Queue Jumpers: The Facts

[Sergeant_Troy]

I dropped my son off after the match and returned to Roots Hall with my tent, sleeping bag, etc. and joined the queue of about 50 people at around 10.30pm. The line continued to grow steadily until about 12 midnight when it numbered about 100.  The line didn't start to grow again until about 4am.  Between 7.30am and 9.00am the people at the front left the queue in order to pack their night gear in the car, buy some tea, go the the loo, etc.  They then returned to their rightful place in the queue. I also counted 8 or 9 ticket staff making their way through the front of the queue to get to work. People further back could be forgiven then for thinking people were jumping in when they were not. In point of fact I only witness one attempt and that has reported already elsewhere on this forum. I did witness lots of people mistaking the queue for tea thinking it was the queue for tickets.  I hope this clarifies things a little.  By the way, at risk of infuriating everyone, I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

You can't remember the Hull game?

Lucky man.

 

[TtD]

Only annoyed with the disappearing tickets, and the seeming presence of touts in the queue.

Anyone who queued that long to get their tickets, for themselves, are welcome to them.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (Sergeant_Troy @ Nov. 02 2006,13:01)]By the way, at risk of infuriating everyone, I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

See you at the Preston game?

 

[Prodigal Son]

Quote[/b] (Sergeant_Troy @ Nov. 02 2006,13:01)]I dropped my son off after the match and returned to Roots Hall with my tent, sleeping bag, etc. and joined the queue of about 50 people at around 10.30pm. The line continued to grow steadily until about 12 midnight when it numbered about 100.  The line didn't start to grow again until about 4am.  Between 7.30am and 9.00am the people at the front left the queue in order to pack their night gear in the car, buy some tea, go the the loo, etc.  They then returned to their rightful place in the queue. I also counted 8 or 9 ticket staff making their way through the front of the queue to get to work. People further back could be forgiven then for thinking people were jumping in when they were not. In point of fact I only witness one attempt and that has reported already elsewhere on this forum. I did witness lots of people mistaking the queue for tea thinking it was the queue for tickets.  I hope this clarifies things a little.  By the way, at risk of infuriating everyone, I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

Where are you sitting, it would be great to meet up?

 

[EastStandBlue]

Quote[/b] (Sergeant_Troy @ Nov. 02 2006,13:01)]I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

Hence the reason the system laid in place by the club is faulty...

 

[MC BLUES]

Quote[/b] (EastStandBlue @ Nov. 02 2006,17:38)]

Quote[/b] (Sergeant_Troy @ Nov. 02 2006,13:01)]I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

Hence the reason the system laid in place by the club is faulty...

I have to agree. I really cannot understand why the Club were unable to operate a priority system based on match credits. I dont accept the short notice excuse either. If Col Ewe can do it for their fairly recent big games against Chelsea and Ipswich, not to mention their games against us, then why are we less well organised??

It's all very well claiming that its just inevitable that Man U fans will grab up to an extra 1000 tickets, but this should have been made much more difficult for them, and at least a little easier for our loyal fans to get their ticket.

To be honest it sucks, big time, and although I have my ticket, I feel sick for all our regular fans who like me have travelled on a cold night to watch us lose against the likes of Boston in a game played on sand, and yet some of these same loyal fans have lost out here through inconsiderate planning!!!

Not happy or impressed...  

 

[EastStandBlue]

If anyone at the club had any sense and wanted to ensure truly loyal fans got their tickets first, they should have made it so those who went to a game before the draw was made or the leeds away game on the saturday were the stubs needed to stand a chance of obtaining a Man Utd ticket.

Now, We're lumbered with a large number of ticket touts and Man United fans in the home end that could've been used by actual fans of the club and not the day trippers.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

The real question is: does the club actually care? Let's face it, they've got more money through the ticket office in the past three days (c. £250,000?) than they probably have done so for some time. What with the television money and other sources of income, it's a massive game for Southend United and they probably won't lose much sleep over the fact that a handful of fans who might consider themselves to have been extremely loyal to the club through thick-and-thin didn't get tickets whilst others who were possibly less deserving managed to secure one of these golden tickets. It's all about money and there's not a great deal of loyalty in business ...

 

[EastStandBlue]

It would've proved to have been beneficial for the club... As i can seriously see there being certain elements of trouble in the stands on Tuesday.

Some Man United fans i've met this side of the Watford Gap are pig ignorant when it comes to the lower leagues of football and will undoubtedly celebrate should Man United score... And lets just say tempers are a little frayed in the stands at the moment.

 

[MC BLUES]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Nov. 02 2006,18:38)]The real question is: does the club actually care? Let's face it, they've got more money through the ticket office in the past three days (c. £250,000) than they probably have for some time. What with the television money and other sources of income, it's a massive game for Southend United and they probably won't lose much sleep over the fact that a handful of fans who might consider themselves to have been extremely loyal to the club through thick-and-thin didn't get tickets whilst others who probably were possibly less deserving managed to secure one of these golden tickets. It's all about money and there's not a great deal of loyalty in business ...

You are probably right.

However, you, like me, have seen the desperate times when the club had the police outside throwing people in. I'm sure you can remember if you got there early enough you might have got a game. I can remember going through the old turnstiles and saying 'two please' and then asked do you want defenders or forwards!!!

I know you get my point... need I really say anymore?

Shame though, I really do feel for our loyal fans who have missed out, I really do..!

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (MC BLUES @ Nov. 02 2006,19:46)]Shame though, I really do feel for our loyal fans who have missed out, I really do!

So do I. But what's done is done. The consolation (if there is any for some people) is that the game is live on television. Do what we're doing here in Javea; gather some mates, have a few beers and a bit of banter (although get the landlord to throw out any Man Ure fans who might stroll into our part of the bar) and just enjoy the experience of Southend United live on television again and this time against one helluva opposition ...

 

[MC BLUES]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Nov. 02 2006,18:54)]

Quote[/b] (MC BLUES @ Nov. 02 2006,19:46)]Shame though, I really do feel for our loyal fans who have missed out, I really do!

So do I. But what's done is done. The consolation (if there is any for some people) is that the game is live on television. Do what we're doing here in Javea; gather some mates, have a few beers and a bit of banter (although get the landlord to throw out any Man Ure fans who might stroll into our part of the bar) and just enjoy the experience of Southend United live on television again and this time against one helluva opposition ...

Fair comment..I sincerely hope that you and anyone else watching it on telly really enjoys the occasion.

 

[The Late One]

Quote[/b] (MC BLUES @ Nov. 02 2006,18:21)]

I have to agree. I really cannot understand why the Club were unable to operate a priority system based on match credits. I dont accept the short notice excuse either. If Col Ewe can do it for their fairly recent big games against Chelsea and Ipswich, not to mention their games against us, then why are we less well organised??

It's all very well claiming that its just inevitable that Man U fans will grab up to an extra 1000 tickets, but this should have been made much more difficult for them, and at least a little easier for our loyal fans to get their ticket.

To be honest it sucks, big time, and although I have my ticket, I feel sick for all our regular fans who like me have travelled on a cold night to watch us lose against the likes of Boston in a game played on sand, and yet some of these same loyal fans have lost out here through inconsiderate planning!!!

Not happy or impressed...  

Pity they did not consult with the Shrimpers Trust how to reward regular supporters, after all it was them that came up with the ticket stub idea to get a Col Ewe ticket.

See http://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/default.asp?page_id=256&ppid=195

 

[GodblessArthurRowley]

And dont forget one thing we will be playing a mixture of Man Utd Reserves and Youth team players.Anybody who seriously expects Wayne Rooney,Ryan Giggs etc to be within 200 miles of Roots Hall is deluding themselves.

 

[maldonblue]

Quote[/b] (Sergeant_Troy @ Nov. 02 2006,13:01)]I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

Fair play to you mate but this is the one reason why I would rather watch this game in the pub and spend my 30 notes on alcohol!

Too many people in that ground on Tuesday will be there for the occasion and/or the opposition and not because of Southend.

Like someone else said, I go to Southend games to watch and support Southend, not to see the opposition!

 

[Wickford blues]

All the top clubs run loyalty point systems, the more games you go to the more points you get, and when it comes to big games where tickets are limited, fans with most points take priority. No standing out in the cold all night, or indeed for 3 hours as I did, even though I'm a season ticket holder. Come on Southend sort it out before the next round, it will be worse if we draw a London club, say Chelsea/Arsenal/Spurs!!

 

[The Late One]

Quote[/b] (MC BLUES @ Nov. 02 2006,18:21)]

Quote[/b] (EastStandBlue @ Nov. 02 2006,17:38)]

Quote[/b] (Sergeant_Troy @ Nov. 02 2006,13:01)]I can't remember the last Southend match I attended but I followed the rules laid down by the club as well as giving up a night's sleep and I don't have the slightest guilt at having purchased two tickets.

Hence the reason the system laid in place by the club is faulty...

I have to agree. I really cannot understand why the Club were unable to operate a priority system based on match credits. I dont accept the short notice excuse either. If Col Ewe can do it for their fairly recent big games against Chelsea and Ipswich, not to mention their games against us, then why are we less well organised??

It's all very well claiming that its just inevitable that Man U fans will grab up to an extra 1000 tickets, but this should have been made much more difficult for them, and at least a little easier for our loyal fans to get their ticket.

To be honest it sucks, big time, and although I have my ticket, I feel sick for all our regular fans who like me have travelled on a cold night to watch us lose against the likes of Boston in a game played on sand, and yet some of these same loyal fans have lost out here through inconsiderate planning!!!

Not happy or impressed...  

Pity they did not consult with the Shrimpers Trust how to reward regular supporters, after all it was them that came up with the ticket stub idea to get a Col Ewe ticket.

See http://www.shrimperstrust.co.uk/default.asp?page_id=256&ppid=195

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (MC BLUES @ Nov. 02 2006,19:58)]Fair comment..I sincerely hope that you and anyone else watching it on telly really enjoys the occasion.

Oh, I will. It probably won't be as enjoyable as actually being in the stadium though (although I hope that the occasion isn't spoilt by the antics of the Witchsmeller Pursuivants wandering through the stands searching out the evil Man Ure fans) ...

 

[MC BLUES]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Nov. 02 2006,20:09)]

Quote[/b] (MC BLUES @ Nov. 02 2006,19:58)]Fair comment..I sincerely hope that you and anyone else watching it on telly really enjoys the occasion.

Oh, I will. It probably won't be as enjoyable as actually being in the stadium though (although I hope that the occasion isn't spoilt by the antics of the Witchsmeller Pursuivants wandering through the stands searching out the evil Man Ure fans) ...

I do hope they haven't managed to blag tickets as well, it's worrying enough as it is...