reading this is so depressing .. all this from long standing fans, many with children, the fans of the future who are or are seriously contemplating basically giving up going to the valley. One confession that West Ham at the Olympic could be a major counter attraction, may the Lord have mercy on your soul ((:>). A BIG part of my enjoyment through going to away games, is 'the whole away game experience', travel, visiting new to me or seldom visited places , meeting up with friends and contacts (not just at the match), just getting away and doing different things. Anyway, 'Confession Time', IF I were still in London, I would not be a season ticket holder, I'd pick and choose my games, there are often alternative pleasures to be had on a Saturday or even on a Tuesday. I am probably 'different' in that my choice not to buy would not be determined solely by the present regime and its impact on the club, but more by my faded interest in 'the valley experience'
Lincs - It's now known a "The Valley Inexperience"
We started the season with a well drilled squad under Luzon that looked much better quality for the starters than last season. It looked thin though and I guess that was the trade off, higher cost and quality players is higher risk.
We've maybe had a few more injuries than would be expected, but not many more.
Of course we get more people in when we are hot. I dunno but this season there are a lot of people you would expect to hold true just falling off it. If that's right, that's a much bigger issue.
i share the season tickets with the ex so don't go to every home game but I've noticed in our area people who were there all the time before either aren't there or leave early muttering.
It's not an every year problem I think, it's serious.
reading this is so depressing .. all this from long standing fans, many with children, the fans of the future who are or are seriously contemplating basically giving up going to the valley. One confession that West Ham at the Olympic could be a major counter attraction, may the Lord have mercy on your soul ((:>). A BIG part of my enjoyment through going to away games, is 'the whole away game experience', travel, visiting new to me or seldom visited places , meeting up with friends and contacts (not just at the match), just getting away and doing different things. Anyway, 'Confession Time', IF I were still in London, I would not be a season ticket holder, I'd pick and choose my games, there are often alternative pleasures to be had on a Saturday or even on a Tuesday. I am probably 'different' in that my choice not to buy would not be determined solely by the present regime and its impact on the club, but more by my faded interest in 'the valley experience'
Lincs - It's now known a "The Valley Inexperience"
mmm and (please excuse the choice of term) if an old stager, as staunch as staunch gets, one such as yourself is driven to saying this .. things must be absolutely awful down in the Vale of Tears, the Valley of The Shadow of death
F### Duchelet F### Mier F###' the whole crazy set up that now goes under the banner of Charlton Athletic. I have supported this team since 1957 and have been a season ticket holder since the return to the Valley. I moved to Derbyshire 4 years ago and still made the long trek down for most home games. I will most certainly not be renewing next season if the current regime is there and destroying what I hold dear. When we moved back to the Valley there was a sense of unity and PRIDE now there is only despair and deep sadness. God knows where it will end.
I won't give up my season ticket lightly. I have front row seats surrounded by people I like and in the overall run of things it's not a life dependant expense. I'd rather gouge out my eyes with a rusty spoon whilst eating my left testicle without the benefit of sweet chilli sauce before I'd contemplate going to watch wet sham in the Olympic stadium that ive partly paid for. But I have to say at the moment I've never felt less inclined to renew. If Katrien delivered my ticket and prostrated herself before me legs akimbo with a nice chocolate waffle for afters I'd still be undecided. That's really not a good scenario. I'd miss it but I'm not so sad that I couldn't find several things I'd rather be doing. Bah. humbug.
I really hope that all of your expressing your unhappiness and that you are unlikely to renew are writing to the club and telling them.
Please, I'm begging you, let them know.
They think everything is ok, it's only 2% who are unhappy and all will be ok if they makes a few panic buys in February.
Please tell them they are wrong.
I advised towards the end of last season that I would not be renewing and got no response, nor did I expect one. As I remember saying at the time, I did get a bulk standard letter after the renewal date had passed which compared very closely to a letter I received from Hayes and Jarvis asking if I intended to book a holiday that year. That was when I realised I was a paying customer and no longer a fan or a supporter in their eyes, I'll always follow the Addicks but at the moment it's all very flat, the emotion has gone I sit and listen or follow the games on here or the radio and if we score I'm no longer out of my chair and that to me is sad, my passion has gone. I get the impression that if bought a season ticket, spent £20/£30 on beer and pulled pork and left without watching the game I would be RD's vision of a perfect customer. Ok, you win RD I'm beaten I gave most of my ST money to the Upbeats where I felt it would be appreciated and it makes not an iota of difference to you a faceless owner with huge wealth. Hopefully I'll get the chance to return, be it with you still in charge or someone else pulling the strings (no pun intended) but for now I'm beaten.
A Saturday home game takes out most of the day. I get two days off a week and have my daughter on one of them, so my spare time is valuable.
over the last few months going to a home game has been like going to work, it's become a duty call and a chore. I am not entertained, or excited by it. I come out cheesed off feeling I have wasted my leisure time.
So, unless the post Xmas season sees a dramatic upturn I will not re-new. Also scraping 4th from bottom and staying up will not be my idea of a dramatic upturn !
This is exactly how I feel. The amazing thing for me is that I've been asked many times this season (mainly by Mrs Stig) when our next home game is and who we are playing, and I've just not known. I didn't realise we had Bolton on Tuesday until I was leaving The Valley after the Leeds game and my mate said, 'See you on Tuesday, then'. Something is very very wrong when a bloke who is on Charlton Life morning, noon and night doesn't know when the next fixture is, because it is all so dull and unappealing.
A Saturday home game takes out most of the day. I get two days off a week and have my daughter on one of them, so my spare time is valuable.
over the last few months going to a home game has been like going to work, it's become a duty call and a chore. I am not entertained, or excited by it. I come out cheesed off feeling I have wasted my leisure time.
So, unless the post Xmas season sees a dramatic upturn I will not re-new. Also scraping 4th from bottom and staying up will not be my idea of a dramatic upturn !
This is exactly how I feel. The amazing thing for me is that I've been asked many times this season (mainly by Mrs Stig) when our next home game is and who we are playing, and I've just not known. I didn't realise we had Bolton on Tuesday until I was leaving The Valley after the Leeds game and my mate said, 'See you on Tuesday, then'. Something is very very wrong when a bloke who is on Charlton Life morning, noon and night doesn't know when the next fixture is, because it is all so dull and unappealing.
I don't know if my experience is typical, but I didn't renew this year, based on my dissatisfaction with and suspicion of the owners. I assumed I would get to about 10 home games and about 5 aways. So far I have been to two home games and no aways. It seems to me that there is a big psychological aspect to having a ST. Choosing not to renew was far more significant than I thought it would be. With hindsight it turns out that it's like letting go. I wouldn't be surprised if I don't go to another game this season.
We started the season with a well drilled squad under Luzon that looked much better quality for the starters than last season. It looked thin though and I guess that was the trade off, higher cost and quality players is higher risk.
We've maybe had a few more injuries than would be expected, but not many more.
Of course we get more people in when we are hot. I dunno but this season there are a lot of people you would expect to hold true just falling off it. If that's right, that's a much bigger issue.
i share the season tickets with the ex so don't go to every home game but I've noticed in our area people who were there all the time before either aren't there or leave early muttering.
It's not an every year problem I think, it's serious.
I can genuinely say that where I sit in the East Stand I'm surrounded by regulars who have generally been there for years. Indeed the only regular who isn't there any more shifted to a cheaper part of the ground this season instead.
Decided not to renew the day Roland sacked Chris Powell and won't be renewing until he leaves the club!
Simply out of curiosity... What do you do if Roland decides to disband Charlton because no one is interested due to lack of attendances etc. meaning no profit for the person looking to buy the club?
That'll cost him £7m for a start.
For someone worth £400m (?) might not bother him if he gets rid of a problem
He probably doesn't see it as a problem. I'm sure he will carry in running by the club in to the ground regardless.
I had a call from marketing trying to sell me a half season, as I had a full one last year. I said I'm not going to the Valley until the Belgians are gone. From the reaction I don't think it was the first time she'd heard that response.
I still like the style of the chap who responds to every marketing email the club sends with a sentiment similar to the above. Even though such dissent will be deleted I know from experience at my own work that the general tone will be passed up the chain. Whether anyone up the chain will listen or not is of course open to speculation. Both at my work and cafc!
Progressive companies use the complaint process as a way to identify problems and drive forward improvement in their business. The way Charlton handles complaints tells you everything you need to know about the way the business is being run.
I respond to hospitality e mails with polite- no thank you, I do not agree with the way the club is being run etc. I have written to the club along the same lines. I have received response from neither. I really shudder when I see the pictures of KM with a big smile with academy players, sponsors etc. Everyone knows she is not suitable as a CEO, and it must have got through to her. It is insulting to us she acts as everything is going well.
Maybe take some of the comments from this thread and transfer them on to a large board which would then be delivered For the attention of KM and left at reception.
I still like the style of the chap who responds to every marketing email the club sends with a sentiment similar to the above. Even though such dissent will be deleted I know from experience at my own work that the general tone will be passed up the chain. Whether anyone up the chain will listen or not is of course open to speculation. Both at my work and cafc!
I was just wondering what the employees in marketing 'do' with the responses they get. If they sound like it's not the first time they've heard an answer suggesting the fan isn't happy with the way things are do they record it? I'm guessing it's not what KM/RD want to hear so if I wanted to keep my job I'd probably keep my head down. I hope that's not how it works.
Please note: I work on a farm so have very little idea of the office world. There is little point in phoning a sheep to see if they preferred last week's feed to their usual brand.
I have had a season ticket for a number of years. Part of this was showing support to the club and a sense of loyalty, even when things were tough and the football poor. Under Duchatelet, I don't have that sense of loyalty and buying a season ticket may actually encourage the current madness at the club to continue.
This year the season tickets were bought a few days before the season started. The buying of the season ticket has got later and later. I do like the season ticket does give flexibility as to when you go or not. I have only been to 3 or 4 home games due to other work, family and study commitments. Last season, I only went to half the home games.
These days, I take the football very lightly and my expectations are extremely low. I really go to catch up with my brother and like watching live football generally. I don't go if my brother can't make the game. Currently watching Charlton is like watching a not very good B movie. I am expecting the football to be terrible with a good chance of a Charlton defeat.
It is not as if under the current Charlton set up that they are going to win anything significant or get promoted that my season ticket is going to earn me priority for must see games.
I like the flexibility of the season ticket and its less messing around with tickets. It is getting more difficult to justify the outlay. Hopefully the online ticketing arrangement will improve, and it will be similar to buying a ticket at the cinema, and you can pick where you sit for individual games. It may be good to see the game from different vantage points around the ground. That may be useful for a future season ticket purchase when Duchatelet has gone. Next season it may be down to individual game purchase. That will likely result in seeing much fewer games then this season.
The marketing team run decent competent campaigns but they are pushing a boulder up hill. My impression is that a purchase of a season ticket or not probably doesn't matter a jot to the club or Duchatelet. Given how committed and rock solid my season ticket purchase has been, in the past, the fact that I and many others have reached this point, should really concern the club. From events an the way the club is run, it does not appear that way as the club stumbles from one shambolic mess to another.
I still like the style of the chap who responds to every marketing email the club sends with a sentiment similar to the above. Even though such dissent will be deleted I know from experience at my own work that the general tone will be passed up the chain. Whether anyone up the chain will listen or not is of course open to speculation. Both at my work and cafc!
I was just wondering what the employees in marketing 'do' with the responses they get. If they sound like it's not the first time they've heard an answer suggesting the fan isn't happy with the way things are do they record it? I'm guessing it's not what KM/RD want to hear so if I wanted to keep my job I'd probably keep my head down. I hope that's not how it works.
Please note: I work on a farm so have very little idea of the office world. There is little point in phoning a sheep to see if they preferred last week's feed to their usual brand.
That's true, the answer would be 'meh' in both cases !
Just wondered how many times I have bought my tickets because I was optimistic. Probably 5 out of 25. We get ours because we're Charlton supporters. No other reason.
I still like the style of the chap who responds to every marketing email the club sends with a sentiment similar to the above. Even though such dissent will be deleted I know from experience at my own work that the general tone will be passed up the chain. Whether anyone up the chain will listen or not is of course open to speculation. Both at my work and cafc!
I was just wondering what the employees in marketing 'do' with the responses they get. If they sound like it's not the first time they've heard an answer suggesting the fan isn't happy with the way things are do they record it? I'm guessing it's not what KM/RD want to hear so if I wanted to keep my job I'd probably keep my head down. I hope that's not how it works.
Please note: I work on a farm so have very little idea of the office world. There is little point in phoning a sheep to see if they preferred last week's feed to their usual brand.
The Farmer does things his way, they have to accept that ;-)
Buying a season ticke next year, may well be considered as being, like a member of the moonies or church of Scientology, you have been brainwashed, whilst the normal people have worked out, we are complete crap and being fed shit !
Maybe take some of the comments from this thread and transfer them on to a large board which would then be delivered For the attention of KM and left at reception.
Sadly, I am not sure anyone thinks that KM or RD care or actually read anything sent to them. They see fans as an irritant and believe they know better than anyone.
Any future money you might spend on a seasons or game ticket, on merchandise or on food, put it aside and keep it in a jam jar. When RD walks out we'll need it to chip in and resurrect our club.
Comments
I'm over 60. She'd run naked down Floyd Road in sheer delight that there'd be one old git less.
We've maybe had a few more injuries than would be expected, but not many more.
Of course we get more people in when we are hot. I dunno but this season there are a lot of people you would expect to hold true just falling off it. If that's right, that's a much bigger issue.
i share the season tickets with the ex so don't go to every home game but I've noticed in our area people who were there all the time before either aren't there or leave early muttering.
It's not an every year problem I think, it's serious.
I didn't renew this year after about 18 years and have been to only three home games so far.
There can be a sense of going out of habit when you have paid for a ticket - and once that is no longer there it becomes a lot 'easier' not to go.
:-)
I really shudder when I see the pictures of KM with a big smile with academy players, sponsors etc. Everyone knows she is not suitable as a CEO, and it must have got through to her. It is insulting to us she acts as everything is going well.
Please note: I work on a farm so have very little idea of the office world. There is little point in phoning a sheep to see if they preferred last week's feed to their usual brand.
This year the season tickets were bought a few days before the season started. The buying of the season ticket has got later and later. I do like the season ticket does give flexibility as to when you go or not. I have only been to 3 or 4 home games due to other work, family and study commitments. Last season, I only went to half the home games.
These days, I take the football very lightly and my expectations are extremely low. I really go to catch up with my brother and like watching live football generally. I don't go if my brother can't make the game. Currently watching Charlton is like watching a not very good B movie. I am expecting the football to be terrible with a good chance of a Charlton defeat.
It is not as if under the current Charlton set up that they are going to win anything significant or get promoted that my season ticket is going to earn me priority for must see games.
I like the flexibility of the season ticket and its less messing around with tickets. It is getting more difficult to justify the outlay. Hopefully the online ticketing arrangement will improve, and it will be similar to buying a ticket at the cinema, and you can pick where you sit for individual games. It may be good to see the game from different vantage points around the ground. That may be useful for a future season ticket purchase when Duchatelet has gone. Next season it may be down to individual game purchase. That will likely result in seeing much fewer games then this season.
The marketing team run decent competent campaigns but they are pushing a boulder up hill. My impression is that a purchase of a season ticket or not probably doesn't matter a jot to the club or Duchatelet. Given how committed and rock solid my season ticket purchase has been, in the past, the fact that I and many others have reached this point, should really concern the club. From events an the way the club is run, it does not appear that way as the club stumbles from one shambolic mess to another.
This is beyond a farce, and by putting money their way you are pandering to them.
When RD walks out we'll need it to chip in and resurrect our club.