Its not the brightest idea Pools have come up with, is it?

OK, I know most of the usual suspects have stated that it is, but its not.

Infact, for a club of our size, with a fanbase that half fills the ground, unless we get very very good, the idea is a bit crackpot.

Now before I get attacked with the usual bollocks, take time to read why its crackpot. It doesnt bother me, as I know about it, and will make time, when I have time, to go through the hassle of getting a ticket.

How many season tickets have Pools sold? 3000?

As we all know Pools crowds are usually static until about March, when we suddely have 6000 regualrs if we are in with a chance of promotion.

Can you imagine the chaos on the first game the above happens?

And howmany of the "new" fans do you think might get pissed off and say, fuck this next time?

Can Pools ever really afford to make life even remotely difficult for potential new customers?

Now I know there are a good deal of the 3000 that dont want any new fans, a good load think people should be shot for not getting a season ticket, and some would force others to go without food to force them to get one, but these people are all fucking idiots.

Pools are a business that needs to attract new customers, probably more than it needs its rank and file lot. Most of them would go, even if pools ritually murdered ten babies prior to each game.

So, why arent Pools making it as easy as possible to attract new fans, and the fans of tomorrow?

We all know how fickle the people of Hartlepool can be, and anything that makes it even 1% more difficult for them, will be the end of them.

Thats not the way to make friends and influence people, not in the current world.

Now I know this is going against the grain of popular opinion on here, and elsewhere, and yes, I know its not difficult, as I have stated above, but sometimes everyone needs to take their heads out of their collective arses.

And remember this isnt about season ticket holders, or those that believe going to Pools is all that matters in life. Its about others. The ones Pools need to attract.

I thought it was pretty farcical getting into the ground on Saturday.

They had two people manning a ticket office on the Cyril Knowles/Town End which nobody was using and only one turnstile open for people to actually get into the CK resulting in a huge queue and about ten minutes wait to get in, we only just made kick off. At kick off loads hadn't got in on the Millhouse side, absolutely hundreds. This is with 1000 paying customers in the entire ground. Surely a couple of cash turnstiles would easily cater for them? All a bit of a nonsense really, you still have people taking cash right next to the turnstiles the fans just have to queue twice with everyone else with fewer actual turnstiles to get in!!!

Im still waiting for my Colchester ticket to turn up cos they assured me it has been sent.

Don't disagree about a couple more cash turnstiles but for fairness' sake-

when I went in the Millhouse about 2.45-2.50 there was hardly any queue, but I did walk past a couple of hundred folk still drinking outside the Millhouse boozer. Nice afternoon so why not?

I imagine they all necked their drinks near kick off time and then got held up outside the ground if they still had tickets to buy.

Some of the same people don't come back on the terraces after a half time pint till 10 minutes into the second half, so I guess if they were stuck outside the ground at kick off they'll have been more bothered about full bladders and wasted drinking time than they were about missing a few minutes of the match!

At the Rink End of the Millhouse at 2.45/50 (after I'd finished drinking in the Millhouse ) the two queues, especially the ticket office one ( back to near the five aside courts) were pretty big. Not sure what it was like at the Town End entrance.

its crackers. Yet reading the other thread, plenty think it a great idea?

How does that work?

How can making getting into the ground more difficult for part-timers/toursits/newbies ever be classed as a good idea?

Now I know some will believe its a good idea, just becasue the club have done it, those people would allow their family to be slaughtered if pools requested it, but anyone with half a brain??????

It seems to becoming pretty standard even in the lower leagues to need to buy a ticket somewhere else before you can get in the ground. Saves trusting casual turnstile staff from pocketing money I guess, the less people handling money, the better from one perspective.

The key to it is, make sure it's publicised well, and have plenty of people selling the tickets from an easily accessible central location. Once people know you need a ticket and you can't buy it at your usual turnstile, it shouldn't be an issue.

At Pompey last year I knew I had to buy a ticket in advance, it was my fault (well technically stupid Southern Trains) that I missed the kick off, but even a club of their size only had 3 bewers selling tickets.

Now if ever there was a no ticket sales at the ground on the day of the game brought in, like Luton, I'd agree it's bonkers. I had to ring Luton at 10am on the day of the game, pay on a credit card, for them to print me a ticket, put it in an envelope, and some dude stood outside the away turnstiles waiting for people to collect them from him, bonkers.

I get it that its done all over now.

Some clubs sell out every week so it suits them.

But just because others do it, it doesnt make it right.

And it especially doesnt make it right at pools who are desperate for more fans and cash.

It seems pools think that getting some superfans to spread the message is the way to go. Which is ludicrous.

How many people that arent regulars, will read the official site?

And I bet even less still read the mail.

The people of hartlepool are quite unique and notoriously difficult to please. Puttting obstacles in the way is not the way to engage them.

I think we are unique. Can't quite put my finger on why though. Any ideas?

Our fans are not unique.

Do you think there is a problem with cash going missing?

Poolies might not be unique, but I think Hartlepudlians are.

I asked on the Facebook site if it was a football league rule that you have to do this now or Pools daft idea ? No one answered like because I'm just a part time fan who was looking for something to moan about apparently. If it's Pools independent decision they need to change it ....

Some really good points on this thread though from TC and PJ. The problem is that for every good point you have complete idiots like Fetish Bob going on like he's the only person to have ever been to a away match and thinking it is progress and brilliant.

It also takes too long - I got there at 2.52 and there was about 40 people ahead of me - I didn't get into the Vic till after Colchester scored. There was still about 150-200 waiting when I got in. Some people didn't bother going in after they heard Colchester scored.

Anything that makes it more difficult for fans to attend is stupid - not opening the club shop after the match is also stupid but there's bound to be some fans that think that's great business as well ....

The club shop is a franchise, I don't think the club have a say in the opening hours. Agree that it is stupid like.

Like I have tried to say anything that makes it harder for customers to go to games is borderline criminal.

If a top 100 FT index company introduced something that could deliberately cost them customers or income they would be slaughtered.

I read one comment from a regular that he found the new system sound as he had gone to the ground at 10am to buy his tickets. A typical comment from a fan that just doesnt understand that not many people are that loyal or have absolutely nothing better to do.

As soon as these people start defending decisions like this you know their is a problem.

My only concern is that people still use facebook.

The club are trying to move forward and with a bit of tweaking and understanding from the fans it will be ok.
The club need to move to the next level., buy your ticket online download to your mobile, paperless. You can have your Boarding Pass for flying done like this now.
Ok not every one has a smart phone but in years to come all games I think will be 'paperless'
It would be interesting to know if any clubs operate this system, show your mobile ar a scanner then your in.

Problem seems to be you've decided it's a bad idea colonel, and no matter what anybody else comments, because of your entrenched attitude, they are crazy, stupid, idiots.

Dozens of clubs operate this system, that doesn't make it right, dozens don't, that doesn't make it wrong.

You didn't answer my question of do you think we have a problem with cash disappearing at the turnstiles? If we do, this move could be MAKING the club money. But IF that is the case, nobody would admit to it publicly. Would you rather somebody at the turnstile took your money and spent it on booze, or you paid it directly to a trusted employee?

I'm not saying this is happening, but it's surely a reason why many big venues go this way.

I find some of the comments here staggering.

Firstly let me reiterate that this doesnt bother me personally. I know the score so its not an issue.

I have no idea if pools employees are nicking money. How would I?

I get it that BIG venues don't take cash. I fail to see what that has to do with Pools, that isnt a big venue, and is a company that needs as to attract as many customers as possible.

As for moving with the times? What the fuck does that even mean?

So in the short term, potential new customers/tourists have to expect hassles to attract them to somerhing that doesnt generally interest them?

Like I said fans cant see further than the end of their own noses.

This isn't about whats good for regular fans. Its about whats good for non fans/new fans.

There is no point in discussing this if you cant see it.

And just to reaffirm, just in case some still cant read properly, this doesnt bother or affect me personally.

What would affect me though, and possibly will from October, is that I may not get to the ground till just before kick off.

If I get there and see a huge queue and am likely to miss the first 15 minutes and definitely will mot pay to get in.

I wouldn't pay for anything else knowing I will miss the 15 minutes of so I won't do it at pools either.

By complying with stupid ideas you allow stupid ideas to continue, if people are pushed for time they just won't turn up - not everyone can plan in advance every match, I believe that tickets are non refundable so why would you always buy your tickets in advance especially if you don't know if you will make it or not?

If it takes 10 minutes to get through 50 people then what is going to happen when an extra 400-500 people turn up. Is every one going to start queueing at 1.30pm?

It simply needs to be changed - nearly half the home section is unreserved standing FFS. If people stop going because of this shambles then Pools will not be making any extra money and if money is being trousered then surely it is a police matter?

Like I said above - at least 4 or 5 people changed their mind and did not go in on Saturday - in what world is that good?

You get incredibly het up for something that doesn't bother you.

By the way, I agree, should always have one cash turnstile, for potential walk ups. And if that's a huge long queue, tough, you should have bought a ticket in advance

No matter how much it pains me to listen to dibble moaning again.....we are not alone it seems:

http://www.pne-online.net/forum/showthr ... ing!/page9

I might be being daft but isn't it obvious why the club have done this.

We are installing new turnstiles that do not need a member of staff to operate them (away grounds usually have a steward to help outside). If there are no staff at the turnstiles people cannot pay cash on the gate. Therefore we either need a number of ticket offices open on the day or we don't have any sales on the day.

It's not rocket science people will get used to it. Most people will make time to arrive at the ground earlier and this whole problem will be resolved.
I think the main problem at the moment is that the ticket readers still aren't installed, that will definitely speed things up.

People will arrive at the ground earlier? Yeah some will but many won't bother going. If Ken Hodcroft had brought this in he would be getting totally slated. Not many people are going to plan in advance for tuesday night games at home to teams like Accrington Stanley and Crewe, they will just stay at home....

People just need to deal with the fact that this is the only way on the day ticket sales can work with electronic turnstiles. We still had 4000 in on Saturday. More than most games last year

This is how Montpellier Rugby ticketing worked, and they never get less than 10,000 attendance.
You could either flash the ticket on your phone or pad or else print it out.
But you could also pay on the day (then queue again with the download crowd).

In any case, being one of the download crowd, I never had to queue for more than 5 minutes.

Am i the only one still waiting for my Colchester ticket?

Het up?

You really dont know me do you.

Jesus wept.

You were reading not listening. Dadt fucker.

And so the clear lack of understanding goes on.

You continue to refer to the onea this will affect as fans. They arent fans. They are customers that dont normally go.

How simply does it need to be spelt out?

So did you still go and did you pay twice?

Thankfully, no.

Classy

I'm kind of with The Colon on this one, anything which makes it harder for fairweather fans to get in easily is stupid.

All it takes to solve the problem is to have enough staff in enough places to sell cash tickets quickly and efficiently. Hopefully the club has learned and will sort it out in time for the next home game.

The only bother is, the ones who were on the piss till five to 3 and then decided not to bother going in cos the queue was too big won't be back. Doesn't take much to dissuade people from going back to Pools.

Hmm. It was straight forward to get one for reception so credit due for that but they assured me it was definitly sent but couldnt confirm if my Notts County ticket would be with it.

Just wait and see but was hoping to have the Colchester ticket by now so I could be in the UCTE.

Phils post sums it up.

I am still amazed there are intelligent people that still cant see the obvious.

It makes no sense whatsoever. Yet plenty think its great.

Bemused down South.

I think it's a great idea. Go down at 1 if you need a ticket then go get a few beers, no queues of doyles chatting shit to a kid behind the turnstile who couldn't give a shit... Can only enhance the matchday experience in my humble opinion.

Why didn't you go earlier? Assuming you were only over the road at the mill house pub??



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these last two posts are taking the piss right?

Or just not reading whats been written?

I'm really not sure what the enhancing properties are of either having to queue twice to get into the ground or having to go and get a ticket earlier in the week or day. Surely enhancing your match day experience is being able to leave the pub ten minutes before the game hand over some money and get into the ground. Oh and as a season ticket holder or when you get your ticket you now have to stand in bigger queues because everyone is going in the same turnstile of which they now have less of. I understand it was the first game and all that but this clearly is not better or easier for fans or ever will be, we just have to get used to it I suppose. Predictably loads of people were already moaning like fook on Saturday. They are the ones who'll stop coming, that's the worry.

Absolutely PJ.

But as usual, people arent thinking about those, as they seem to be referring to people that go every week.

THey dont seem to have the intellect to differentiate betrween regulars and part-timers.

No wonder we need to embrace it. Its the future.

Is it the future or the end of the world? I've read this thread and i can't decide. I'm fortunate i guess that i always go to the ground at about 2 for a few pints in the ground.

People will get used to it once they know you have to buy a ticket first. It's like when VUE shut their box office and you started having to buy your tickets at the food stand. Only took about 2 years but eventually people figured it out.

I didn't buy a season ticket for the first time in years, I live in Newcastle and got sick of making the effort, for evening games, to travel 70 miles to watch a team who, generally, couldn't be bothered to put in the effort to make my effort worthwhile. I just thought I'd pay on the gate for Saturday games when I'm usually down to visit friends and family anyway. As a "senior" I wouldn't lose much and if Pools got it together and started to perform on weekdays then all well and good - I'd take the hit.
Then they brought in this no cash malarkey. I intended to go on Saturday but then read about the season ticket fiasco and just knew there would be chaos at the ground. So I decided to swerve it even though I was in town. Call me a part-timer or whatever but for some reason last season really depressed me and I didn't need much of an excuse to give it a miss.

i was working on the morning and live out of town. I drink in Kng Johns or Grand Hotel. I could have got to the Vic earlier and for some matches i will be able to - but it is still a stupid system regardless.

If I' doing extra hours on a saturday morning I want to finish work, go to the pub and then go to the match. I don't want to finish work, go out of my way to get a ticket and avoid a queue and lose time in the pub. It's about the matchday experience for me and not just the match... Saying that people need to be more organised is not helpful, it's Pools that need to be accomidating and sensible.

I'm not buying tickets days in advance for unreserved standing for league two football when the ground is half full. I live out of town and sometimes will literally get into town 5 to 3, it was a shambles on Saturday with a low crowd what's it going to be like on Boxing Day or when more people turn up?

And you are a proper fan Jonny.

And yet still some are saying its a good idea.

Its really going to attract the non-fans that Pools desperately need isnt it?

You after laugh at the comments suggesting people just need to get better organised and just make more time. When infact, they are probably well organised, and have a full timetable, so will probably decide its pools that needs to be missed.

Im still waiting for my Colchester ticket.

So this no cash on the gate thing which I don't like, is it getting any better?

And can all of you saying how good it is tell me how well you think it will work if we get a home FA Cup match and however many thousand people all have to queue twice?

the colonel is spot on. started doing this at accrington last season with far less fans queueing as pools have. was and is a farce. still see people wandering aimlessly about wondering how to get in. you seem to get more groundhoppers nowadays and doedn,t help what they call the matchday experiance at all. waiting in two queues getting pissed wet through is really the answer. as for this downloading tickets and smart phones some of haven,t mastered decimalisation yet.

I don't get this idea at all. You are alienating the floating fans and causing a load of hassle for no reason.
It may well be convenient for the club, but not for the customer, namely the fans.
Thinking back I used to bring the kids to the match, so instead of turning up and paying I'd have to arrive a couple of hours early to avoid a queue or journey to the ground during the week to pick up tickets..... providing you can get out of work.
The whole point is to make easier, access for all fans, from celebrity fans to twice a season part timers. We are a league two club who should be working on building a good relationship and not alienating them.
It's called customer care and practical common sense.