Away Tickets - What's the magic?

[dave.woodhall]

I genuinely want to know where all these fans that complain about the closed shop when we were in the championship?  it's a closed shop because the fans that go away now were the ones that went in the championship.  I remember Burton away who have a smaller away end than Luton but I never had a problem getting a ticket despite being in the 2nd criteria but now I'm in the same criteria won't get one for Luton.  Those that are upset about not getting tickets for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc... really should have thought about that when they turned their noses up at Burton, Barnsley, Rotherham etc...

That was five years ago. Circumstances change, kids leave school and have the money to go away. I was sixteen when I started; if I couldn't have gone then I might not have bothered at all and perhaps drifted away altogether.

[astonvilla82]

I genuinely want to know where all these fans that complain about the closed shop when we were in the championship?  it's a closed shop because the fans that go away now were the ones that went in the championship.  I remember Burton away who have a smaller away end than Luton but I never had a problem getting a ticket despite being in the 2nd criteria but now I'm in the same criteria won't get one for Luton.  Those that are upset about not getting tickets for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc... really should have thought about that when they turned their noses up at Burton, Barnsley, Rotherham etc...

That was five years ago. Circumstances change, kids leave school and have the money to go away. I was sixteen when I started; if I couldn't have gone then I might not have bothered at all and perhaps drifted away altogether.

Good points in both cases,I would dearly love a away ticket but wouldn't be disappointed if I didn't get one, think it because of my age being over 21

[Marlon From Bearwood]

I genuinely want to know where all these fans that complain about the closed shop when we were in the championship?  it's a closed shop because the fans that go away now were the ones that went in the championship.  I remember Burton away who have a smaller away end than Luton but I never had a problem getting a ticket despite being in the 2nd criteria but now I'm in the same criteria won't get one for Luton.  Those that are upset about not getting tickets for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc... really should have thought about that when they turned their noses up at Burton, Barnsley, Rotherham etc...

I went to Burton, Barnsley and Rotherham with my lad. And Yeovil in the cup on a Tuesday night. It’s pretty difficult to get anything these days (large cup allocations aside).

[amfy]

I genuinely want to know where all these fans that complain about the closed shop when we were in the championship?  it's a closed shop because the fans that go away now were the ones that went in the championship.  I remember Burton away who have a smaller away end than Luton but I never had a problem getting a ticket despite being in the 2nd criteria but now I'm in the same criteria won't get one for Luton.  Those that are upset about not getting tickets for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc... really should have thought about that when they turned their noses up at Burton, Barnsley, Rotherham etc...

Genuinely sick of this. We had bigger allocations in The Championship. Loads who went then can’t get a ticket now. Yes people who go to more games get the tickets, but please quit the glory hunter bollocks.

[DeKuip]

I genuinely want to know where all these fans that complain about the closed shop when we were in the championship?  it's a closed shop because the fans that go away now were the ones that went in the championship.  I remember Burton away who have a smaller away end than Luton but I never had a problem getting a ticket despite being in the 2nd criteria but now I'm in the same criteria won't get one for Luton.  Those that are upset about not getting tickets for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc... really should have thought about that when they turned their noses up at Burton, Barnsley, Rotherham etc...

We pretty much sold out every away game in the Championship and over each season took more fans away than we can in the Premier League - big allocations at places like Preston, Blackburn, Sheffield Wed, Wigan and got more for Wolves then we do now. Many fans who went to a lot of those games still missed out on tickets for Blues & the Albion play off semi because of the low allocations.

Probably the fans you refer to as suddenly now wanting to go to Anfield, OT, etc were too young to go before - or maybe even followed us all around the Championship but couldn’t go every week back in the Prem. Everybody’s circumstances are different and I’m sure that most of those who go to every game now have had times in their life when they couldn’t. It’s just the luck of timing really.

Anyway, I have no issue with the reasoning behind the way tickets are allocated, just those few who abuse the system.

But I do feel for the youngsters who are now at the age most of us were when we started out on the adventure of away days and gigs - particularly if their mates who support other clubs are able do so whenever they want and are coming back with all the stories. It’s nobody’s fault, just one of the many drawbacks of supporting a big club getting bigger.
When I started going away in the 70s the majority of us were kids (apart from coaches 1 & 2 of the Travellers Club!).

I remember reading the post match thread on this site after the FA Cup semi at Wembley against Liverpool where there were comments about the Liverpool fan forum discussing the noise made by the Villa fans compared to theirs. One of the reasons they put across was that the Villa support was far more youthful.

We have to find a way of staying young!
(I’ve finished now nurse, don’t forget to to tell me when it’s Friday - I’ve got a train to London to catch)

[john e]

Barnsley away was horrendous, night match freezing cold lost as usual, as De Mateo walked to the changing rooms they were right by the away fans and he got pelters, I knew it was all over for him that night

I thought that was the low point but my lad was at Preston a week or two later for the 2 nil battering and he still says that’s the worst performance he’s ever seen
And we took 6000 there

Then we bought in that football genius Steve Bruce
Bloody hell it was grim back then

[Ads]

Plenty of seats available for Spurs away in November 2011. I took an Albion mate and the Lord condemned me with the realisation that "my God, its over" and a speeding ticket at 2am on the Thelwall Viaduct. Though it would get worse, much worse, that was the date we knew or ought to have known it was lost. A when, not if. 21st November 2011, complete football nihilism. Away attendances were by and large iffy from that season. Small allocations taken to places, easy to get tickets.

Relegation is an errant starting point, as it was that event which rejuvenated support. I can't recall a full allocation not taken, extra tickets clamoured for by the club, in the past 7.5 years.

[VillaTim]

Barnsley away was horrendous, night match freezing cold lost as usual, as De Mateo walked to the changing rooms they were right by the away fans and he got pelters, I knew it was all over for him that night

I thought that was the low point but my lad was at Preston a week or two later for the 2 nil battering and he still says that’s the worst performance he’s ever seen
And we took 6000 there

Then we bought in that football genius Steve Bruce
Bloody hell it was grim back then

I was at Preston, that was a bad one, Westwood giving the ball away on the edge of the box and Calum Robinson scoring (pretty sure it was him). At least Di Matteo got the boot after.

[Meanwood Villa]

That Spurs game is a great example of a low point. An example of just knowing we were fucked, so depressing.

In terms of availability of away tickets, when I first started going away around 1999/2000, you could write to the club with a cheque knowing you were guaranteed a seat.

[claret+blue ed]

That Spurs game is a great example of a low point. An example of just knowing we were fucked, so depressing.

In terms of availability of away tickets, when I first started going away around 1999/2000, you could write to the club with a cheque knowing you were guaranteed a seat.

Ha ha, yes I remember those days, only reason I had a cheque book and a card that got stamped

[Holte L2]

Plenty of seats available for Spurs away in November 2011. I took an Albion mate and the Lord condemned me with the realisation that "my God, its over" and a speeding ticket at 2am on the Thelwall Viaduct. Though it would get worse, much worse, that was the date we knew or ought to have known it was lost. A when, not if. 21st November 2011, complete football nihilism. Away attendances were by and large iffy from that season. Small allocations taken to places, easy to get tickets.

Relegation is an errant starting point, as it was that event which rejuvenated support. I can't recall a full allocation not taken, extra tickets clamoured for by the club, in the past 7.5 years.

I was at the Spurs game too.  My Mrs at the time finished with me the night before too.  She was a stunner as well.  What a grim 24 hours that was.

[Risso]

One win in the last sixteen games that season.

[Scratchins]

Like many I am concerned that the younger fans are unable to follow Villa home and away as I have done for over 30 years but there isn’t an answer to suit everyone. If a retail outlet had a problem with supply and demand they would buy in more stock but that isn’t possible.
I would be very upset though if I had to stop after missing 1 game home and away for more than this century (family illness). This has included Bolton in the snow, losing 8-0 at Chelsea, Fulham the day Gerrard was fired and mainly disappointment and frustration as we went from being at Rotterdam to mocked at grounds we didn’t think that we would ever play at.
I do wonder if we would have more than the stipulated minimum allocation if the £30 cap wasn’t in force. Home fans can be charged much more so why reduce their income? A guaranteed 5K Villa fans may please the accountants.  Controversial I know and no one wants to pay more than they need to. I don’t have an answer but if it’s any consolation we are all getting older!

[HolteL4]

I genuinely want to know where all these fans that complain about the closed shop when we were in the championship?  it's a closed shop because the fans that go away now were the ones that went in the championship.  I remember Burton away who have a smaller away end than Luton but I never had a problem getting a ticket despite being in the 2nd criteria but now I'm in the same criteria won't get one for Luton.  Those that are upset about not getting tickets for Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal etc... really should have thought about that when they turned their noses up at Burton, Barnsley, Rotherham etc...

Genuinely sick of this. We had bigger allocations in The Championship. Loads who went then can’t get a ticket now. Yes people who go to more games get the tickets, but please quit the glory hunter bollocks.

I'm genuinely sick of hearing people accusing the fans that have been going away for years of selling on their ticket to stay at the top. I'm also genuinely sick of people that all of a sudden are desperate for tickets want to be given equal opportunity to get tickets as these same people that have been going for years.

I get what you're saying but in all out time in the championship there wasn't a single post on here saying anything like this one does.

[PeterWithe]

I went to loads of away games in the Championship and in the seasons we circled the drain, but I didn't go to all of them all because I chose not to. I don't really have a problem with those that chose to go, and gave up more than I am prepared to, now having a priority over me.