Has STH Become A Bad Word? Like NIMBY. In The Aftermath Of Tottenham Away.

[Squiggsy]

Tom Hark

I'm an STH, go to a few away games each year and got a ticket for Spurs.

I think the only issue would be if any group have priority over STH, which they didn't in this case. Don't really think any one group has a case for a whinge here.

Wonder how many applications for Leeds will be hand-delivered to the ticket office tonight?!!

 

[Icy Gull]

Being a STH has big benefits and the only downside is having to stump up for next season before this one has finished, but at least it is at a discount.

In 25 years of following the Albion I have managed to get a ticket to every game that I REALLY wanted to go to. The only one I can think of that I might have struggled on was the Grimsby game, but I was abroad. If you are an ardent fan the chances are you will know someone connected with the club who can pull strings when needed, no?

Being a season ticket holder is bad enough but being a North Stand season ticket holder and an older fan must be the worst, as we also get blamed for the shite atmosphere and apparently all have coffee, tatran rugs, biscuits and cushions. And for FFS SIT DOWN

 

[e77]

I just disagree with STH's being called God's gift.

Why ? Us Seaon Ticket Holders are better than you non Season Ticket Holders.

 

[Biscuit]

Why ? Us Seaon Ticket Holders are better than you non Season Ticket Holders.

you?

I am a STH.

 

[Albion Rob]

IMHO there are four matches in our history that people can genuinely be sore at missing.

Cup Final (first game)

Doncaster at home 1997

Hereford away 1997

Playoff final.

If you missed out on any of those you could genuinely feel hard done by, But other games that have caused huge bust-ups (Aldershot 2000, Reading away 2002, Grimsby away 2003) are all just a bit of a memory - just as Spurs will be come the end of the season when we have to beat Rotherham away to stay up, or the first game at our new stadium or our first game in the Premiership or whatever.

 

[Icy Gull]

IMHO there are four matches in our history that people can genuinely be sore at missing.

Cup Final (first game)

Doncaster at home 1997

Hereford away 1997

Playoff final.

If you missed out on any of those you could genuinely feel hard done by, But other games that have caused huge bust-ups (Aldershot 2000, Reading away 2002, Grimsby away 2003) are all just a bit of a memory - just as Spurs will be come the end of the season when we have to beat Rotherham away to stay up, or the first game at our new stadium or our first game in the Premiership or whatever.

I think you can add Newcastle away when we went onto the First Division for the only time ?

 

[Albion Rob]

I think you can add Newcastle away when we went onto the First Division for the only time ?

Opps, was only thinking of matches from my lifetime (born 4/1/1981)!

 

[e77]

you?

I am a STH.

Well poor yourself an expensive cognac, relax and let the plebs argue it out between themselves then !

 

[Hannibal smith]

First and foremost, STHs get ample benefit for their money, they guarentee themselves a ticket for every home league game as well as securing themselves a healthy discount in the process. The second point is that I bet most people who REALLY wanted to go to WHL ended up there. There are always tickets floating around and if you are dilligent enough you will usually pick one up.

Why STHs felt they had more right to a ticket than other people is beyond me. A lot of blokes could never afford to shell out £450 each summer - they have homes and kids and badly paid jobs and other cash consuming concerns. People seem to lose sight of the fact that we ALL love the Albion and no-one has any more right to a ticket than someone else. The system has worked fine for 30 years, it seems symptomatic of the modern generation that to lose out on a ticket signals the start of a six-week bitchfest.

Post of the last 6 weeks my arse. Its not even right.

Firstly, It has not been first come first served for the last 30 years. In years gone by a season ticket had a voucher and also 1 or 2 days priority for buying tickets for big games. That all ended when we left the Goldstone.

Secondly, The reason why many STH's feel hard done by is that around 80% of league clubs all have a priority system for tickets for when demand exceeds supply. TLB, Starry's post and The Tottenham program as a straw poll shows that Leeds, Tottenham and Cardiif all do.

Finally, as Easy suggests some of the people who went don't even know what colours we play in. Surely that is not right when those people get a ticket ahead of those who attend week in week out.

For the record, I don't even have a Season ticket.

 

[Easy 10]

AHA! So it wasn't STHs or AMS members who got priority? It was people who LIED when the tickets went on sale.

Well...lied, or "worked the system", depending how you view it.

OK, lied.

It happened that some AMS members / STH's we knew couldn't make the game, so we used their AMS number (with their permission) in the booking for some other friends who fancied going along. We got lucky, all 18 of us went along to the game, and everyone in our party had a blinding day out.

Luck of the draw, innit.

 

[e77]

I am a season ticket holder but i think that a system needs to be brought in that needs to give priority to people going to home and away matches.

While going to Hartlepool away on a Wednesday in February is a great effort it doesn't actually put money in the club coffers (unless it is a cup game, god forbid).

It does slightly annoy me when you hear people who only go to away matches because of Withdean.

 

[Albion Rob]

Post of the last 6 weeks my arse. Its not even right.

Firstly, It has not been first come first served for the last 30 years. In years gone by a season ticket had a voucher and also 1 or 2 days priority for buying tickets for big games. That all ended when we left the Goldstone.

Secondly, The reason why many STH's feel hard done by is that around 80% of league clubs all have a priority system for tickets for when demand exceeds supply. TLB, Starry's post and The Tottenham program as a straw poll shows that Leeds, Tottenham and Cardiif all do.

Finally, as Easy suggests some of the people who went don't even know what colours we play in. Surely that is not right when those people get a ticket ahead of those who attend week in week out.

For the record, I don't even have a Season ticket.

That's all very well but it would be grossly unfair to have that system now because demand for SEASON TICKETS outsrips supply. Therefore a select few would get to see EVERY Albion game if they wanted too - even more unfair than the current system.

I honestly don't remember the voucher system, but then again the only games that ever looked like they would sell out in my era were the final matches at the Goldstone.

As stated, STHs get a decent deal by guarenteeing themselves a seat at every home game and getting a bit of a discount. Everything else should go on the open market in my opinion. If there are people who had never seen the stripes before Saturday then let's hope to God they come back when we get a ground that can accommodate them - God knows we're losing enough potential support to Palace, Spurs, Arsenal, ManUre, Chelsea, even Crawley Town for f***'s dake.

 

[pasty]

Finally, as Easy suggests some of the people who went don't even know what colours we play in. Surely that is not right when those people get a ticket ahead of those who attend week in week out.

*rant mode on*

That's more like it. I am a STH and did not get a ticket. I admit, I go to very few away games, but expense and the fact that I like to spend at least one out of two weekends with my family stop me somewhat.

I have absolutely no argument with those who travel regularly to away games of having an equal chance as a STH of a big game ticket, but it has really pissed me off that many "big game charlies" appear to have got tickets just because they are AMS.

A process seriously needs to be put in place whereby regular away travellers can register "points" or at least the fact thay they went, then when big games come along STH's and regular away travellers should all be allowed first shot as it were - even if it's just 24 or 48 hours.

I'm sure I recall one of the regular Palace posters putting something on here last time we were in Div 1, that for the Palace game at Withdean (only 700 odd tickets), they issued vouchers when buying tickets for the five or so previous matches HOME OR AWAY, and those with 3 or more stood a good chance of getting a ticket. It surely can't be that difficult.

Lasty - I am also getting a bit pissed off at the abuse being levelled at STH at the moment.

*rant mode off*

 

[e77]

That's all very well but it would be grossly unfair to have that system now because demand for SEASON TICKETS outsrips supply.

How come the club were able to sell 10 season mini tickets recently then ?

 

[mr turd]

A season ticket fan is for someone who wants to watch all home games end of,and thats what they get end of.They got free ams ffs.

 

[Albion Rob]

I seem to have been labouring under the misapprehension that we had reached our limit on selling season tickets and were offering these mini season tickets because take up of tickets on general sale has been a bit disappointing this season.

Could well be wrong though.

 

[Albion Rob]

Doesn't really matter now anywat, it's in the past now.

I suggest all STHs who didn't get a Spurs ticket have a try for a Leeds one instead. More important match in a bigger stadium and now on a Saturday too. I reckon it will be too long a distance for glory hunters so your chances of securing a seat must be good.

Get involved, that's what I say.

 

[Hannibal smith]

That's all very well but it would be grossly unfair to have that system now because demand for SEASON TICKETS outsrips supply. Therefore a select few would get to see EVERY Albion game if they wanted too - even more unfair than the current system.

I honestly don't remember the voucher system, but then again the only games that ever looked like they would sell out in my era were the final matches at the Goldstone.

As stated, STHs get a decent deal by guarenteeing themselves a seat at every home game and getting a bit of a discount. Everything else should go on the open market in my opinion. If there are people who had never seen the stripes before Saturday then let's hope to God they come back when we get a ground that can accommodate them - God knows we're losing enough potential support to Palace, Spurs, Arsenal, ManUre, Chelsea, even Crawley Town for f***'s dake.

On your point about the fans coming back lets hope so. It never ceases to amze me the amount of support which appears from nowhere when we are succesfull and have big games - just a shame that means regulars sometimes miss out.

 

[Albion Rob]

On your point about the fans coming back lets hope so. It never ceases to amze me the amount of support which appears from nowhere when we are succesfull and have big games - just a shame that means regulars sometimes miss out.

Agree totally with the sentiment - 30,000 at Cardiff etc, etc.

It really frightens me the number of kids who are missing out on what I had as a kid, the chance to watch my local team play league football. So many of them are even ending up watching Sussex non-league, which is nice for all those clubs but doesn't bode too well for us when we get Falmer. I really hope we can tempt these kids back when facilities allow.

 

[London Irish]

Tom Hark - how have you got this ball rolling again

STH - have nothing much to say about this acronym, other than that it could be too easily confused for SHITHEAD.