This was an email I recently received from SAFC regarding the kick off time of the Stoke Game in relation to the Great North Run: Dear Marc Thank you for your email. Naturally we share in your disappointment that the Stoke game has had to be moved as 3pm Saturday kick offs are always our preference. However in this instance due to Stokeâs progress in the Europa Cup the game has had to be moved by the Premier League. In such circumstances the game has to be played at the earliest available opportunity and as such the Premier League has designated Sunday as this date - a midweek rearrangement was not possible due to Stokeâs involvement in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup. Full consultation has taken place with all of the relevant bodies involved in the Safety Advisory group such as police, transport groups such as Nexus and the local authority and all have given their support for the game to take place at this time. We do understand that it may impact on some supporters due to the Great North run taking place but in this instance the game has to be played as soon as possible and our hands are tied. Kind Regards Media and Communications Team This is what I received from the Premier League: Response (Rachel Pallant) - 09/09/2011 12.21 PM The timing of 1pm for the kick off was arrived at by the local police, council and the Club and with our agreement. With Stoke City playing on the previous Thursday and the following Tuesday, Sunday was the only option, and it was felt that 1pm would be the least problematic time. If the kick off time had been later, say 3pm, it is still unlikely that anyone taking part in the Great North Run would have been able to make it to the match, and it was felt that there would be more transport problems. The local police and the Club felt that a 1pm kick off time would be best option, and it gives travelling fans more time both to get to the match, and get away afterwards. I am sorry for the inconvenience caused to you, but we can assure you that a 1pm kick off was arrived at with the best of intentions by those who are familiar with the local issues and is designed to cause minimum disruption. ----- So Sunderland advised me that their hands were tied and the Premier League say that Sunderland made the decision - Well this is going to the local media!!
Marcus can understand your frustration but it does read like the date of the game wasn't up for discussion, just the time of kick off. Reads to me like the PL stated the date and then said what time is good. Reckon they should have looked at it from the point of view, is it a good idea? not just can we get the police etc to agree that they can provide the bodies required. Not having read all of your posts on this, not sure if 3pm KO would solve the problem and that is your complaint like
Hettonist - cheers for the comments mate - surely if you're involved in the Great North Run which starts around 11 then a 3'o clock kick off will be easier to get to than a 1pm kick off?? If you finish the run at 10 minutes per mile then it's 2 hours 10 minutes - 1:10pm (ish) - if you then try to get to the match at 1pm it is IMPOSSIBLE to make kick off (unless someone invents a time machine) - At least if it kicks off at 3pm, it gives some opportunity to make it to the kick off. I personally cannot attend at all on the Sunday as I have pre-laid (and paid for) plans with my mates after the run - but I also could not see a reson why it could not be moved to a week when Stoke were not participating in Europe and not playing in the Carling Cup. My issue with the above is that Sunderland say their hands were tied - implying that the kick off time was not of their doing. But the premier league state that Sunderland agreed to the kick off time
The club would not be in a position do do anything as it is the police who have the biggest say in the matter.
I'm sure the club would be able to put the match back to a 4pm kick-off, or even 5pm. This is sheer madness by the club, which in my opinion is a PR disaster..
No the answer is Stoke should play their Europer match on a wed night at 6pm. Why should we have to move our game ?, and it will cause traffic chaos all over Sunderland, and why is it a 1pm kick off?, not 3pm.And what have the police got do with this?. Leeds started games being moved because years ago they refused to put their game against man u back because of their european commitments. And oneSAFC supporter has wasted £100's going to Arsenal because that match was switched. I hope it is not what they forecast (gales) tommorow or the Chelsea game might be off!.
I got the same email in response to my query about the decision. They just ignored my specific questions about why the fixture coud not be moved to a later date altogether, or why the GNR organisers were not consulted. It indicates the club and 'safety advisory' group made the decision on the time, but also implies that the PL gave NO option to postpone to a later date altogether. So perhaps the clubs hands really were tied as to the date. However the fixture people should have also been aware of this. They made sure Newcastle were away on that weekend, but did not make sure Sunderland could play on the Saturday. We could have played any team not in European competition, and Stoke another weekend and the problem would not have arisen. It shows serious lack of foresight and really poor public relations and whatever the ins and outs, due to this ridiculous decision I (and thousands of others I suspect) will not be attending this game. All I can say is that I want to hear no bleating on from anyone at the club about people watching in pubs when this is the way supporters are treated.
Marcus, apologies, am up in Scotland, unfit and wasn't aware of the logistics that a 3pm would make the match more realistic for folk. Just thought that some press will be after any headline they can get and I don't like to see Sunderland done down if it's not fair like. Sounds as if the club could have done a bit more thinking around the KO time even if the PL have dictated the day it's played on (which is clearly a completely stupid decision.) Cheers for taking comments in the right spirit, just concerned that the dark side of the NE press could turn a half truth into something a lot worse. F Ok
I still think the clash should have been spotted by the fixture compilers, or the club should have at least protested immediately and tried to get it amended for a team not in European competition, then we could have played on the Saturday without any of these problems. To smooth over the PR gaffe the club should offer season ticket holders a refund if they can prove they are running in the GNR or are official 'helpers'. Or they could offer an upgrade to Black Cats or Sports Bar for one future game or something. This would go some way to making amends.
The thing is though, is that it is still not too late to change the kick-off to 4pm. There is no logical reason why they can't do this.
I agree, but has there ever been 2 Premier League games kicking off at 4pm on a Sunday? My guess is the power of Sky prohibits this. Even 3pm would be better though and allow most people to make it.
Marcus, just saw FlagFlyingHighs thread saying Stoke game moved to 3 now. Well done if you've helped this, particularly as you can't go anyway mate, good tenacity. A bit of common sense in the end it seems, even if the PL are still knobs for insisting on that day.
