Here's the thing. I work in London and alongside some Chelsea fans. Season ticket holders. Not the ones you see on TV drinking red wine in the stands at home matches or those we all remember from our days of visiting Stamford Bridge in the 1980s, but proper ones who were there when they weren't very good.
Anyway, they got their cup final tickets today. Like Everton, there was a point-based system but no ballot. So each one was able to log onto the club website this morning, select a price bracket and 10 minutes later they have an email not only confirming the sale, but also what section in the West Stand they will sit in. So all of them can sit back, relax and plan their day.
The worst element of this revelation came when I described Everton's allocation approach to be greeted with nods all round and the line "yeah, ours used to be like that 10 years ago".
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Application made
Made my application for FA Cup Final tickets via the online club site. Now the wait begins.
I have to say that considering the club is using an automated form, and presumably some type of CRM app behind it, I'm surprised that the confirmation email for the application didn't contain a tracking number of some sort.
I have to say that considering the club is using an automated form, and presumably some type of CRM app behind it, I'm surprised that the confirmation email for the application didn't contain a tracking number of some sort.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
More cup tickets stuff
Another public comment by Robert Elstone on the shortfall in cup final tickets for Everton (and Chelsea). He gets onto talking about touts. The FA has launched a new campaign to Out The Touts. Which I'll be doing if necessary. But only once I've bought a ticket off Mr Tout.
Looks like Chelsea are going to pull off a decent result in Barcelona tonight. That will be Part One of the Grand Plan for Everton to win the FA Cup Final. Chelsea must get to the Champions League Final, must win it and Mr Abramovich will take the entire squad out on a 5-day bender in both Rome and Moscow celebrating. The end result will be that Chels show up at Wembley completely mullered and take not a blind bit of interest in the game. We win the cup. Everyone's happy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8015583.stm
Looks like Chelsea are going to pull off a decent result in Barcelona tonight. That will be Part One of the Grand Plan for Everton to win the FA Cup Final. Chelsea must get to the Champions League Final, must win it and Mr Abramovich will take the entire squad out on a 5-day bender in both Rome and Moscow celebrating. The end result will be that Chels show up at Wembley completely mullered and take not a blind bit of interest in the game. We win the cup. Everyone's happy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8015583.stm
Monday, 27 April 2009
Cup Final allocation of tickets
Everton has announced the system they will use for allocating FA Cup Final tickets to the club's fans. Unsurprisingly, there are not enough tickets to go around. In fact, there are not enough tickets to ensure that every season ticket holder, as the club itself identifies 'some of the most loyal fans', will get to see the side in the final at Wembley on May 30th.
So now the fight for a ticket begins in earnest. Well, actually from midday on Wednesday through to May 6th - the closing date for applications. The official site outlines the application process but if you haven't attended three matches in addition to owning a season ticket, you can forget Wembley. Having reviewed the process again just now, I still have a feeling the club will find itself short even allowing for this reward system. We've played so many extra games this term, I simply can't believe that there won't be significant demand over and above the club's assessment.
A quick peak at the various message boards and comments by Everton's support online reveals every possible emotive fear and doubt about the system Everton has opted for with dispensing it's allocation of tickets. The nagging feeling that the much maligned Box Office will manage to make a pig's ear of the whole thing is a recurring theme. Sadly, there are no alternatives.
In Box Office We Trust.
http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/cup-final-ticket-information.html
Away from Cup Final ticket dilemma, I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping to see Newcastle get beat this evening placing their Premier League future in doubt. No group of fans deserve trips to Peterborough, Doncaster and Blackpool more.
So now the fight for a ticket begins in earnest. Well, actually from midday on Wednesday through to May 6th - the closing date for applications. The official site outlines the application process but if you haven't attended three matches in addition to owning a season ticket, you can forget Wembley. Having reviewed the process again just now, I still have a feeling the club will find itself short even allowing for this reward system. We've played so many extra games this term, I simply can't believe that there won't be significant demand over and above the club's assessment.
A quick peak at the various message boards and comments by Everton's support online reveals every possible emotive fear and doubt about the system Everton has opted for with dispensing it's allocation of tickets. The nagging feeling that the much maligned Box Office will manage to make a pig's ear of the whole thing is a recurring theme. Sadly, there are no alternatives.
In Box Office We Trust.
http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/cup-final-ticket-information.html
Away from Cup Final ticket dilemma, I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping to see Newcastle get beat this evening placing their Premier League future in doubt. No group of fans deserve trips to Peterborough, Doncaster and Blackpool more.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
City
Terrible day. Terrible match, terrible performance and the whole thing overshadowed by the appalling cruciate injury sustained by Phil Jagielka in the second half which not only rules him out from the FA Cup Final, but in all probability, for the next few months.
Jagielka's injury came out of the blue as he chased a ball back towards the half-way line. There was nobody else in sight but it was obvious from Jagielka's reaction as he lay on the pitch that the damage was significant. The news in detail emerging today is both bad news for the club but even more bad news for Phil Jagielka on a personal level as will miss out of (possibly) his biggest day in football later in May. Jags has been Everton's most consistent performer this season, if not the best. His application and constant ability to learn quickly when thrown in against the Premiership's best forwards is a credit to his attitude. I've seen him caught out twice all season and I can't say that I can recall a time when he's been found wanting against the same opponent twice. He got the run-around from Torres in the home derby but there was not repeat in the three matches a few months ago. Same with his experience against Ashley Young. In addition he's made the England squad on a few occasions.
Let's hope Jags makes a swift and successful recovery.
Centre-half is actually an area at the club we have a good deal of strength in. Lescott, Jagielka and Yobo are all good players. Yobo and Lescott were a tight unit until Jags came through last season. They'll now be responsible for containing Drogba and Anelka in May.
Fair play to Moyes for (still) refusing to moan about our injury blight. We've now lost three first-11 players for the season in the shape of Jags, Arteta and Yakubu. Throw in Anichebe, Valente, who are also gone for the season and the lengthy time lost for Vaughan and you have a small squad stripped bare. It's a credit to the rest that we've managed not only to compete but do so very successfully.
I hope that City was a blip. Very possibly a case of After The Lord Mayor's Show, or a game too far. It would be a shame if the season dribbled away now. We've got a series of tough matches left leading to Wembley on May 30th.
Jagielka's injury came out of the blue as he chased a ball back towards the half-way line. There was nobody else in sight but it was obvious from Jagielka's reaction as he lay on the pitch that the damage was significant. The news in detail emerging today is both bad news for the club but even more bad news for Phil Jagielka on a personal level as will miss out of (possibly) his biggest day in football later in May. Jags has been Everton's most consistent performer this season, if not the best. His application and constant ability to learn quickly when thrown in against the Premiership's best forwards is a credit to his attitude. I've seen him caught out twice all season and I can't say that I can recall a time when he's been found wanting against the same opponent twice. He got the run-around from Torres in the home derby but there was not repeat in the three matches a few months ago. Same with his experience against Ashley Young. In addition he's made the England squad on a few occasions.
Let's hope Jags makes a swift and successful recovery.
Centre-half is actually an area at the club we have a good deal of strength in. Lescott, Jagielka and Yobo are all good players. Yobo and Lescott were a tight unit until Jags came through last season. They'll now be responsible for containing Drogba and Anelka in May.
Fair play to Moyes for (still) refusing to moan about our injury blight. We've now lost three first-11 players for the season in the shape of Jags, Arteta and Yakubu. Throw in Anichebe, Valente, who are also gone for the season and the lengthy time lost for Vaughan and you have a small squad stripped bare. It's a credit to the rest that we've managed not only to compete but do so very successfully.
I hope that City was a blip. Very possibly a case of After The Lord Mayor's Show, or a game too far. It would be a shame if the season dribbled away now. We've got a series of tough matches left leading to Wembley on May 30th.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Blue Is The Colour
Forgot about this. We're wearing blue for the Final. Result. I couldn't bear the idea of us walking out onto the pitch in either that pathetic white number or, worst still, the acid-house top. Question is, will it be a final outing for the existing Umbro top, or the introduction of the rumoured retro le Coq '84 incarnation?
And by the way, is this the best photo ever?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
