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Post by andyk on Apr 10, 2008 20:02:40 GMT
I e-mailed the club on Sunday with the following complaint, and to date have still not even had an acknowledgement from them. Now, you may disagree with my point regarding the games being excluded (I, however, defy anyone to give me a truly valid reason why), but to be treated by Stoke as if I don't exist is, I have to say, incredibly disheartening. Is this the norm for them?
Dear Sir,
As a season-ticket holder of 32 consecutive years, an ID-card holder from day 1, and a regular attendee of away matches for all of my years of supporting Stoke, I am e-mailing to complain strongly about the way the criteria for the Colchester ticket allocation has been set, namely the exclusion of two specific away matches from the total number of games attended by an individual. These are, of course, the Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry games.
Coventry will be my 10th away game attended this season; you should have a record on file of all the previous ones*. What I can’t understand is why you have singled out these games for exclusion? I just cannot believe that you’ve decided to do this. Are you implying that attending these games is somehow less admirable than attending any others? Clearly someone else who has attended no more games than myself could be eligible for a ticket because they missed the Sheff Wed/Coventry games and attended other, seemingly more important in your eyes, games instead.
Or is it that you think that supporters who attend them are some kind of ‘Johnny-come-lately’ who are only interested in attending when the team is close to promotion?? I strongly suspect this may be the case, in which case this decision is an utter disgrace. For a start, anyone including these matches in their 10-game total must, of course, have attended at least 8 previous away games this season, so the notion that they may have suddenly decided to jump on the promotion bandwagon in March/April is clearly ludicrous. Secondly, I, like all others in the same situation as me, could not have had any idea whatsoever that the club was planning to introduce such a scheme, which after all is totally unprecedented in all my time supporting the club. So how could I have possibly planned for this situation?? As it so happens, I am unable to afford to go to all 25 or so away games, therefore I pick out one or two games a month at (fairly) regular intervals throughout the season, and have been doing this, attending somewhere between around 8-15 away games a season, for the last 32 YEARS. Obviously, however, this is completely the wrong method, as this time around I have been unlucky enough to select the two dreaded ‘exclusion’ matches.
Therefore I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reverse this pedantic, nonsensical, and for me extremely damaging, rule and to allow the inclusion of ALL away games this season into the 10-game total. The thought that someone who has supported the club steadfastly and unfailingly through all of its darkest times; who unlike some, instead of sniping from the sidelines, overcame all personal hatred of the id-card scheme to continue supporting the team from day one, and who has been a regular on the road with the potters since 1976, could be somehow considered not loyal or regular enough a supporter to be able to go to Colchester on what hopefully will be our promotion day – because I chose the WRONG away games - is, frankly, devastating.
Thank you for listening.
Regards, Andy
(contact details included)
* I’ve changed my e-mail address AND forgotten my password since I last logged in to scfcdirect, therefore I can neither log into the system nor get a password reminder sent to my e-mail address. However, I presume you have my 10 matches on record, as I bought tickets for them all in person from the ticket office. Just for the record though, they are Cardiff, Hull, Bristol City, Scunthorpe, Sheff Utd, Barnsley, Wolves, Watford, Sheff Wed and Coventry.
The Notts County promotion game in 1979 has been the best day of my time as a Stokie so far, and I can't tell you how much I've been longing for the experience to be repeated (I'm not alone in that, of course). So the thought that after all this time, Stoke might actually get promoted without me being there (that possibility has lessened somewhat after the Palace game, but is still present) is extremely depressing. But when I see how the club treats its long-suffering supporters, it just makes me wonder why I bother ??? If I'd been sent a reply, even if it was a refusal, I would have accepted it (albeit reluctantly) and tried other lines of enquiry. If I'd been sent an e-mail acknowledging they'd received the complaint and would get back to me in time, that would have been fine. But after all the worrying I've been doing about the ticket situation, to receive nothing at all just leaves me wondering what is the f*****g point?? Opinions please? Andy |
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Post by jay1610 on Apr 10, 2008 20:12:10 GMT
I was in the same situation, I had been to 7 away games before Sheff Wed and now 8. I'm goin to Coventry on saturday and have actually got myself a Colchester ticket. I don't know if you are aware but they have now reduced the game attendance requirement to 6-9 games following the initial 10 game ruling time being elapsed and not selling out due to there only being 600 ST holders who had attended 10 away games? So get down tomorrow and see if you can get 1!
EDIT- Typo
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Apr 10, 2008 20:16:30 GMT
Andy Didn't you used to help in keeping the old signwriter post about the golden shares at the top of the old oatcake as well?  |
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Post by stokemark on Apr 10, 2008 20:16:42 GMT
Andy
Who gets 'second dibs' on tickets if all of them arent sold to season ticket holders who have attended 10 or more away games ? Is the reason that Cov isnt counted because tickets for Colchester have already gone on sale ?
Just for the record I have been to 13 aways this season (14 on Saturday) but dont have a season ticket (I live down south and can rarely do mid-week homes) so I too will miss out.
I do think the least the club can do is respond to your email mate.
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Post by andyk on Apr 10, 2008 20:25:31 GMT
Andy Didn't you used to help in keeping the old signwriter post about the golden shares at the top of the old oatcake as well? Nah, not me guv'nor  Not entirely sure I take your meaning though. Do you mean that Mr Coates remembers who his enemies are? |
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Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Apr 10, 2008 20:31:31 GMT
Andy Didn't you used to help in keeping the old signwriter post about the golden shares at the top of the old oatcake as well? Nah, not me guv'nor Not entirely sure I take your meaning though. Do you mean that Mr Coates remembers who his enemies are? I imagine that he does have a little black book with who owes him what and who's crossed his path! Like a Goldenhill Tony Soprano! Maybe that's why he likes Tony Pulis as it sounds mafia like!  If we have a chance of being promoted that day they'd better put a big screen in Colchester town square! |
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Post by smirny72 on Apr 11, 2008 8:08:01 GMT
Andy and StokeMark u have e-mail.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2008 9:29:40 GMT
* I’ve changed my e-mail address AND forgotten my password How do you know they haven't responded then..? |
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Post by OldStokie on Apr 11, 2008 9:38:15 GMT
Eeerm...I suppose he expected them to respond to the email address in the mail he sent them? Chuck your ID card at 'em, Andy.  OS. |
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Post by glouscesterstokie on Apr 11, 2008 15:27:53 GMT
who gets second dibs on the tickets?
cus i no i get 1st dibs ;D
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Post by stalbansstokie on Apr 11, 2008 15:46:39 GMT
There is new information re Colchester tickets on the official site now. From tomorrow only need to have been to 5 away games (excluding Sheffield Wed and Coventry)
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