CSS info: Brevet till Chelsea.
Innehållet i brevet till Chelsea från 30 supporterklubbar angående klubbens nya försämrade policy beträffande biljetter.
5th August 2007
To Whom It May Concern,
Following this season’s changes in the ticketing policy members of our club have raised some concerns about the value of being part of an affiliated supporters club. Numerous other supporters clubs in England and abroad have also echoed these concerns.
We would like to raise the following observations for consideration.
1) Affiliated clubs do not now receive away tickets unless it is for a game in the local area. For our supporters branch this means that the closest clubs are situated approximately 2 hours away, so presumably no away tickets for any games this season. We now have the same chance as any of the other tens of thousands of members getting tickets through and online system that regularly malfunctions or via the phones.
2) Supporters clubs can also now presume that we will receive no cup final tickets. We all know that the FA are to blame for the lack of tickets for the last cup final but regarding the recent charity shield match supporters clubs were again refused applications for tickets. Even when members were going to the box office without team cards and purchasing multiple tickets. One member of our club witnessed someone purchase ten tickets with one membership card.
3) The relocation to the Shed Lower has disgruntled many members as for the last few years we have played a major part in trying to increase the atmosphere at home games and trying to get the shed ‘back to the good old days’.
4) Over the years we have made numerous player presentation awards, last season we were refused this after we had purchased John Terry a trophy for winning the award. Will we again be refused this presentation this season?
5) Supporters clubs were promised a follow up weekend after the success of January 2005, many issues were raised and it gave the clubs the feeling of being valued by Chelsea, this follow up weekend has never been arranged.
6) Although the ticketing procedures for the 2007/2008 season were placed up on the Chelsea website many months ago it did not state the reduction in affiliated supporters club priority. Many of our members are questioning the value of their membership to our club as they did not know these changes would take place. We were also informed at the last minute that we would not be receiving community shield tickets meaning members had little time to purchase online.
7) Many clubs have complained about not receiving the signed football for Christmas raffles and training ground visits are a thing of the past.
8) Many members in our club receive the kids magazine instead of the full adult edition every month, do you know why this happens?
With all of these changes it seems that the only advantage of being a member of an affiliated club is placing home match orders in advance of normal members, this, of course, is a great benefit but there has been occasions where even this has not been fulfilled, e.g Man Utd at home for the last day of the season a couple of years ago.
The general consensus among us supporters clubs is that we are no longer valued by Chelsea Football Club and our loyalty is not rewarded. We would like to request a meeting with a Chelsea representative to discuss the above issues.
We look forward to hearing from you
(List of all Supporters Clubs that support the letter)
David Mills
Hastings & District
