Ticket News Sittingbourne FC H Isuzu FA Trophy - 1st February 2025 3pm

[Stuart W]

I like to think that the club would have had more foresight into the financial implications of opening the whole ground up for a game like this.
It was pretty obvious that Sittingbourne would want to effectively bring the whole town down to the game.
1) Comparatively local game
2) Furthest they had got in what to them at least is a very important competition
3) They are scoring goals for fun this season and are in line for a promotion
4) They are playing a team three divisions higher who are deemed to be be a “big” club at non-league level. Equivalent of us playing at Tottenham or Arsenal.

I would think that they could easily sell 1,000 - 1,500 tickets if they were made available.

And from our side of things, I certainly know of people who are not going purely due to the West Stand being closed. I am sure the same applied to the South Stand until the club saw sense.
It also has a major impact on the atmosphere (or lack of) which transmits through to the players.

This is not a Tuesday afternoon midweek league reserve game or not even an Essex Senior Cup tie; treat the competition (especially at the last 16 stage), with more respect and be rewarded with a 4-5,000 size crowd, rather than patting yourselves on the back for saving a few shillings on stewarding costs.

 

[Supershrimper]

Don't want to annoy people but Sittingbourne are being advised to purchase in block Q of the West stand

Lights touch paper and sits back to watch Shrimperzone explode

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Don't want to annoy people but Sittingbourne are being advised to purchase in block Q of the West stand

Lights touch paper and sits back to watch Shrimperzone expload

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OK so surely only a matter of time til they open V/W block .. imagine getting a proper atmosphere going I'm certain the players would respond ..

 

[Grayson]

OK so surely only a matter of time til they open V/W block .. imagine getting a proper atmosphere going I'm certain the players would respond ..

I would have thought the opposite, that they won't open the West for home fans at all if they are using a block for away.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Ticket office not open via phone but the message says open from 9.30

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I would have thought the opposite, that they won't open the West for home fans at all if they are using a block for away.

OK well maybe they'll shift all the Sittingbourne fans into one area so they can get their own chants going. This is all a bit of a mess. Maybe they'll note for the future .. if it was the whole ground open I reckon we'd have sold 5k at least by now.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Over 30 extra sold in Block Q already and its not even been announced on their own twitter/× yet.

Now been announced. Will be interesting to see how many more they sell.

Also I see our home North Bank allocation is nearing capacity.

 

[Shrimper]

So they'll open it for Sittingbourne fans but not us, originally? **** poor

 

[Supershrimper]

Over 30 extra sold in Block Q already and its not even been announced on their own twitter/× yet.

Could be home fans thinking the west is open

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Could be home fans thinking the west is open

It's now on Sittingbournes twitter/×

 

[Essex Exile]

The club are learning a lesson the hard way
I fear this is making us look very amateurish

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Finally opened at 10, got through within a minute and swapped my seats from the East to the South Upper.

 

[Fitz]

All a bit of a mess, in hindsight should just have treated as a normal fixture and we would have got a c5k crowd

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher is keen to sign a new goalkeeper ahead of tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie against Sittingbourne.

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Decisions to make - for Southend United boss Kevin Maher (Image: FOCUS IMAGES)


By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher is keen to sign a new goalkeeper ahead of tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie against Sittingbourne.

With Collin Andeng Ndi sidelined with a hamstring issue, Nathan Harness - who is on a month long loan from MK Dons - is Blues’ only option between the sticks this weekend.

And Maher is looking to make another signing.

“Yes, we’re still looking of course,” said the Shrimpers boss when asked about the goalkeeping situation.

“With Collin injured it means we’re going to have to push on and we know it’s an area we need to look at.”

Maher is believed to have held talks with one target but looks set to be without Andeng Ndi for a considerable amount of time.

The shot-stopper injured his hamstring in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge and scans have now shown up the seriousness of the setback.

“He’s had a scan on his hamstring and it looks like he will be out for a period now,” said Maher.

“It looks like it’s going to be a longer one.”

However, Andeng Ndi will not be Blues’ only absentee as centre-back Adam Crowther remains sidelined with a knee problem along with midfielder Cav Miley who has injured his ankle.

“Crowths is going to be out for at least another few weeks,” said Maher.

“He will have to go back in and have another scan to see where it is, probably in the middle of next month.

“Cav has gone to have a check up today so we’ll know more after that but hopefully it won’t be too bad.”

Miley missed Tuesday night’s 2-0 win against AFC Fylde at Roots Hall, in a game which saw Macauley Bonne taken off at half-time due to illness.

And Maher is not yet sure if the striker will be well enough to feature this weekend.

“Macca had to come off with an illness at half-time the other night,” said Maher.

“It was getting progressively worse throughout the first half.

“That was disappointing but it gave Hops (Tom Hopper) the chance to come on.

“We’ll have to wait and see closer to Saturday how Macca is and if he can play.

“He’s been ill and we’ve got one or two bits of illness around the place so we’ve got to be careful.”

Blues’ new midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillon is cup-tied for the contest having played for Slough Town in a previous round.

 

[rigsby]

So they'll open it for Sittingbourne fans but not us, originally? **** poor

Q is a separate bit with its own bar so I see the logic.

Better still would be if they had just asked those of us I the North to move to the West and opened up the whole North fro Sittingbourne

 

[Smiffy]

Sorry, but this has now become a shambles unfortunately. Away fans in Block Q of the west stand. WTF!

If, we get through and another home tie. All stands open, no excuses.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

SOUTHEND United take on the most in-form team in the country at Roots Hall this weekend.

Read more on this story


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FA Trophy action - for Southend United boss Kevin Maher (Image: FOCUS IMAGES)


By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United take on the most in-form team in the country at Roots Hall this weekend.

The Shrimpers host Isthmian League South East Division side Sittingbourne in the the fifth round of the FA Trophy.

And Blues boss Kevin Maher is taking nothing for granted against a team who are unbeaten in their last 27 matches.

“It’s unbelievable what they’ve done and we will treat them with the utmost respect like we do every opponent,” said Maher.

“It will be no different and we’ll look at their threats.

“They’ve been so consistent this season and they’ve had some great results in this competition so far so we know we’ve got to be ready.

“We have huge respect for them and know the danger they pose.

“We’ve got to focus on ourselves, what we do and how we play and it will be important to hit our standards.”

Sittingbourne have sold out their allocation of 815 tickets for the tie and remain in talks with the Shrimpers to be given more seats.

But Blues are also heading into the contest in good form having won five of their last six games.

The Shrimpers have triumphed twice in the past six days.

And Maher is now looking to keep the good run going.

“We got a good result and a good performance at Dagenham and we followed it up midweek against Fylde like we spoke about having to do,” said the Blues boss.

“We’re pleased we were able to do that and I think it was important.

“It’s the stage of the season now where you really need to put points on the board and we’ve done that.

“Saturday is the FA Trophy but it’s a chance to finish the week off strongly.”

And Maher is looking forward to the contest.

“We’re coming up against a manager (Ryan Maxwell) I know well and they’ve done brilliantly,” said Maher.

“They’re in great form and we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s a break from the league but it’s a good one and it’s going to be a good atmosphere as they’ve sold a lot of tickets.

“All credit to them and the run they’re on breeds confidence.

“They will be confident and looking to cause an upset but we’ll be ready.”

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Q is a separate bit with its own bar so I see the logic.

Better still would be if they had just asked those of us I the North to move to the West and opened up the whole North fro Sittingbourne

Q is still accessible from the South I thought. Maybe they will put something in place to stop access

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

Bit of a cheek giving Sittingbourne supporters a block in the west yet denying the club's own supporters

 

[rigsby]

Sorry, but this has now become a shambles unfortunately. Away fans in Block Q of the west stand. WTF!

If, we get through and another home tie. All stands open, no excuses.

Depends on who we draw if at home. Less than 400 away fans then South lower for them.

Then open the whole West and North for home fans with no restrictions. With a take up of probably 50% across all those seats , its a great chance to allow migration from the two stands by home fans. In a totally safe test

Absolutely the best way forward for RH. Create home advantage rather than give it away.