195 tickets for us at Sittingbourne!

[lowerbourneshot]

Again, disagree

Most would have been at Solihull and Oldham, hence my belief that those that go the extra yard should be rewarded. Just my view Alex!

Disagree. What about the fans that have been to every away game and made their own way there and not on a non affiliated to club supporters coach

I can think of 5 names that I would be surprised if they didn't get a ticket in this random ballot

[Peter macdonald]

Most would have been at Solihull and Oldham, hence my belief that those that go the extra yard should be rewarded. Just my view Alex!

Disagree. What about the fans that have been to every away game and made their own way there and not on a non affiliated to club supporters coach

I would say there are 80 that go to virtually all the away games. If I was in charge and knowing them all I would make sure they got a ticket before corporates, directors mates and players. Hope that covers it all now.

Totally agree Brian, I would say closer to 200 either every game or a big percentage of away games, that would have been me in the past but not anymore due to work and a couple of other things, it’s simple the 195 should go to regular away attendees, 195 is poor though!

[Wanderer]

Firstly of all the shots away group is a keen supporter and work with many organisation linked with the club. The club has done everything to the best of its ability to make this as fair as possible. Plus the list proved by the away group people will also need to be season ticket holders to get a chance of a ticket.

Sorry I have no idea what you are on about. Of course the list can only include season tickets holders but L.wfooty could you please explain why you should receive a ticket ahead of me? If the club was being fair surely we would both be put into a ballot, that is being fair, not giving you preferential treatment.

[Wanderer]

The away travel group season ticket holders should get first dibs over any once in a while away supporter, they've earned it. This will be followed by corporates and who do you know at the club; and don't forget the players allocation. I reckon 100 will be left for season ticket holders.

Brian, why should corporates be given away tickeys, they don't usually go to away games, so why should they go when there is such a limited supply. There are no corporate facilites at Sittingbourne, they will be stood in the wind and rain near a corner flag with no cover. Players allocation should also be very limited in a game such as this.

[Wanderer]

I don't think they are "official", no. What they obviously are is supporters who are prepared to travel to away games. Good luck to them if the Club chooses to make a small allocation to the season ticket holders among them.

I am bemused by the apparent idea that it’s OK to prioritise ST holders but not if they are also members of the Away Travel Club. That makes no sense.

Old Bob, as I have said above, the Away Travel Group are not official and yes ther are prepared to go to travel to away games (the name of the group is a bit of a giveaway), but they had the oppotunity to be affiliated to the club but they refused and said they wanted to be independent. If they agreed if would be difficult argue against them getting ticket priority but they refused.

Of course season ticket holders should get priority, it is mentioned in the sales pitch that being a season ticket holder will give you prioriry in games where there is limited tickets, it does not say that you have priority but will have to wait your turn behind unofficial other groupings.

[Wanderer]

I can think of 5 names that I would be surprised if they didn't get a ticket in this random ballot

Go on then name them.

[FloridaPhil]

You’ll wait a while I’m afraid. Eastleigh would always attract numbers, and BS is a decent day out. From what I see, Sittingbourne is an awful ground, in the middle of nowhere with poor transport links and no pubs. This is clearly a game for the diehards and I stand by my comment about not taking 200.

I do agree with you regard re the Away Travel group though, up until a couple of years ago I didn’t miss a game, home and away including friendlies, for 10 years. I travelled independently all those times and I would be fuming if a group had been given priority over tickets in that time. There should be no exceptions, ST holders that want a ticket should go in a ballot, then the rest on general sale. I’ll wager now, everyone who travels on that bus will get a ticket.

What on earth makes BS “a decent day out”?

Nice part of the world, a decent golf course for a round with friends before the game and a good pub for lunch. Football less important.

nice part of the world? Its next to Stansted!

I’ll ask the supporters club coach driver if he’ll allow me to bring my golf clubs!

[Old Bob]

I don't think they are "official", no. What they obviously are is supporters who are prepared to travel to away games. Good luck to them if the Club chooses to make a small allocation to the season ticket holders among them.

I am bemused by the apparent idea that it’s OK to prioritise ST holders but not if they are also members of the Away Travel Club. That makes no sense.

Old Bob, as I have said above, the Away Travel Group are not official and yes ther are prepared to go to travel to away games (the name of the group is a bit of a giveaway), but they had the oppotunity to be affiliated to the club but they refused and said they wanted to be independent. If they agreed if would be difficult argue against them getting ticket priority but they refused.

Of course season ticket holders should get priority, it is mentioned in the sales pitch that being a season ticket holder will give you prioriry in games where there is limited tickets, it does not say that you have priority but will have to wait your turn behind unofficial other groupings.

Your last sentence is not quite correct. Season ticket holders have priority. If a season ticket holder is additionally known to be a regular away supporter, they get slightly more chance of getting a ticket. The unofficial grouping is not being given priority. It's not unofficial grouping first and then any remaining tickets go to other ST holders via a ballot. The ST holders in that unofficial grouping are being granted a small allocation to compete for among themselves.

I know it's not perfect but it's about the best the Club could do in the circumstances. I don't expect to get a ticket. I will not begrudge anyone else getting one who is a genuine, committed supporter.

[CH]

Following a health and safety assessment, The Staxson Stadium’s capacity has been limited to 1300 and we can now confirm that we have been given an allocation of 195 tickets for our Isuzu FA Trophy Quarter-Final at Sittingbourne, in line with FA rules. We would like to thank Sittingbourne for their communication and support in conjunction with their local Police Constabulary.

This allocation will undoubtedly result in a number of our supporters missing out on a ticket and has of course left the club with a difficult decision on how to ensure our supporters are given a fair chance of following us for this fixture.

In order to ensure all Season Ticket Holders, who would get a priority window under normal circumstances, receive a fair opportunity of getting a ticket, Season Ticket Holders will be entered into a ballot and drawn at random.

We are extremely grateful to all those who follow the Shots up and down the country each week and are aware that some of those may end up missing out through this system. As away tickets for Vanarama National League games are sold by the home side, we can have no record of Shots supporters that have followed us away from home and therefore this would not be possible to include as a priority. However, the Shots Away Travel Group does provide us with a small list of supporters who travel regularly to every away game, and therefore they have been given a small allocation of tickets for their regular Season Ticket Members.

The date of the ballot will be confirmed in due course, once the final details (e.g. ticket prices) for the fixture have been fully arranged.

In the near future, we will be contacting those drawn from the initial ballot to secure their tickets. We advise all Season Ticket Holders to regularly check their email inbox and spam inbox for messages from the Club. Once contacted, supporters will have 48 hours to secure their ticket, which can be done either at the club shop (Mon-Fri, 11am-2pm) via card or cash, or over the phone (01252 320211) via card. Tickets that are not secured will be released for further ballots. Please note that the chosen Season Ticket Holders will only be able to purchase one ticket.

We’d like to thank all supporters for their continued support and patience and recognise that there will be many disappointed fans, we would like to reassure supporters that Club staff have been in deep conversation for several days on how to make this process as fair as possible.

We also need to reiterate that there will be no tickets available to buy on the day and supporters without a ticket should not travel.

To me that reads as if there's (for arguments sake) 30 season ticket holders in the travel group, there's going to be 30 tickets reserved for them.

[Wanderer]

The unofficial grouping is not being given priority. It's not unofficial grouping first and then any remaining tickets go to other ST holders via a ballot.

Bob I think you need to reread the club's communication about the Sittingbourne tickets, here is a quote from it

"However, the Shots Away Travel Group does provide us with a small list of supporters who travel regularly to every away game, and therefore they have been given a small allocation of tickets for their regular Season Ticket Members."

Now tell me they are not getting priority

[FloridaPhil]

Sittingbourne have posted that the kick-off time has changed.

[lowerbourneshot]

12.30 kick off obviously on police advice

[Birdman]

Sittingbourne have posted that the kick-off time has changed.

Would you like to let us in on the secret?

[Jason]

Sittingbourne have posted that the kick-off time has changed.

Would you like to let us in on the secret?

It is on their Facebook page Birdman.

[lowerbourneshot]

Ticket less fans travelling 3 hours in a pub then trying to get in the ground . Makes sense an early kickoff