The risk of booking travel for away games in advance

[ClaretTony]

We are supposed to be given a reasonable window for fixture changes but look at this one.

Newcastle v Brentford - scheduled for Sunday, 17th September at 4:30 p.m. has been moved to Saturday, 16th September at 5:30 p.m. This is because of Newcastle's Champions League involvement in the following week. Brentford fans were only advised yesterday so less than two weeks notice.

[Leisure]

Tony - Shocking but unfortunately we all know by now that fans are the last thing to be considered when it comes to fixture changes!

[ClaretTony]

Tony - Shocking but unfortunately we all know by now that fans are the last thing to be considered when it comes to fixture changes!

I would suspect a lot of Brentford fans, and Newcastle fans too, would have booked trains for the Sunday only to find the game changed like that. It's downright shocking and shows they really don't give a damn about fans.

[claretonthecoast1882]

The knock on effect is also that Everton Arsenal which was scheduled for Saturday at 5.30pm has been moved to fill the slot left vacant by the Newcastle Brentford game

[Vintage Claret]

Not sure if it was as little as 2 weeks but I recall our away game at Spurs during their last season at WHL being moved at fairly short notice.

We had waited until the TV games were announced for that month before booking the train down on the Saturday and got a good deal including tube travel only for the game to be moved to Sunday to accommodate Spurs European schedule.

Lost money on the train tickets already purchased and had to pay more for less convenient train times on the Sunday and not including tube travel.....and we lost

[claretburns]

Absolutely awful that no thought has been given to the fans with the change.

Does no one at the Premier League/Sky TV have any foresight and understand Newcastle are in the Champions League and there is a chance their game the following week could be Tuesday so the weekend before avoid moving their game to the Sunday? Just shouts incompetence.

[ClaretTony]

Absolutely awful that no thought has been given to the fans with the change.

Does no one at the Premier League/Sky TV have any foresight and understand Newcastle are in the Champions League and there is a chance their game the following week could be Tuesday so the weekend before avoid moving their game to the Sunday? Just shouts incompetence.

They just don't care. Someone said yesterday on the FSA PL Network Group that I'm a member of that the fans are bottom of the list when it comes to consideration. I don't even think fans are on the list.

[Middle-agedClaret]

Many clubs seem to see fans as a necessary evil.

[Woodleyclaret]

The tv companies need to publish their schedules far earlier
West Ham will get switched but still no mention of this

[Herts Clarets]

I decided not to risk it for Newcastle so i am driving up and staying overnight. Plus the train price from anywhere close to me was extortionate. £110
per ticket is the cheapest i can do. Even with a Two Together railcard it will cost £180 including the railcard. I can drive there and back on a tank of diesel so around £80 and i have an air bnb booked that i can cancel FOC if the fixture does happen to change. No incentive whatsoever to use public transport when the cost is so prohibitive. As a comparison I did Sunderland return for £44 last season.

[clarets1978]

The tv companies need to publish their schedules far earlier
West Ham will get switched but still no mention of this

Comes on the back of an international break so cant be because of European games so curious to know why it would be moved?

[ClaretTony]

The tv companies need to publish their schedules far earlier
West Ham will get switched but still no mention of this

I'd expect the November TV picks to be announced in a week or two but this is really about a game being moved for TV and then getting moved again at a couple of weeks notice

[Coeus]

The Sports minister needs to look at this imo. Was there an enquiry started into treating fans fairly? It’s a very very simple solution. ANY published and announced fixtures need to be played (subject to adverse safety or weather conditions) on stated day and time. Otherwise compensation at £100 per purchased ticket needs to be paid?

[HuncoatClaret]

It happened to us at Arsenal two seasons ago. The game got moved from Saturday to Sunday, this was so Arsenal v Liverpool in the league cup could be squeezed in

[Hipper]

What I don't understand in this case is that it was known that Newcastle would be in the Champions League so why was consideration of this not made in the original choice of Newcastle - Brentford being on a Sunday?

[tarkys_ears]

Many clubs seem to see fans as a necessary evil.

I very much doubt the clubs have anything to do with it.

It'll be down to the PL and Sky.

[bumba]

The tv companies need to publish their schedules far earlier
West Ham will get switched but still no mention of this

We play West Ham on Saturday 25th, they in the Europa Thursday 9th then Thursday 30th.....why will it be moved?

[FeedTheArf]

It's for this reason that on the rare occasion I make it to an away game I always travel on a supporters coach. I realise it's not an option for those who don't live locally, but it's far less stressful!

[Claretnick]

The Sports minister needs to look at this imo. Was there an enquiry started into treating fans fairly? It’s a very very simple solution. ANY published and announced fixtures need to be played (subject to adverse safety or weather conditions) on stated day and time. Otherwise compensation at £100 per purchased ticket needs to be paid?

Do you seriously think government Ministers give a damn about the general public?

[tarkys_ears]

Do you seriously think government Ministers give a damn about the general public?

They're probably the ones taking backhanders off the PL to keep this sh*t up!

[Coeus]

Do you seriously think government Ministers give a damn about the general public?

Then ask them! Write to local MP. Tell fans forums (CT domain I think) and tell them to start a campaign. Get publicity from none sky outlets. Stop being reactive ( moaning ) and be proactive. See what happens, because I’m damn sure nothing will happen whinging about it!

[Claretnick]

Then ask them! Write to local MP. Tell fans forums (CT domain I think) and tell them to start a campaign. Get publicity from none sky outlets. Stop being reactive ( moaning ) and be proactive. See what happens, because I’m damn sure nothing will happen whinging about it!

Well excuse me, I asked you a question, I was not whinging. FYI I have written, politely I might add, to my constituency MP about many subjects affecting our lives either locally and nationally. Regretably, I do not always receive the courtesy of a reply. Hence my query about whether elected politicians actually give a damn what you or I think about matters....

With apologies for going off topic....

[AmbleClaret]

Then ask them! Write to local MP. Tell fans forums (CT domain I think) and tell them to start a campaign. Get publicity from none sky outlets. Stop being reactive ( moaning ) and be proactive. See what happens, because I’m damn sure nothing will happen whinging about it!

Exactly this. I know for a fact that my old constituency MP,Nigel Evans, campaigns tirelessly 24/7 on behalf of inconvenienced football fans.