Goodwill gesture from Barnsley giving anyone who travelled To Charlton a free ticket for this weekend's home game. The barnsley board at least reckonize the support show by the fans? Well done the barnsley board!
Goodwill gesture from Barnsley giving anyone who travelled To Charlton a free ticket for this weekend's home game. The barnsley board at least reckonize the support show by the fans? Well done the barnsley board!
Well considering Powell wanted the game to go ahead and the ref was 50/50. It was Danny Wilson that tipped the balance for it to be called off, as they had 4 out injured.
Under the circumstances I think Barnsley are doing the right thing.
Maybee our club could offer free tickets for tonight's game as there will be 25000+ Empty seats so would be no cost to club and in fact would probably increase reveue?
I think Oxford would have a view about that . . in practice a) there is a minimum ticket price, b) there are strict rules about how many comp tickets can be issued and c) you'd have to pay Oxford and the pool their notional share.
not forgetting a number of our own fans would have travelled a fair distance, possibly as many as Barnsley?
The Barnsley fans I spoke to in Floyd Road had made a weekend of it, with accommodation booked. They had also been reading on our website all week that there was not an issue with the pitch. Instead of using the word "blame" I prefer the word "responsibility".
With all due respect it's a cheap (if not free) gesture aimed at PR - and probably in the hope that Charlton will give away free tickets to the rearranged game.
Firstly, I, seriously, doubt that many of those that traveled from Barnsley to Charlton will not, already, have a ticket for this weekend's game - either a season ticket or bought in advance. Thus it is probably going to cost the club next to nothing to give away tickets to people that wouldn't have paid for one anyway. We sent out loads of comp tickets for the Derby game, but only because we didn't expect them to come otherwise.
Secondly all insurance policies have a clause in them about 'acts of god'. Sure, our pitch is a bit of a mess, but we did have a shed load of rain, and games can be called off at any time. Maybe it was a terrible mistake for us to believe that the game would go ahead but I just refuse to believe that those running our club knew in advance that the ref would postpone the match.
It is not possible to predict everything in advance. The nations of this world spend billions and billions of pounds on weather prediction (computers, satellites, manned scientific research centers and hundreds of man hours and they can't even see a flipping hurricane coming from two hours before it arrives. It is unfortunate, but a fact of life that sometimes things need to be cancelled, and at late notice.
I've read loads of critical posts about how 'disgraceful' our club is for failing to get a football game on yet this weather did, in fact, cause thousands of homes to be without power over Christmas. It is not typical weather we have been having.
Even if one does believe that the fault lies with the club, surely we can give them the benefit of doubt as they were neither responsible for what happened before the takeover that was completed less than two weeks ago, nor could they have known this was going to happen and we did spend a lot of money trying to get the game on and failed.
I just can't see the point of having digs at our club at any time, but now, with a new owner who is trying to move us in the right direction?
The board needs to take a long, hard look at Bradshaw. That's all.
Well considering Powell wanted the game to go ahead and the ref was 50/50. It was Danny Wilson that tipped the balance for it to be called off, as they had 4 out injured.
Under the circumstances I think Barnsley are doing the right thing.
If that's true, then Danny Wilson is a very naughty boy
Goodwill gesture from Barnsley giving anyone who travelled To Charlton a free ticket for this weekend's home game. The barnsley board at least reckonize the support show by the fans? Well done the barnsley board!
With all due respect it's a cheap (if not free) gesture aimed at PR - and probably in the hope that Charlton will give away free tickets to the rearranged game.
Firstly, I, seriously, doubt that many of those that traveled from Barnsley to Charlton will not, already, have a ticket for this weekend's game - either a season ticket or bought in advance. Thus it is probably going to cost the club next to nothing to give away tickets to people that wouldn't have paid for one anyway. We sent out loads of comp tickets for the Derby game, but only because we didn't expect them to come otherwise.
Secondly all insurance policies have a clause in them about 'acts of god'. Sure, our pitch is a bit of a mess, but we did have a shed load of rain, and games can be called off at any time. Maybe it was a terrible mistake for us to believe that the game would go ahead but I just refuse to believe that those running our club knew in advance that the ref would postpone the match.
It is not possible to predict everything in advance. The nations of this world spend billions and billions of pounds on weather prediction (computers, satellites, manned scientific research centers and hundreds of man hours and they can't even see a flipping hurricane coming from two hours before it arrives. It is unfortunate, but a fact of life that sometimes things need to be cancelled, and at late notice.
I've read loads of critical posts about how 'disgraceful' our club is for failing to get a football game on yet this weather did, in fact, cause thousands of homes to be without power over Christmas. It is not typical weather we have been having.
Even if one does believe that the fault lies with the club, surely we can give them the benefit of doubt as they were neither responsible for what happened before the takeover that was completed less than two weeks ago, nor could they have known this was going to happen and we did spend a lot of money trying to get the game on and failed.
I just can't see the point of having digs at our club at any time, but now, with a new owner who is trying to move us in the right direction?
The board needs to take a long, hard look at Bradshaw. That's all.
With all due respect it's a cheap (if not free) gesture aimed at PR - and probably in the hope that Charlton will give away free tickets to the rearranged game.
Firstly, I, seriously, doubt that many of those that traveled from Barnsley to Charlton will not, already, have a ticket for this weekend's game - either a season ticket or bought in advance. Thus it is probably going to cost the club next to nothing to give away tickets to people that wouldn't have paid for one anyway. We sent out loads of comp tickets for the Derby game, but only because we didn't expect them to come otherwise.
Secondly all insurance policies have a clause in them about 'acts of god'. Sure, our pitch is a bit of a mess, but we did have a shed load of rain, and games can be called off at any time. Maybe it was a terrible mistake for us to believe that the game would go ahead but I just refuse to believe that those running our club knew in advance that the ref would postpone the match.
It is not possible to predict everything in advance. The nations of this world spend billions and billions of pounds on weather prediction (computers, satellites, manned scientific research centers and hundreds of man hours and they can't even see a flipping hurricane coming from two hours before it arrives. It is unfortunate, but a fact of life that sometimes things need to be cancelled, and at late notice.
I've read loads of critical posts about how 'disgraceful' our club is for failing to get a football game on yet this weather did, in fact, cause thousands of homes to be without power over Christmas. It is not typical weather we have been having.
Even if one does believe that the fault lies with the club, surely we can give them the benefit of doubt as they were neither responsible for what happened before the takeover that was completed less than two weeks ago, nor could they have known this was going to happen and we did spend a lot of money trying to get the game on and failed.
I just can't see the point of having digs at our club at any time, but now, with a new owner who is trying to move us in the right direction?
Think you are missing the point.
Weather forecasts have been telling everybody for some time that we were in for heavy rain.
1) Given our pitch was in a shit state after the Wednesday game why was it so long before a dome was erected, over a week was lost.
2) The pitch was and from what I hear, still is in a poor condition, why was there no early inspection.
3) Even after all this the subsequent communication was pitiful and in my opinion inadequate.
4) After all above the club still had chance to placate its own fans by offering some kind of offer/compensation, particularly those that travel miles.
By the way, I believe that I have the right as a long term season ticket holder to say what I think & simply because we have new owners means very little to me to be honest.
After saying this & having my moan I will be there tonight & in the future as always.
At no point did I suggest that you can't have a moan, we all like a moan from time to time. However I'll answer the points you raise:
1> Until the club was sold there was no money for a dome
2> There was an inspection on Thursday and those that did the inspection thought the game would be on. They were, clearly, wrong, but they did do an inspection. I believe that the referee decided to do an inspection as soon as he arrived at The Valley. He then did the inspection when he thought appropriate. As point 2 above the club believed that the pitch was going to be ok.
3> I can't disagree with this. However, we are under new ownership and this could have caused delay. I also think it;s unfair to compare our communication with Barnsley's as we had a football match to prepare for where as their communication team didn't, so they would have had more time to release a statement. I also think it's much easier to put together a statement when you have no responsibility for what has happened and what will have to happen going forward. A bit like the thread on here that was started seconds after the decision to postpone was announced. History tells us it is much easier to sit on the sidelines criticising than it is to source a solution to a problem.
4> This is a very good point, but as the club didn't set out to rip fans off why should they jump in and give money away when it was out of their control that the game was called off. I have no doubts that those that decided on Thursday that the pitch was ok made a mistake, opposed to saying "Look the game will be off let's get all the fans to spend money coming down here and call it off at the last minute mwahahah!"
I also think that aiming the digs at the new owners that brought in a Dome as soon as they bought the club is a little unfair, but that's just me!
Well considering Powell wanted the game to go ahead and the ref was 50/50. It was Danny Wilson that tipped the balance for it to be called off, as they had 4 out injured.
Under the circumstances I think Barnsley are doing the right thing.
If that's true, then Danny Wilson is a very naughty boy
Ben Mansford (Barnsleys CE) was on Radio Sheffields local sports show Saturday evening, then again on last night, he's absolutely livid about what happened down at the Valley, he's actually wanting CAFC to compensate the fans financially and has criticised the fact that a ref could've looked at the pitch Friday but apparently this was refused by Charlton, also the Danny Wilson story looks like it's BS by the fact Mansford is so pissed off and involved, he's offered free tickets for the B'pool game but as one Barnsley fan said last night, great gesture but means nothing if you're a Barnsley ST holder, I'd also hazard a guess that most of the 300 odd fans that did travel down would've been as well .
To be fair we don't have any spare money. even if there'd been a pitch inspection on Friday many of the fans would have already committed to travelling and would probably have paid non-refundable deposits (train companies don't offer refunds as far as I'm aware).
I don't remember Walsall offering me a refund when I was half way there in the car when they cancelled our game there a couple of winters ago.
It is implied that if one travels across the country to take part (or watch) an outdoor event the weather can change the event.
At no point can a football club (or any other business) offer a guarantee that all travel costs will be refunded if the event is cancelled at short notice.
I suspect that the club will offer refunds for tickets, which is the only thing they offered to sell.
To be fair we don't have any spare money. even if there'd been a pitch inspection on Friday many of the fans would have already committed to travelling and would probably have paid non-refundable deposits (train companies don't offer refunds as far as I'm aware).
I don't remember Walsall offering me a refund when I was half way there in the car when they cancelled our game there a couple of winters ago.
It is implied that if one travels across the country to take part (or watch) an outdoor event the weather can change the event.
At no point can a football club (or any other business) offer a guarantee that all travel costs will be refunded if the event is cancelled at short notice.
I suspect that the club will offer refunds for tickets, which is the only thing they offered to sell.
From recollection, Charlton have always refunded coach fares to postponed away matches, regardless of whether the journey was completed, since the club took over away travel. Given the people who travel away and the fact the service makes a profit of itself for the club over the season, it makes good business sense. Obviously I don't know who runs Barnsley's coaches.
I'd agree that it is impossible to deal with supporters' other travel costs - even though I spent several hundred pounds trying to go to Rochdale in 2010/11...
Charlton quite obviously have to offer refunds to anyone who purchased match tickets for Saturday, including under their own terms and conditions, and they will. They are in a messier position with Valley Express, unless they opt for a complete refund.
In fact, they have a bigger problem with tonight, as many match ticket holders will not return their tickets in time to get a refund but some may expect one later, given the circumstances. It's as well the tickets are cheap.
Ben Mansford (Barnsleys CE) was on Radio Sheffields local sports show Saturday evening, then again on last night, he's absolutely livid about what happened down at the Valley, he's actually wanting CAFC to compensate the fans financially and has criticised the fact that a ref could've looked at the pitch Friday but apparently this was refused by Charlton, also the Danny Wilson story looks like it's BS by the fact Mansford is so pissed off and involved, he's offered free tickets for the B'pool game but as one Barnsley fan said last night, great gesture but means nothing if you're a Barnsley ST holder, I'd also hazard a guess that most of the 300 odd fans that did travel down would've been as well .
Did Mansford explain how he says they heard of the inspection at 12:20 yet Wilson said it was 11:35, both stories from the Barnsley website ? Perhaps 11:35 was thought to be too early for the line they wanted to take ?
Mr airman u made a couple of interesting points firstly u state the club makes a profit on the coaches? Yet when I complained to rick about the poor service I was told they run at a loss and basically stop complaining regardless of the poor services as they are being funded by cafc? Also why cannot they just reimburse straight back onto my card on which I brought the ticket?
AB, from what I've read I get the impression that Barnsley (or some representative of the club or fans) is expecting Charlton to refund all their travel expenses. I think it's only fair that the club refunds the cost of the tickets (and as you suggest I don't think there was any doubt that we would have done that) but I don't think Charlton should be liable for the away fans travel costs - just like Rochdale didn't give you back the £100s you spent in 2010/11.
I think the club statement emphasising that the tickets will be valid for the re-arranged fixture, while not mentioning the refund that is available, is a little misleading, and probably deliberately so (they are running a business, after all), but other than a mistaken judgement on Thursday I'm not sure what else the club could have done differently - especially bearing in mind the new ownership being in it's infancy. Clearly they could throw money at it, and 'buy' everyone's forgiveness but that is not practicable or affordable.
The statement was not as eloquent as the one you put on the VOTV website, but bearing in mind they didn't know the game was going to be called off they probably had a few other things to be dealing with in the short term.
With all due respect it's a cheap (if not free) gesture aimed at PR - and probably in the hope that Charlton will give away free tickets to the rearranged game.
Firstly, I, seriously, doubt that many of those that traveled from Barnsley to Charlton will not, already, have a ticket for this weekend's game - either a season ticket or bought in advance. Thus it is probably going to cost the club next to nothing to give away tickets to people that wouldn't have paid for one anyway. We sent out loads of comp tickets for the Derby game, but only because we didn't expect them to come otherwise.
Secondly all insurance policies have a clause in them about 'acts of god'. Sure, our pitch is a bit of a mess, but we did have a shed load of rain, and games can be called off at any time. Maybe it was a terrible mistake for us to believe that the game would go ahead but I just refuse to believe that those running our club knew in advance that the ref would postpone the match.
It is not possible to predict everything in advance. The nations of this world spend billions and billions of pounds on weather prediction (computers, satellites, manned scientific research centers and hundreds of man hours and they can't even see a flipping hurricane coming from two hours before it arrives. It is unfortunate, but a fact of life that sometimes things need to be cancelled, and at late notice.
I've read loads of critical posts about how 'disgraceful' our club is for failing to get a football game on yet this weather did, in fact, cause thousands of homes to be without power over Christmas. It is not typical weather we have been having.
Even if one does believe that the fault lies with the club, surely we can give them the benefit of doubt as they were neither responsible for what happened before the takeover that was completed less than two weeks ago, nor could they have known this was going to happen and we did spend a lot of money trying to get the game on and failed.
I just can't see the point of having digs at our club at any time, but now, with a new owner who is trying to move us in the right direction?
Think you are missing the point.
Weather forecasts have been telling everybody for some time that we were in for heavy rain.
1) Given our pitch was in a shit state after the Wednesday game why was it so long before a dome was erected, over a week was lost.
2) The pitch was and from what I hear, still is in a poor condition, why was there no early inspection.
3) Even after all this the subsequent communication was pitiful and in my opinion inadequate.
4) After all above the club still had chance to placate its own fans by offering some kind of offer/compensation, particularly those that travel miles.
By the way, I believe that I have the right as a long term season ticket holder to say what I think & simply because we have new owners means very little to me to be honest.
After saying this & having my moan I will be there tonight & in the future as always.
At no point did I suggest that you can't have a moan, we all like a moan from time to time. However I'll answer the points you raise:
1> Until the club was sold there was no money for a dome
2> There was an inspection on Thursday and those that did the inspection thought the game would be on. They were, clearly, wrong, but they did do an inspection. I believe that the referee decided to do an inspection as soon as he arrived at The Valley. He then did the inspection when he thought appropriate. As point 2 above the club believed that the pitch was going to be ok.
3> I can't disagree with this. However, we are under new ownership and this could have caused delay. I also think it;s unfair to compare our communication with Barnsley's as we had a football match to prepare for where as their communication team didn't, so they would have had more time to release a statement. I also think it's much easier to put together a statement when you have no responsibility for what has happened and what will have to happen going forward. A bit like the thread on here that was started seconds after the decision to postpone was announced. History tells us it is much easier to sit on the sidelines criticising than it is to source a solution to a problem.
4> This is a very good point, but as the club didn't set out to rip fans off why should they jump in and give money away when it was out of their control that the game was called off. I have no doubts that those that decided on Thursday that the pitch was ok made a mistake, opposed to saying "Look the game will be off let's get all the fans to spend money coming down here and call it off at the last minute mwahahah!"
I also think that aiming the digs at the new owners that brought in a Dome as soon as they bought the club is a little unfair, but that's just me!
1) Not true I know for a fact that they were considering getting a dome in but a certain senior member of staff couldn't make a decision.
2) No 3rd party inspection, just Charlton decided it was OK.
3) In business, communication to the customer is key, so what if we had a game on you make extra effort put in longer hours to placate the customer.
4) Didn't say we tried to rip fans off, but given the shoddy way the club dealt with the situation I would have thought any gesture of "goodwill" wouldn't have gone a miss. By the way to me it doesn't matter but I know people who are seriously out of pocket.
Never aimed any digs at new owners (I don't think anybody has) just current senior management.
After this I am getting ready to go to the game are you?
No. I decided last January that I would not be attending any more FA Cup ties against uninspiring opposition until the club can demonstrate to me that they are actually trying to win them.
Also I can't sit in my own seat in the East stand!
I do have a response to you further 4 points, but if I'm honest I can't be bothered to argue with you.
Mr airman u made a couple of interesting points firstly u state the club makes a profit on the coaches? Yet when I complained to rick about the poor service I was told they run at a loss and basically stop complaining regardless of the poor services as they are being funded by cafc? Also why cannot they just reimburse straight back onto my card on which I brought the ticket?
In the past, the club made a surplus on Valley Away - against hire costs - and a deficit against Valley Express. I'd say they have moved to trying to make a bigger surplus on Valley Away and breakeven on Valley Express, although the latter may have backfired.
Once we went down to League One we did ratchet the away service a bit, because we were desperate for income, but I still think it was better value than now e.g. £14 from Charlton to QPR recently.
Profit is probably the wrong word, because that doesn't account for staff time in the commercial centre and a percentage of shared costs. But certainly the club has an interest in encouraging people to use the away coach service because filling empty seats is all extra revenue.
You'd have to be more specific about "poor service" etc since I don't think that's accurate all. In respect of the away coaches, it is certainly my view that if you wanted them to be staffed by employees that cost would go straight on the fare.
AB, from what I've read I get the impression that Barnsley (or some representative of the club or fans) is expecting Charlton to refund all their travel expenses. I think it's only fair that the club refunds the cost of the tickets (and as you suggest I don't think there was any doubt that we would have done that) but I don't think Charlton should be liable for the away fans travel costs - just like Rochdale didn't give you back the £100s you spent in 2010/11.
I think the club statement emphasising that the tickets will be valid for the re-arranged fixture, while not mentioning the refund that is available, is a little misleading, and probably deliberately so (they are running a business, after all), but other than a mistaken judgement on Thursday I'm not sure what else the club could have done differently - especially bearing in mind the new ownership being in it's infancy. Clearly they could throw money at it, and 'buy' everyone's forgiveness but that is not practicable or affordable.
The statement was not as eloquent as the one you put on the VOTV website, but bearing in mind they didn't know the game was going to be called off they probably had a few other things to be dealing with in the short term.
What other things were a higher priority than managing the reputation of the club and its relationship with supporters?
Why don't we give the Barnsley fans who bought tickets a free ticket to the re-arranged game. I doubt they sold enough to half fill the area so won't cost us anything. Doubt they would use most of them, but it would be an equal gesture to what Barnsley have done!
Why don't we give the Barnsley fans who bought tickets a free ticket to the re-arranged game. I doubt they sold enough to half fill the area so won't cost us anything. Doubt they would use most of them, but it would be an equal gesture to what Barnsley have done!
Comments
Under the circumstances I think Barnsley are doing the right thing.
Under the circumstances I think Barnsley are doing the right thing.
If that's true, then Danny Wilson is a very naughty boy
1> Until the club was sold there was no money for a dome
2> There was an inspection on Thursday and those that did the inspection thought the game would be on. They were, clearly, wrong, but they did do an inspection. I believe that the referee decided to do an inspection as soon as he arrived at The Valley. He then did the inspection when he thought appropriate. As point 2 above the club believed that the pitch was going to be ok.
3> I can't disagree with this. However, we are under new ownership and this could have caused delay. I also think it;s unfair to compare our communication with Barnsley's as we had a football match to prepare for where as their communication team didn't, so they would have had more time to release a statement. I also think it's much easier to put together a statement when you have no responsibility for what has happened and what will have to happen going forward. A bit like the thread on here that was started seconds after the decision to postpone was announced. History tells us it is much easier to sit on the sidelines criticising than it is to source a solution to a problem.
4> This is a very good point, but as the club didn't set out to rip fans off why should they jump in and give money away when it was out of their control that the game was called off. I have no doubts that those that decided on Thursday that the pitch was ok made a mistake, opposed to saying "Look the game will be off let's get all the fans to spend money coming down here and call it off at the last minute mwahahah!"
I also think that aiming the digs at the new owners that brought in a Dome as soon as they bought the club is a little unfair, but that's just me!
Nope, just a gesture !
I don't remember Walsall offering me a refund when I was half way there in the car when they cancelled our game there a couple of winters ago.
It is implied that if one travels across the country to take part (or watch) an outdoor event the weather can change the event.
At no point can a football club (or any other business) offer a guarantee that all travel costs will be refunded if the event is cancelled at short notice.
I suspect that the club will offer refunds for tickets, which is the only thing they offered to sell.
I'd agree that it is impossible to deal with supporters' other travel costs - even though I spent several hundred pounds trying to go to Rochdale in 2010/11...
Charlton quite obviously have to offer refunds to anyone who purchased match tickets for Saturday, including under their own terms and conditions, and they will. They are in a messier position with Valley Express, unless they opt for a complete refund.
In fact, they have a bigger problem with tonight, as many match ticket holders will not return their tickets in time to get a refund but some may expect one later, given the circumstances. It's as well the tickets are cheap.
Yet when I complained to rick about the poor service I was told they run at a loss and basically stop complaining regardless of the poor services as they are being funded by cafc?
Also why cannot they just reimburse straight back onto my card on which I brought the ticket?
I think the club statement emphasising that the tickets will be valid for the re-arranged fixture, while not mentioning the refund that is available, is a little misleading, and probably deliberately so (they are running a business, after all), but other than a mistaken judgement on Thursday I'm not sure what else the club could have done differently - especially bearing in mind the new ownership being in it's infancy. Clearly they could throw money at it, and 'buy' everyone's forgiveness but that is not practicable or affordable.
The statement was not as eloquent as the one you put on the VOTV website, but bearing in mind they didn't know the game was going to be called off they probably had a few other things to be dealing with in the short term.
1) Not true I know for a fact that they were considering getting a dome in but a certain senior member of staff couldn't make a decision.
2) No 3rd party inspection, just Charlton decided it was OK.
3) In business, communication to the customer is key, so what if we had a game on you make extra effort put in longer hours to placate the customer.
4) Didn't say we tried to rip fans off, but given the shoddy way the club dealt with the situation I would have thought any gesture of "goodwill" wouldn't have gone a miss. By the way to me it doesn't matter but I know people who are seriously out of pocket.
Never aimed any digs at new owners (I don't think anybody has) just current senior management.
After this I am getting ready to go to the game are you?
Also I can't sit in my own seat in the East stand!
I do have a response to you further 4 points, but if I'm honest I can't be bothered to argue with you.
Once we went down to League One we did ratchet the away service a bit, because we were desperate for income, but I still think it was better value than now e.g. £14 from Charlton to QPR recently.
Profit is probably the wrong word, because that doesn't account for staff time in the commercial centre and a percentage of shared costs. But certainly the club has an interest in encouraging people to use the away coach service because filling empty seats is all extra revenue.
You'd have to be more specific about "poor service" etc since I don't think that's accurate all. In respect of the away coaches, it is certainly my view that if you wanted them to be staffed by employees that cost would go straight on the fare.