A potential PR disaster

[Bielzibubz]

OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our most recent first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

 

[Mick]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,22:06)]OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

The latter for sure ..... given our first promotion season was 1971/72.

Ah nostalgia moment .... yes that Tuesday night away game at Scunthorpe that clinched the club's first ever promotion. No problems with tickets in those days.

 

[Bielzibubz]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ Nov. 17 2006,22:11)]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,22:06)]OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

The latter for sure ..... given our first promotion season was 1971/72.

Ah nostalgia moment .... yes that Tuesday night away game at Scunthorpe that clinched the club's first ever promotion. No problems with tickets in those days.

*edited*

Smartarse

 

[Soton Blue]

I assume that Terry Johnson is still in the side

 

[The Late One]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,22:06)]OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our most recent first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

I was only using the cost of coaches as a balance for the three games mentioned. However it is worth noting that car to Leeds may be £5 each but how much will it cost to go to Spurs ?

The loyalty (I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it) should be based on the season that the match is in therefore 2006/07 season.

Lets face it they cannot sort things out with the STH they have got let alone bringing in last season and beyond.

 

[SW12 Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ Nov. 17 2006,22:11)]Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Can I borrow your car please if it only burns 20 quid in petrol on a return journey to Leeds?

 

[McNasty]

Quote[/b] (SW12 Shrimper @ Nov. 17 2006,22:33)]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ Nov. 17 2006,22:11)]Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Can I borrow your car please if it only burns 20 quid in petrol on a return journey to Leeds?

He does live in Sheffield.

 

[The Late One]

Quote[/b] (SW12 Shrimper @ Nov. 17 2006,22:33)]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ Nov. 17 2006,22:11)]Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Can I borrow your car please if it only burns 20 quid in petrol on a return journey to Leeds?

£20.00 = approx 5 gallons so with the Leeds trip being 454 miles your car does 90.8 mpg

 

[Soton Blue]

Quote[/b] (mcnasty @ Nov. 17 2006,22:37)]

Quote[/b] (SW12 Shrimper @ Nov. 17 2006,22:33)]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ Nov. 17 2006,22:11)]Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Can I borrow your car please if it only burns 20 quid in petrol on a return journey to Leeds?

He does live in Sheffield.    

If he lives in Sheffield we must take into account the 200 mile distance from the Hall.

If we divide the diatnce you live from Roots Hall by 3 and then multiply by the number of away games attended we create a loyalty rating for this season. We then need to multiply by the number of seasons that you have supported the Blues and then divide by the number you first thought of....

Get the message!

 

[The Late One]

Or you say sod loyalty and just let all the STH camp out overnight sound familiar

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

It seems as if we have been allocated fewer tickets than there are ST holders. So, as has been done in the past, the ST holders are asked to indicate whether or not they are wanting Spurs tickets. Those that wish to apply are then put into a draw for the tickets. Simple, fair, been done before, doesn't disadvantage those who can't get to RH on a working Wednesday.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,21:06)]Because you are a season card holder that happens to have a job that allows you to afford to go to away games week in week out does NOT make you a more loyal supporter than lets say someone like myself, who although a season card holder cannot attend that many away games due to finances and work commitments.

Supporter loyalty, and thus preference for high profile tickets, is not, and should not be based on a supporters financial ability to attend away games.

But that's just my opinion.

D62SUBOY - An opinion that i agree with 100%. I can not get to many games at all but does that make me any less a supporter of Southend United?

Should i dump my beloved Blues and start to Follow Aberdeen???

 

[Upminster Blue]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,22:06)]OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our most recent first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

I make The Late One absolutely spot on.

No system will be perfect, but the point is that there are many systems that are far, far better than what we've got.

I've only missed 4 away games (league and cup) in the last 3 years and have been going away regularly for nearly 20 years, in mostly very, very lean years. I think it's only fair, as a loyal customer, to get some form of preference for my past loyalty.

What is really ****ing me off is the club's attitude, especially as they should have learnt their lesson from the Man Ure game. Effectively, what they're saying to me is "take a day off work (which I can't afford to do), queue for 3+ hours and after all that effort there's a good chance that you wont get a ticket because they've gone to all the Johnny come latelys who rarely attend away games and who wont be renewing their season tickets if we get relegated".

This is in no way meant as a pop at our newer fans. All I'm asking for, as is The Late One, is a bit of fairness and loyalty from the Club. I don't think that's unreasonable. After all, I'll be renewing my season ticket for next season, the season after, the season after that and so on irrespective of which league we're in. I can absolutely guarantee if we're relegated 2,000+ of our newer season ticket holders will not be renewing.

 

[I 8 COLU]

Quote[/b] (Upminster Blue @ Nov. 18 2006,01:06)]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,22:06)]OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our most recent first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

I make The Late One absolutely spot on.

No system will be perfect, but the point is that there are many systems that are far, far better than what we've got.

I've only missed 4 away games (league and cup) in the last 3 years and have been going away regularly for nearly 20 years, in mostly very, very lean years.  I think it's only fair, as a loyal customer, to get some form of preference for my past loyalty.  

What is really ****ing me off is the club's attitude, especially as they should have learnt their lesson from the Man Ure game.  Effectively, what they're saying to me is "take a day off work (which I can't afford to do), queue for 3+ hours and after all that effort there's a good chance that you wont get a ticket because they've gone to all the Johnny come latelys who rarely attend away games and who wont be renewing their season tickets if we get relegated".

This is in no way meant as a pop at our newer fans.  All I'm asking for, as is The Late One, is a bit of fairness and loyalty from the Club.  I don't think that's unreasonable.  After all, I'll be renewing my season ticket for next season, the season after, the season after that and so on irrespective of which league we're in.  I can absolutely guarantee if we're relegated 2,000+ of our newer season ticket holders will not be renewing.

Ok a lot of us loyal supporters in different ways
I myself have supported SOUTHEND UNITED since 1971 and have had an st for the last few years, and have followed them throw thick & thin, just like many others have done home and away up to 1991 when I moved to north Norfolk, since then I have only really been going to every home game, a return trip of 260 odd miles and 5 hrs spent driving each game. Does this make me, and all the other supporters that live away from the team that we still chose to support and show allegiance to, any less a loyal supporter than say those who live local and can afford to go to the away games because they don’t have the expense of travelling to the home games.

 

[Bielzibubz]

Quote[/b] (The Late One @ Nov. 17 2006,22:37)]

Quote[/b] (SW12 Shrimper @ Nov. 17 2006,22:33)]

Quote[/b] (Mick @ Nov. 17 2006,22:11)]Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Can I borrow your car please if it only burns 20 quid in petrol on a return journey to Leeds?

£20.00 = approx 5 gallons so with the Leeds trip being 454 miles your car does 90.8 mpg

Four travellers + the driver = £25. This may not be adequate to cover the costs to lets say Leeds but it more than compensates the owner and driver of the vehicle when it comes to more localised away games.

I rest my case m'lud.

As far as I'm concerned supporter loyalty is based on how many years you happen to have held your season card for. Not how many away games you happen to have attended during the current season.

This really is going no where. Supporter loyalty is subjective and many people are going to have their own versions and opinions as to what constitutes loyalty and where it starts.

I do however agree that a formula that benefits the loyalty shown by supporters needs to be drawn up.
I'll leave that to far more able individuals than myself though.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Southend United touts itself as a "business". A business would reward loyal customers with a prize of some kind. It wouldn't fling open its doors and shower gifts on people who come along every other week; whilst those customers are appreciated, they cannot be considered equals to those who come along week-in, week-out, rain or shine, and support the business. The vast majority of businesses have worked this one out very quickly and issued 'loyalty cards' ~ reach a certain level and you'll be eligible for some sort of reward. It's a simple concept and, despite one or two obvious examples of blatant scamming, it works.

No doubt both Ron Martin and Geoffrey King consider themselves as businessmen. They both know how businesses work and, one would assume, they both know that the customer is all-important in making that business work. Martin has, for the most part, been able to work out how the football supporter works for he has become one during his tenure as owner of Southend United. King, on the other hand, still has no concept of what a football supporter is and, more often than not, appears to hold the football supporter in absolute contempt. His job quite simply is to get cash into the coffers and keep the club afloat and, to be honest, there's nothing wrong with that.

But, other the past month, there have been two clear examples that the people running Southend United still have no idea what it is to be a football supporter. Owners will come and go but there will always be a core element of supporters to keep that club alive for, without them, a club is dead. Football clubs shouldn't need to work on loyalty schemes; you pick your club and you stick with them through thick-and-thin, there should be no switching allegiences when the going gets tough. However occasionally there are times when there is no option but to work with a loyalty scheme and these games against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur very clearly demonstrate that to everyone but the owners of the club.

I've followed the Shrimpers since the mid 70s but, for obvious reasons, my attendance has been somewhat erratic over the last three years. (The recent run of success is down to me; when I left in December 2003 we were sh!te; now look at us.) But I already know at least two STHs who are not intending to go to White Hart Lane who, if they were lucky enough to procure a ticket, give it to me if I should so wish to travel over the England during that week and attend the game. That's not right. Why should I get any preference over a core element who have followed Southend home and away through some very difficult times this season? No way. But that's how it starting to look: ticket distribution in a way that doesn't reflect loyalty during this hard season.

The scenario now is that those fans who are loyal (anyone who has attended over 20 games this season is far more loyal than me!) will be trying to find a way to watch the game ~ a historic game for Southend United ~ and will probably be trying to infiltrate the home sections; so much for segregation. Those fans DESERVE a ticket, not season ticket holders. And, much as I think a club shouldn't need a loyalty scheme, these past few weeks have demonstrated that maybe they do.

Hopefully the club will learn from this ... but I strongly suspect that they won't. People like Scriv and Steve might suggest ways to improve the reward of loyal fans but businessmen like Geoffrey King are pig-headed when it comes to making money. They don't care so long as the tills are ringing ...

 

[I 8 COLU]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 18 2006,08:29)]. Supporter loyalty is subjective and many people are going to have their own versions and opinions as to what constitutes loyalty and where it starts.

I do however agree that a formula that benefits the loyalty shown by supporters needs to be drawn up.
I'll leave that to far more able individuals than myself though.

well said, Absolutely right.  :;):one loyal supporter now making hes way to the ground, see you all there.l

 

[Hooly]

Quote[/b] (The Late One @ Nov. 17 2006,21:32)]They could have easily used Col Ewe as a starting point. It is worth pointing out however that it was the Trust that came up with the arrangements for the Col Ewe ticketing (i.e. stubs from Burnley or Leeds).

Very commendable in it's way.  But would the club not have the right to say back to us "where are all these true fans that this scheme was set up to help?"  They could justifiably point out that they didn't actually bother to turn out for Cull Ewe as some of the tickets ended up going on general sale.  

FFS we only got 970 odd places there and the vouchered STH's or non seaso travellers, who you're all claiming should get priority, didn't take up the allocation in full.  Doesn't that give the club licence to sort of drive a hole in this loyalty type argument?  

 

[Hooly]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Nov. 18 2006,08:31)]The scenario now is that those fans who are loyal (anyone who has attended over <span style='color:blue'>2</span> games this season is far more loyal than me!)

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (I 8 COLU @ Nov. 18 2006,07:28)]

Quote[/b] (Upminster Blue @ Nov. 18 2006,01:06)]

Quote[/b] (D62SUBOY @ Nov. 17 2006,22:06)]OK, point taken but......I've been to approximately 50% of away games this season but choose not to use the Trust coaches. Mainly because it's far cheaper to go in a car with 3 or 4 others.

Leeds United away £22 + £5 petrol = £27

Also, where does loyalty start?
Supporter since 1984. Season card holder for six years. Attends approximately 50% of away games a season.

As opposed to......

A supporter since the end of our most recent first promotion season. A season card holder since our second and attends 85% of away games a season.

Who is the most loyal and deserving of limited available tickets?

I make The Late One absolutely spot on.

No system will be perfect, but the point is that there are many systems that are far, far better than what we've got.

I've only missed 4 away games (league and cup) in the last 3 years and have been going away regularly for nearly 20 years, in mostly very, very lean years.  I think it's only fair, as a loyal customer, to get some form of preference for my past loyalty.  

What is really ****ing me off is the club's attitude, especially as they should have learnt their lesson from the Man Ure game.  Effectively, what they're saying to me is "take a day off work (which I can't afford to do), queue for 3+ hours and after all that effort there's a good chance that you wont get a ticket because they've gone to all the Johnny come latelys who rarely attend away games and who wont be renewing their season tickets if we get relegated".

This is in no way meant as a pop at our newer fans.  All I'm asking for, as is The Late One, is a bit of fairness and loyalty from the Club.  I don't think that's unreasonable.  After all, I'll be renewing my season ticket for next season, the season after, the season after that and so on irrespective of which league we're in.  I can absolutely guarantee if we're relegated 2,000+ of our newer season ticket holders will not be renewing.

Ok a lot of us loyal supporters in different ways
I myself have supported SOUTHEND UNITED since 1971 and have had an st for the last few years, and have followed them throw thick & thin, just like many others have done home and away up to 1991 when I moved to north Norfolk, since then I have only really been going to every home game, a return trip of 260 odd miles and 5 hrs spent driving each game. Does this make me, and all the other supporters that live away from the team that we still chose to support and show allegiance to, any less a loyal supporter than say those who live local and can afford to go to the away games because they don’t have the expense of travelling to the home games.

Well said