What do all Lower Loft Season Ticket Holders & Members (and other supporters) think about setting up a Lower Loft Supporters Group? Over the last few days my mood swings from giving up and walking way to fighting them on the beaches. Well this morning I've landed on the beach and I want to do something constructive, rather than just whine about a situation over which, up to now, we've had zero control. Well if we got a Lower Loft Supporters Group in place, open to all Season Ticket holders and Members who occasionally sit there, we could discuss the issues with the club from a position of strength rather than the current situation of weakness with the club picking off individuals. Personally I think that the Family Stand is here to stay, no matter what we think of it. Its gone too far for the club to move it. So we need to find a way of making the club listen to our collective voice and remove the draconian rules that they implement from time to time. we can only do that as a combined force. What does everyone think? Comments welcome from all supporters not just LL people. Please PM me your thoughts, indicating whether you sit in the LL or not. I would be happy to co-ordinate things if enough people support the idea.
It certainly couldn't hurt Sussex. It should be taken more seriously by the club if you could show that you represent many supporters, rather than be regarded as a lone voice in the wilderness. You could also have a register of us non LL people who support you. I would be pleased to add my name to this. If you needed my client reference number send me a PM & I will supply. Just another thought. I don't know what they could do, but how about contacting the FSA (football supporters association) to bring this situation to their attention.
Sussex...I am in the Upper Loft, having sat in the Lower Loft for several years with Flyer. I will condense my ramblings from the other thread and Pm you sometime real soon, but you have my support both in spirit, and on computer...writing letters, lobbying etc... and in person, if required...handing out leaflets, questionnaires etc. This is not really a family stand, it should not just be a u/16 (but is it not even older than that), with the Draconian entrance rules. It should include all people who require entrance...disabled, limited mobility, single ladies etc....again the club have not thought this through Anyway sussex...count me in on the vigilante force....and very willing to help in all aspects of this
I agree with creating a group - more voices communicating as one is a stronger position than several individuals. However, I would include as many fans as possible, not just LL supporters. The more who support us, and tell the club our feelings, the better.
cheers mate, lets see what the letter coming from the club to all Lower Loft Season ticket Holders will say.
Wouldn't the Paddock be a better family stand anyhow, with the access for wheelchairs etc. Leave the loft as a members only stand
On a different matter, but losely conneted. My apologies if this places the thread off theme as it is far too important a matter to be interfeered with. As all of the Loft is members or ST's only, how can the ticket company that we use sell tickets for us that we are unable to use? Or do they have access to our data base to check if they are selling to members?
The answer to that Terry is a big fat NO THEY DON'T. A couple of years ago when I last had a season ticket in the Lower Loft and I couldn't attend a few games. I sold tickets on Viagogo. My tickets were bought by people in the U.S., Australia and Singapore. Based on what people who used to sit around me said, I am sure some of them were supporting the away team. Away fans without U16's I may add. I also sold my U16 ST on Viagogo and always, the person who turned up was an adult. You have my full support Sussex in this matter. If there is anything a mere mortal like me can do from this side of the Irish sea, just let me know. I will be over for Liverpool and Villa games and will join any protest etc. Col, I had the same problem as you yesterday. I have 3 adults and 2 U16's memberships. I wanted to buy 4 adults tickets for the Liverpool game. Up to now, you could use one of the U16 memberships to buy an adults tickets but now, you can't. They seem to have made this change without consulting supporters groups which is wrong. Thankfully, somebody lent me their membership number to get me out of a hole.
Eaman, I really think that TF needs to be contacted about these issues. I can't believe he would be happy to see loyal supporters so pissed off!
I'd like to thank everyone who have offered their support over this issue. For me last Saturday was the final straw. For far too long the club have been making policy and operational decisions ( as col and finglas describe above) without any consultation. Obviously the club has to run its business and cannot ask for fans approval of every decision, but where it affects us directly such as ticketing, stadium rules etc, they should. Basically I don't feel part of this club anymore, which is a great shame, as it's been a big part of my life for 51 years. Whatever the clubs letter that we are about to receive says, I'd like us to try and keep this thread running[/B]. Then if it's bad news, or just another whitewash, we can decide what we want to do. Whether that be a Lower Loft Supporters Group or some other form of action. There are so many issues around our day to interaction with the club that is wrong I don't really know where we would start, but the fiasco last Saturday is as good a place as any. On a slightly more positive note, I got a call from Diane in the box office today (Diane has always been very helpfull to me). She said that the club accepts it got it wrong on Saturday, what the gate staff did wasn't the intention !!!!!!!!, they were trying to stop adults entering on children's tickets. She said that adults without children would not be stopped entering at the next game, and she indicated that re-allocating people to other parts of the ground would stop. Oh and the letter will come. I'll reserve judgement until I see the letter, but at least it was a positive call.
It would Beth, as would the lower School End. Both were suggested to the club but like always they had already implemented it in the Lower Loft
Sorry Sussex, I'm a bit late in joining this thread due to work. Of course this issue will receive my full support. There's a couple of things I'd like to add from the above comments. The Paddocks won't be considered to be used as a family stand by the club as they are completely uncovered. If this wasn't the case then I agree that they would be an ideal place to relocate to. I've also noted many away fans or neutrals in the Lower Loft over the course of the last few seasons. None of the ones I spotted had any children with them. This was most noticeable when we played Millwall last season. When they scored there were eight 'proper naughty geezers' who jumped up to my left. They then began singing the proverbial Millwall song and abusing the QPR fans around them. They did this without caring about the kids being within earshot of there vulgar language. The stewards stood there and did nothing. I suggest the club sort out these kind of issues before picking on our own.
