL, get a season ticket somewhere else
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Post by prem4stoke on Mar 27, 2008 22:46:22 GMT
jacksscfc I agree with the new ruling and agree they should look at cases such as yours and make a compromising seating adjustment for you all. That way everybody is happy! ;D
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Post by greebo on Mar 28, 2008 12:58:04 GMT
I'm also Block 32, and this year I bought season tickets for Myself (£309) my son 15 (£69), and daughter 7(£23). total cost £401 To renew this year costs £359 + £129 + £46 = £534 an increase of 34% My son's ticket has gone up by 87% because someone has decided that a lad of 15 is able to pay more for his ticket that a 13 year old, how do they work that out? if he had a Saturday job he wouldn't be coming to football. At the end of the day it's us parents who have to pay in most cases, and I for one haven't had a sudden huge increase in income. My daughter doesn't come every match, but my wife works alternate weekends so I have to bring her some weeks as she cannot stay on her own. She enjoys this arrangement, but to push her to come more often would only put her off. Again her ticket has gone up - this time by 100% Under the new arrangements we cannot renew the arrangement we have this season, 1) because of the cost, 2) we wouldn't be allowed in to the family area for matches when my daughter is not present, and 3) as stated elsewhere midweek matches finish too late for youngsters with school the next day, and it's impossible to get to the ground 2 hours before to change the tickets if you are working. I agree that the family area needs tightening up, as there is too much unsuitable language & behaviour, but I would point out that it is as much if not more, due to idiotic adults as the youngsters. In the end I decided to just get season tickets for my son and I in the Boothen End at the combined cost of £473, largely because this was the cheapest option. That's all very well but you then ask what seats are available, and you find that in the entire Boothen End there was only one pair of seats together that we could have! You would think our Average Gate was 25,000 not half that! We have really enjoyed our football this year, the arrangement we had worked really well. I would have been happy to pay a reasonable increase to renew it, but surprise surprise Stoke had to mess it up.
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Post by BrenSCFC on Mar 28, 2008 14:05:30 GMT
greebo, please dont think that I am trying to have a dig but I cant help wondering why you and your son dont get a season ticket elsewhere in the ground and if and when your daughter wants to come with you, she can either sit with you both there or you can exchange for the family stand.
Surely you can see that when a system is changed then there are always going to be winners and losers. Its just a case of "hopefully" being fair to the majority. And when it comes down to it, it is not the club that should be put on the rack for this but the tossers who abused the family stand system over the years.
Bren
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Post by leekpotterman on Mar 28, 2008 15:00:45 GMT
I had a long discussion with Chris Gater on Wednesday, making all relevant points. He agreed to to take them forward and contact me again. He rang me today to say that there would be no further concessions, other than the night matches. Seems that's it!
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Wonto
Youth Player
Posts: 335
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Post by Wonto on Mar 28, 2008 17:19:54 GMT
I have been on holiday this week but I did manage to speak to Radio Stoke who let me question Tony Scholes although without a right of reply so that just let him put out all his prpoganda on air. Contacted the Sentinel who ran a piece last night and also spoke to Chris Gater the customer services manager when he did not reply to my email. I don't think the Club are going to change their mind on this one and I have done all I can. Disappointed that the chairman of the fans forum did not reply to my email - you would think this was an issue that they existed to represent the fans on. Quite simply I will not now renew my season tickets unless we reach the premiership. If we stop in the championship I will just pay to go to the games that most attract me & take my lad on a tour of more of the away grounds he has not visited. Thanks to everyone who posted their opinions on here - most of whom think what has gone on is wrong. It will be the club itself that suffers in the long run but that's nothing new is it.
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Post by northantsmike on Mar 28, 2008 21:16:09 GMT
Wonto I know the Chairman of the FF has been away in Hull until late last night but I also believe that he has in fact answered you - he told me so today - please send him your email address again. I know that he has also a meeting with the club early next week to discuss the situation - though personally I do not see what can be done at this late stage - that will also be a part of the discussion. I have said on this before Wonto - the FF need people from all areas of the ground in order to best avoid such issues as this - will you join the FF? The FF do not have the intimate knowledge for example - of the Family Areas = and need that all pver the ground - in order to get it right and help the club get it right more often. They have been doing pretty good these past few months and if you had been a part of the FF group the week before publication of the ST direction - you could have made just that difference. I hope you will agree to join them.
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Post by Yorkshirepotter on Mar 28, 2008 22:40:33 GMT
Hmmm, i love the way the team manage to get it right so the people running the club decide to make up the extra stupidity.
So what happens next season, on the first evening kick off in the premiership, a young lad decides two hours before ko he doesnt want to go. Dad goes up to the ticket office to change his seat(and pay the extra £2????? cheeky twats)........ Sorry sir,the match is a sell out so you cant have another seat and you havent got your lad so you cant go un the family stand. Oh well,never mind! Bloody stupid.
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Post by kezzaed on Mar 29, 2008 1:47:45 GMT
Unfortunately I can not make every home match due work commitments in the main. For that reason I do not hold a season ticket. I have tried to take my son as often as possible. Like others have mentioned when the little ones have other commitments or evening matches are too late for them to attend, I attend on my own.
My son was 8 years old when he first visited Stoke. John Smiths Lower then Sentinel now Seddon Stand, around the 18 yard line, near the boothen. He realised whatever colourful language he heard pretty much stayed within football stadium under the atmosphere of the occassion. Of course there were other places and under different circumstance such language was used but not by his piers, teachers or family.
The last match we attended against Blackpool, my son now being 16 years, we sat near the half way line. Well we could't believe the amount of youngsters being sat around us. The majority were toddlers young fans with parents and grandparents.
This is fantastic for our club and its future. With us being sat further away from the boothen and half the distance from the family stand, the amount of families and still an atmosphere bodes well.
Since this last home match there seems to be a deception issue by some fans using the family stand, cheaper than they are entitled to, to a lesser or larger degree.
I don't know cus in all of the years attending with my son we have never sat in the family stand.
Now money is tight everywhere. Stoke maybe on the brink of the Premiership. Mr scholes may be confident of our promotion so therefore supply and demand may go in his favour and supporters may have to pay to obtain a seat to view their beloved Stoke City in the Premiership and then keep a larger fan base like other clubs that have sampled the prem like derby who have been there before and gained larger attendances than us.
So what do the club do now the attendances are aleady increasing. If it is correct that there is a deception going on by some fans then perhaps 14 years is a good age limit (seeing as other younsters sit happily elsewhere) and if you haven't got your little one with you, obtain a ticket to sit somewhere else 2 hours before KO as the views are good wherever you are in the ground or relocate your season tickets as there really are other child friendly seats, especially as my son and I have not experienced problems in the above locations.
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Post by Bring On Man U on Mar 29, 2008 7:28:49 GMT
Disgraceful, Me and my old man have sat in all 3 stands at the Brit and he loves it in the family stand, i moved to the boothen two seasons ago and never looked back, but now my old man has ben told he has to move as he has no children with him. He has been a loyal supporter for 30 years travelling home and away, so if he wants to sit in the family stand and enjoy the atmosphere no one should be able to stop it.
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Post by GlynDerby on Mar 29, 2008 7:40:15 GMT
This doesnt affect me but can i make a suggestion, Speak to Tony scholes, Whatever you think of him he's very approachable, Email him, phone him and if he;s in the office he will take your call, or better still just have a quick word with him at the ground, Just pop up in the week and go into reception and ask for him. He;s unlikely to read this forum so why not copy and paste this thread to an email and send it to him? it may not do any good for this season but at least it will highlight the problem to stop others suffering the same problems next year
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Post by bayernoatcake on Mar 29, 2008 13:24:19 GMT
Get in the JS Lower around the dug outs! When I sat there once it was full of kids anyway. Had a good slanging match though with Bob Booker the assistant manager of Brighton after Russell won the ball and that cock thought it was a bad tackle.
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Post by northantsmike on Mar 31, 2008 22:36:33 GMT
Notes from meeting with TS re this thread - on its own thread Cheers
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