FA Cup v Crawley Tickete'd

[Awayday]

I did wonder why they didn't make it all ticket (whether it was Derby or Crawley) have the previous 2 weeks for vouchers and season tickets holders and this week for general sale. Then on Saturday if you haven't got a ticket you don't get in.

As for crowd trouble, in reality if anyone is going to kick off it will only be Crawley. The last time I saw any real trouble at Torquay was when old man Bob walked into the popside with his crutches (used because of a his hip replacement a few month previous just before his 90th Birthday) and accidently caught the tail of Patch (the small dog owned by Geoff, the 75 year old retired pig farmer). The dog yelped and Geoff gave Bob one of his evil stares. Bob stared back (not in anger but more waiting for his eyes to adjust so he could see who was standing in front of him). For 3 minutes it looked they were having a stare off. In the end Bob realised it was Geoff, apologised and moved on. Luckily it was one of those crowd troubled incidents that never made it in to the press and tarnish the good name of Torquay FC and the fans.

I do request if you do see any such incidents from the Crawley fans on Saturday, whether it be an accidental knock whilst you are stood there and they try to squeeze past, or if you feel they are breathing too close to you, please do not try and stare at them on your own. Please do the sensible thing and ask a steward to give them the evils. They are fully trained in such crowd control measures and if you get the stare wrong you could end up in a romance you didn't actually want from some Sussex born baggage handler.

[brucie]

When will the club ever ever learn? This game should have been made all ticket weeks ago. i am not now making the journey as I have no guarantee of getting in.
It is nothing short of pathetic.

[Richinns]

When will the club ever ever learn? This game should have been made all ticket weeks ago. i am not now making the journey as I have no guarantee of getting in.
It is nothing short of pathetic.

I have to agree

Home ends full of Crawley fans, just asking for trouble. Torquay fans locked out – its going to be like a home game for Crawley now with their fans everywhere.

The club just sits there and ignore the issues. I mean - the lack of foresight is so inept it is offensive.

[Fonda]

The real problem lies in the amount of fair-weather supporters we have, that only want to be involved in the 'glamour' of the FA Cup. If all the people that are so desperate to see this game, had got themselves to the Crewe game, got a voucher and had subsequently used it to purchase a ticket, there wouldn't be a problem would there?

I've actually got a voucher in my wallet - that i failed to turn into a ticket for this cup game. If i turn up on Saturday and fail to get in it'll be my own fault. Won't stop me cursing all those inside that can't be arsed to get there for any other game though.

[numpte]

How many fans do we think they have for them to enter the home end? 500? More like a handful.

Do Crawley and TU have a history of troublemakers. No.

Wind up merchants.

[Scott Brehaut]

It's a difficult one - any club always "finds" a load of fans that suddenly turn up whenever there is a big match on, our trip to Wembley (on both occasions in the last few seasons) is testiment to that.
Take me for example - I am coming over for this game on Saturday in full knowledge that I have not attended any other game this season, and in full knowledge that I may be keeping another fan out who goes to every game. My take on that is that those who live close enough have the ability to actually get up to Plainmoor for the advance ticket sales, whereas I don't.

I fully intended to come over later this season for the Port Vale game (and may still do so), however given that it costs me just shy of £200, plus two days holiday off work to get here, I have to pick and choose the games I see rather carefully. Thankfully I managed to get a very good deal this time around which is the reason why I am able to come over, although it is quite a trek - leaving Guernsey Friday evening, arriving Saturday morning and then leaving again Monday morning.

The things some of us do to get to see a match!!!!

My worry is that we win and get a glamour tie away next time, and then end up stuck here, not being able to afford to get over!!

[Richinns]

The real problem lies in the amount of fair-weather supporters we have, that only want to be involved in the 'glamour' of the FA Cup. If all the people that are so desperate to see this game, had got themselves to the Crewe game, got a voucher and had subsequently used it to purchase a ticket, there wouldn't be a problem would there?

I've actually got a voucher in my wallet - that i failed to turn into a ticket for this cup game. If i turn up on Saturday and fail to get in it'll be my own fault. Won't stop me cursing all those inside that can't be arsed to get there for any other game though.

Well not 100% fair.

I go to all home games on a weekends but, because living an hour and a half away from the ground and because of work commitments,I could not possibly get myself to the Crewe game for the voucher.

Sure there are many others like me with similar circumstances.

[WHG]

Well not 100% fair.

I go to all home games on a weekends but, because living an hour and a half away from the ground and because of work commitments,I could not possibly get myself to the Crewe game for the voucher.

Sure there are many others like me with similar circumstances.

Perhaps if you had bought a season ticket or joined the membership scheme, which probably wouldn't cost you much more than attending just Saturday games, you wouldn't have this problem.

[Awayday]

How about the few of us who tend to go to more away games than home games?
We need to be thankful we had this as a home draw and that 99% of the Torquay fans who want to go, should get in.
If it was an away tie I am sure Crawley would have only given us 800 / 1000 tickets and we would be having a completely different discussion.
I am getting excited about Saturday, but just want it over and done with so we know who we have in the 5th round.

[Fonda]

Well not 100% fair.

I go to all home games on a weekends but, because living an hour and a half away from the ground and because of work commitments,I could not possibly get myself to the Crewe game for the voucher.

Sure there are many others like me with similar circumstances.

With respect Rich, i wasn't referring to people such as yourself (or Scott for that matter). You are fans, that get to games when you can and were not the kind of 'supporters' i was referring to. Obviously some people (such as yourselves) have circumstances that make things difficult sometimes.

My point was, there will be lots of people that live nearby and could be regulars, but only come out on occasions like this. And if enough of them emerge, there might well be people that go regularly that might miss out.

I remember the Birmingham away game in the Cup a few seasons ago. I wasn't able to get a ticket for that due to the time that they went on sale, and from what i understand, lots of those that made that trip were not what you would call 'regulars'. Barnet away was another - a game i spent in the field behind the ground due to the number of 'supporters' that truned up.

It would be great if some of those that turn up on these occasions got the bug and evolved into more regular attendee's. But we all know that by the time we play Hereford at home the following Tuesday, there will be the 2000 regulars and wide open spaces again.

[Gulliball]

Will this game really sell out? It should be a decent gate, because it's the 4th round of the cup, but Crawley won't have that many travelling without tickets, and they aren't the huge name that will bring out glory supporting local Man Utd fans who want to see Premiership stars. It's very hard for the club to balance out the risk of locking fans out with the costs and hassle of making it all ticket, but I think they've got this right.

[Fonda]

In fairness, i think you're right Chris. There is very little chance that this will sell out. In fact, whenever we go expecting upwards of 5000, it usually ends up closer to 4000! I think the club probably were right not to make it all-ticket, although i'm not sure why people can't continue to buy tickets throughout the week in the build up.

[cosmic74]

With respect Fonda, I think a lot of fans are too quick to jump on the "fair weather / glamour tie fans" front. I think you would be surprised how many fans fall into the following catagories:

Live local, but work a lot of Saturdays
Live local, but work away
Cannot afford to go week in week out and therefore pick and choose the better games
Live a little further a field, such as West/North Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, which means each game they attend takes an hour or so travelling each way and the fuel costs, so therefore going to every game is expensive.
And of course far a field exiles.

What I am trying to say is, yes there are a lot of people who Live local and don't work Saturdays, and only go to the "fair weather/glamour ties". BUT there a whole lot more who are genuine fans, who can't go every week.

Richinns - After living for many years in Tavistock and Plymouth, I can fully appreciate where you are coming from.

[Fonda]

I thought i'd said that i wasn't referring to those supporters that would like to be there more regularly, but can't due to personal circumstances. I have every sympathy with those supporters, having spent time living away and missing games for those very reasons.

But we don't have 3000 of them. There are a lot of people living nearby that turn up for games such as this, and wont be seen again until our next cup run starts. And the problem with making games such as this one all-ticket, is that it makes things even more difficult for the exiles.

[cosmic74]

No, admittedly, there are not 3000 of them, but there are a lot more than people think. There are also a lot more people these days, who cannot afford many games a season, and therefore pick and choose the games that they attend. And at the end of the day, I would rather they turn up to a few glamour ties, than none at all.

Let's just hope that, those fair weather fans that turn up on Saturday, are treated to a super display by the mighty Gulls, and decide that they will turn up to a few more games in the future.

The underlying fact is that, the club should in my opinion and many others, made tickets available all week, and made a state ment close of play friday as to whether there are any more tickets available on the day. Instaed of this turn up on saturday and take your chance!!!!

Andy

P.S - What agreat word "super" is!! Much underused in my opinion!!! As a belated new years resolution, I am going to use it more!!!