Here is the NFFC news

Albeit one who left after the 21/22 season.

Part of the issue is presumably that they are tied into ticketmaster's systems, so have limited options.

They could run their own system to determine who gets a chance and then Ticketmaster would only allow those folks to buy.

I actually emailed the ticket office and got a reply. I have further replied and said how about 10% of tickets for each game are balloted to people who buy a third tier of ballot away membership.

Choose if you want to enter the ballot. Once you've got lucky you are in a fourth level for future ballots so that those who haven't got lucky are always in the draw first. I reckon that would mean everyone who wanted would have chance to see at least one game. Say 250 ballot tickets per game, 19 games that's nearly another 5000 people. Would 5000 people pay say £20-30 for ballot membership? Probably not, I would but many may not.

You could only apply for the glamour games I'd you wanted but would obviously have less chance of seeing a game.

In Covid year they proposed a ballot for home games where you weren't in the next ballot if you won the first one. This is similar principal but not that complex. Reckon someone on here could run up a database to manage it in couple of hours,

The money raised from that level of membership would pay for the coding to decide who to tell Ticketmaster to allow acces to surely.

My correspondence with ticket office. Impressive use of the word hyperbole by them.

Good Morning,

I am really disappointed that the away memberships scheme is continuing in the same format as last year with all members able to renew.

I have been a season ticket holder for 43 years and over that time have gone to away games, particularly on the lst 20 years or so, maybe 5 or 6 games a season.

I logged on when they went on sale last year, but there were none showing to buy, so I assumed all had been taken, only to find from others that wasn’t the case and they had purchased much later than the time I entered the system.

It does seem very unfair that lack of ability to purchase on the single day at that time will preclude me and the family from ever getting to see an away game again.

Regards

JR's Cigarette

Just to add, last season, by pulling favours from friends, hospitality etc, myself and two kids went to Brighton, Southampton, Wolves, Fulham, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and West Ham away.

All in the home areas. Probably went to more away games than some of the loyal members that are being allowed to renew.

*Hi JR,

Away memberships have been a product the Club has sold for some years now.

Just because you didn’t hold one during the 21/22 season or years before that and missed out on buying one last summer due to supply and demand, doesn’t mean we’ve got it wrong or that you’ll never be able to attend an away game again (which is just complete hyperbole).

Individuals that purchased after you likely managed to do so due to being persistent, as other supporters will have removed memberships from their basket or signed out of their accounts if other people had managed to purchase on their behalf.

During the 22/23 season, we had 5 Away games that didn’t sell out to Away members, where Season Card holders such as yourself could have bought tickets.

We’re open to other suggestions on how we facilitate Away ticket sales, but we’re confident that whatever suggestions you have we would be able to advise on the downfalls of implementing such an alternative, whether that be balloting tickets or otherwise.

Given we’ve implemented a criteria where Away members had to have purchased a minimum of 3 Premier League away tickets with us to be eligible to renew, and some supporters haven’t met this criteria, this means we will have non-renewed Away memberships to offer to Season Card holders such as yourself on a fair, first come, first serve basis, subject to availability.

Kind regards,

Ticket Office Team *

Which 5 games could be bought by ST holders?

I have asked him.. Brighton in Prem.

Assume rest are not Prem games, not to my knowledge anyway.

I think Man U in league cup? Which was a train stirke day if it is that one I think.

No idea on the others? Grimsby and Blackburn away in league cup maybe. Which isn't really the point is it if so!

Also lots of people gave up their tickets after the result of the first leg.

If Blackpoo is the 5th, that's pretty disengenous.

I'm surprised at the robustness of the reply.

Frankly I was surprised to get a reply.

I suspect it is a sore subject for them and they feel the need to defend a position which basically amounts to " we can't be arsed to do something a little fairer"

If I get a response back having taken then up on the offer of alternative suggestions as described above will let you know.

You could take his view that never seeing an away game is hyperbole as showing relegation is expected fairly soon.

(In my reply I felt (in a jocular way) obliged to point out the macular disease I have that means I will likely be registered blind at some point in the future and this not able to see a game bringing a time pressure angle to the issue of hyperbole).

So it took months and then a two week delay for them to come up with the same away system as before (which seems shit) and pretty much the same home system but with inflated prices for those who can get tickets and new memberships available for those who fancy Stoke at home in the cup.

Don't forget the free (not free) scarf.

Had another reply which will post later, but games were Brighton and Southampton in Prem, Man U and Blackburn in Carabao and Blackpool in FA Cup.

I didn’t get a scarf. (I don’t want a scarf.)