Gemini - sorry fella but you are completely wrong. This is absolutely nothing to do with 'abuse players, officials and other fans far easier to identify' other than marketing. So if I need ID as an ST holder for that purpose and have been a Gill's supporter for something like 40 years, what about the guy that turns up at the ticket office on match day to randomly watch a game. Who's the biggest risk him or me? That's like saying you have to have ID because every supporter is automatically treated as a criminal. Since when in this country has freedom of movement been restricted to knowing who exactly you are. Jeez man the UK has certainly become the big brother of the 21st century! The photo ID protects no one other than the pockets of the business man. After all why do they need my ID, they have my name and number on their database along with loads of other information. Do you honestly believe I would give my ticket to someone I did not trust, that in turn their actions could tarnish my reputation and get me banned from the ground! Come on lets get real here, the category you so talk does not match the possibilities of me at all, let alone most the other ST holders. How long before a supporter gets arrested for calling Steve Evans a [NSFW]****[/NSFW]. They might as well stick the bars around the whole of the Rainham End, because most of them will be arrested going by your suggestion for ID cards. It does not mean to say I approve of the abuse at Steve Evans but it happens, the same as ST transfers happen. Where do we draw the line under all this. I have my own simple view on life, for every rule a human creates another rule is sure to follow. I'm more against ID than I am the £5 charge. The only reason I did not make as big a fuss about the ID cards if people remember was because we was going to wait to see how they were implemented. It is quite clear now how that implementation will take place. brb_GFC ‏@brb_gfc 1m ID Cards to prevent criminal acts or merely being enforced as a business tool for financial control of its customers?
I've been concerned about this ever since the ID was announced and the total lack of explanation of what it was for. When I purchased my ticket I asked about transfers and got a totally hopless reply from the staff in the ticket office. I usually attend all the home matches but there have been times when I have lent my ST to other family members and friends over the years - never ever had a problem with it. This season I'm getting married in September and will be away for a holiday over the Xmas new year so will definately miss a few matches, it seems that it will now cost money if I wish to lend my ticket. I do seriuosly doubt the ability of the kids on the turnstiles to police this - bearing mind that they still count the entries by writing down the numbers on scraps of paper!! What REALLY makes me worry about this is the sheer horror of the Football Supporters Act (if you aren't familiar please do a search for it) I don't want a return to a situation where all supporters were seen as criminals that had to be controlled and tracked, I don't need an ID card to go to the cinema why do I need one for football? Rant over R
oldsparky and anyone else interested in supporting me I have been contacted by Alan_McGuinness reporter for the Medway Messenger, can you please help me by going to my twitter profile, find and retweet this message... brb_GFC ‏@brb_gfc 2m ST holders put pressure on club over the enforcement of T&C's please tell @Alan_McGuinness in hope of a media story why we are unhappy. RT
Have to agree with Gemini on this one, there has been a massive over reaction just because the club are going to enforce something that you shouldnt be doing anyway! Just because it has been common practice, does not make it right! Seeing some of the drivel written on twitter about it is laughable. It would be interesting to know how many other clubs are adopting the same stance. the only issue i agree with is that the announcement about it has come several months after they have been taking peoples money for the season tickets!
Just tried contacting the ticket office after 30mins of waiting I got cut off! Just wondering when I pick my ticket up, can I also collect my dads?
Yes. Just make sure you have your letter with you and that you know club details for your Dad's ie seat number/account number if required. If you put your applications in together more the better. Because my Son's was attached to mine in their paperwork. When I was there yesterday no one was answering the phone, it was just ringing and ringing.
I'm hoping to go straight from work when I finish today I haven't got my paperwork but both came out of my account and the same time. So if I have my seat number Etc and my card that should be okay right?
I think the reason why I haven't really had much to say about this is that I don't plan to let anyone else go to a match with my season ticket. I think that the club were wrong to not announce this earlier (before people had purchased the product) as I think they should have done this so that people know the rules. Also I believe that this may be breaching regulations as this information should be given before payment is taken. I think that some people are over-reacting on this as I don't think we should worry too much, I know that the ID may not be good in some people's option but I think we will find that a lot of clubs have this in the future, also I am not surprised that they are cracking down on other people using the season ticket by charging £5 each match, however like I said above I believe that the club should have told us more about this before we brought the season tickets as it has created a few problems. I am sure that when you sell a product you can't go and change the terms after it has been sold as this is a breach of some regulations in the Sales of Goods Act 1979. Also I think that it may breach the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Anyway although it may breach these I think there has still been too much of an over-reaction as there has been a lot of people slating Scally and turning Anti-Scally which really annoys me as he has done so much for this club and I think that it is wrong to slate him.
You have unwittingly just hit the nail on the head. Examples the opposite camp appears to be Hoadie who I believe has only just paid out for his first ST - apologises if I'm wrong. I don't believe Gemini is an ST holder. There was some guy on twitter who eventually admitted he only misses one game a season so it did not really affect him, lucky if personal circumstances allow. I'm not sure of Jay's situation. So the opposite camp appears to be people not affected by this, although obviously I'm open to being proven wrong. The question remains, why was this only in a great big message announced YESTERDAY? Also why was the first I saw of a leaflet on this subject, was AFTER they had given me my ST. I suggest the club knew exactly what they were doing in regards to the timing of events. Whether it was the leaflet that prompted the message is to be seen. Maybe the club got flooded with queries and too rightly so.
To me this all seems so pointless - we aren't Madchester there is no black market in tickets and no profits denied to GFC by me lending my ST to someone I already paid for the seat after all! if anything the seat being occupied gives rise to extra monies to the club by sales of food programs etc. Only loyal supporters buy season tickets, we are the folk on the terraces on those freezing nights in January! The fact that "other clubs do it" cuts no ice with me there is simply no need for this ID card scheme nor for draconian restrictions on what I can do with a product that I already spent 400 quid on. A couple of years ago I picked up my son's under 21 season by mistake - (he couldn't go that day) when I got to the ground I saw one of the stewards and was admitted with his ticket without any problem - I knew the steward because I saw him at every home game - surely thats the sort of service our club should provide? I'm not calling anyone at the club rude names, companies sometimes make poor decisions and this seems to be one of those, it can be sorted though Are you listening Gillingham Football club? Roy
I consider myself a loyal supporter but I don't possess the financial capability to pay out for a season ticket, I can only go when I can afford to do it. Are you therefore implying that makes me less of a fan?
Of course not and I appologise if I offended you or anyone else - just pointing out that only a loyal supporter would bother to purchase a season ticket not someone looking to profit in some way from owing a season ticket Roy
http://fansonline.net/gillingham/mb/view.php?id=196965 The above link (wasn't sure if I should link or copy) is from a meeting with Paulo, it suggests the club are open to suggestions to make this work. My suggestion is:- if someone uses a ticket for several members of a family (2 sons who are not always available to go) could it be possible to have 2 identity cards issued against the 1 ticket book. They can't both use it at the same time but it means the ticket is still worth buying as a share deal.
No i am not and never have been a season ticket holder due to being a shift worker. I have always understood that season tickets should not be transferable. I work with many people a lot of which are premier league supporters and they often share a season ticket and when the person that borrows it asks the inevitable question about whether they will get checked at the turnstiles, they always get told "no they dont NORMALLY bother but its a chance you and i are taking by letting you borrow it" So its obviously something you are not meant to be doing. I work on the railway and have a pass to use on the trains.....if i let someone borrow as it has photo ID, if it gets checked then i would be sacked!
To be honest I have to agree with what Gemini and Jay have said. At the end of the day the ticket is to be used by the person who's name is not on the ticket, it is not intended to be used by someone else. I can see the argument that "its my ticket I do the **** I want with it", but the club is right to enforce it, they sold the seat to you for a set price, not for someone else to cheat them out of money for the same seat. The friends for a £5 vouchers allow your family or friends to watch the match for much lower than you normally pay for a matchday ticket. Ok I personally would up the amount of vouchers up to 6 which gives you a bit more leverage on if you miss a match or not. There are also two free match tickets that come in your season-ticket book which you could give to your family or friends instead. On the protest front I think you should be protesting on having the value of your match ticket returned to you in the eventuality that you can not go to a game and have no-one to take up your place. Ok that system could be abused by people getting refunds and then turning up but they have the stipulations there to check. Thats what I would advise anyway. I also admit that it was very poor judgement by the club to make the announcement on the day that they were made available for collection but unfortunately you can't wind back the clock. Queue the abuse...
The Gills Pegleg Firstly I have no desire to abuse you. Can you explain how the Club is being "cheated out of money for the same seat" ? If I have paid the full price for my seat - in advance - and for the ENTIRE season, then NOBODY is permitted to ' purchase ' my seat ( unless I don't want it for Mickey Mouse Cup games ). For league games the Club would not expect to make ANY further money from my seat - because their assumption is that I would occupy it for ALL league games. You do make a good point about STH persuing a refund on tickets for matches they are unable to attend - can we really expect THAT to ever happen- pigs will fly before that happens. I would go so far as to suggest that most, if not all STH would just have to 'take a hit' if they cannot get anyone to use the ticket. I don't accept that people could abuse any refund system - because that would require to physically produce the unused ticket at the Clubs' office.
I'll keep it simple after time of reflection. My rant is not to aim abuse at any other supporter my argument is with the Gillingham FC sales manager Paulo and if I have upset any supporters who are pay on the day (or in advance) I apologise. However, I have made a decision, if the club do not go back on their policy, then I will be joining you pay on the day (or in advance) supporters next season (unless we are in the Championship, unlikely) and reconsidering my OWN position as an ST holder. The reason I exclude Championship because it is the only time likely we may sell out for any games...possibly. League One sell out...No chance.
