[Archived] Season Tickets 2012/13

[AggyBlue]

Whatever you say, buying a ticket for this season doesn't automatically mean a vote of confidence - if you buy a ticket and then protest inside the ground then it is impossible for it to be described in that way.

If you try and protest inside the ground next season I predict you'll be ejected and banned.

I'd leave it until the last game of the season.

[Paul]

It's a pointless one that only serves your ad hominem agenda.

Stick to the point - Is it or is it not misguided to buy a ST next season?

I've argued YES on the basis that Venky's have destroyed the club and have no respect or concern for their public. Therefore, buying a ST is basically giving them a vote of confidence and setting yourself up for another jolly rogering. Explaining why it's not easy to stop renewing is not a counter-argument for the foolishness of backing those who have spat in your face for 18 months. Some fans come out and admit they're suckered in and they don't know any better. At least they're honest and don't try to dress it up as anything more than that.

I don't have an agenda. I have bought STs because Rovers is a central part of my son's life. He does not have the mental capacity to understand our situation but will simply wonder, he can't ask, why he no longer goes to Rovers. If under those circumstances you wish to call me out for renewing it says more about you than it does me.

My son's pleasure is more important to me than my personal views. I have changed my view from a few weeks ago, I don't want to go. From your stance I assume you would congratulate me for punishing a disabled person for the Raos actions and my opinions of them.

So there is my agenda for you. OK with that?

You constantly mock those who have renewed yet it is apparent, through your failure to answer the question, you have NEVER been to Ewood or watched Rivers live. If you had you should answer the question no matter how difficult. There is no shame in not being able to attend but there is every reason why you should cease criticism of those who chose to.

[Mike Graham]

I don't have an agenda. I have bought STs because Rovers is a central part of my son's life. He does not have the mental capacity to understand our situation but will simply wonder, he can't ask, why he no longer goes to Rovers. If under those circumstances you wish to call me out for renewing it says more about you than it does me.

My son's pleasure is more important to me than my personal views. I have changed my view from a few weeks ago, I don't want to go. From your stance I assume you would congratulate me for punishing a disabled person for the Raos actions and my opinions of them.

So there is my agenda for you. OK with that?

You constantly mock those who have renewed yet it is apparent, through your failure to answer the question, you have NEVER been to Ewood or watched Rivers live. If you had you should answer the question no matter how difficult. There is no shame in not being able to attend but there is every reason why you should cease criticism of those who chose to.

Well said Paul.

[Stuart]

Roversider has it wrong. There were no queues because tickets were sold by post! You applied and waited to see if you got one. School friends of mine sent in applications from every relative they had in the hope one would succeed.

Didn't apply to me cos I had a season ticket

Lots of other reasons for fans' disgust though but I''m too depressed to go into them.

So season ticket holders did get a cup final ticket?

[Parsonblue]

Ultimately, it's up to each individual to make their own decision as to whether they buy a season ticket or not. For the first time in over half-a-century of supporting the club I seriously considered walking away from the club. In the end I renewed because the club is and has been such a large part of my life. That doesn't mean I support the owners, the manager, Agnew or any of the others involved in the complete mismanagement of the club. Anyone who knows me knows full well what my view of the owners has been from the moment they sacked Sam and John Williams walked out.

I don't see buying a season ticket as a show of support for the scum that has brought the club to its knees but if others do that is their problem not mine. I wouldn't tell anyone what they do with their own money or their own time. I will still be at the matches - home and away - and will still follow the Reserves in whatever League we might now be in at that level. None of which means I'm supporting those in the corridors of power at Ewood Park. I'm merely supporting my club which has had the misfortune to fall on hard times due to the actions of the owners who seem completely devoid of any feeling for the club, the town or the community of Blackburn. I have witnessed dark periods in the club's history in the past - although I admit that none have been as dark as the present time - and continued to support the club. One day the Indians will be but a distant memory and the club will again be in the hands of people who actually care about it. Until that day arrives I will continue to support my club, or at least the memory of what it was and will be again, in the way in which I see fit and after much soulsearching I have decided that to me that is being at the ground supporting the players who are wearing the blue and white shirt. Others take a different view and I fully respect that and have no problem with it. All views ought to be respected otherwise we are no better than the scum that have brought us to this situation.

[Roversider]

Roversider has it wrong. There were no queues because tickets were sold by post! You applied and waited to see if you got one. School friends of mine sent in applications from every relative they had in the hope one would succeed.

Didn't apply to me cos I had a season ticket

Lots of other reasons for fans' disgust though but I''m too depressed to go into them.

As I said I was a toddler at the time but the comments about tickets were told to me by many ex-fans of the time, in those days the proportion of season ticket holders to walk ins was much lower than today. I also know the story about Cheyenne aka Derek Dougan denying being injured before the game to get picked and then submitting a transfer request in the dressing room at Wenbley.

The reality is they are all stories loosely based on fact or perception. As you point out a lot of these are based on urban myths.

In twenty years time there will be Ex- supporters describing today's events in equally inaccurate terms as their reason for why they don't go to Ewood - even when the cause is long gone and dimmly remembered.

When people stop going a large proportion never return - there will be a long-term cost to all the decisions being made today from Venkys, through the inept Manager to the fans. Perversely the ones who will pay in years to come are the fans. I can only guarantee my own decision.

[Stuart]

It's a pointless one that only serves your ad hominem agenda.

Stick to the point - Is it or is it not misguided to buy a ST next season?

I've argued YES on the basis that Venky's have destroyed the club and have no respect or concern for their public. Therefore, buying a ST is basically giving them a vote of confidence and setting yourself up for another jolly rogering. Explaining why it's not easy to stop renewing is not a counter-argument for the foolishness of backing those who have spat in your face for 18 months. Some fans come out and admit they're suckered in and they don't know any better. At least they're honest and don't try to dress it up as anything more than that.

Toppers, I say this with a lot of love...

Whilst you may feel justified in your argument and may even have some decent points (although I don't agree with all of them for reasons I've already gone into), the fact that you don't go to games puts you in a bit of a glass house on this one.

The points you are stressing are aimed not at Venkys but at Rovers fans who want to continue to attend.

Given everything that has happened over the last 18 months, especially for those who read messageboards like this one, anyone who is continuing to go must have a very personal reason for doing so - and I'm sure no-one still going wants to support Venkys but support Rovers, which is something very difficult to reconcile (especially as those not attending also feel they are supporting Rovers - somehow? - or feel there is no Rovers left to support). However, because you are criticising these people it's also very difficult not to take this personally and to be as objective as you seem to be able to. Therefore don't be surprised if people call you out on the fact you don't attend. Without that ingredient it's difficult to understand how difficult a decision this is for those on both sides of the renew/non-renew fence. With respect, you are on the fence, or even looking over the hedges from another field.

This is a very difficult situation for all Rovers fans and we all need to accept that, from previous season ticket holders, there will be renewers and non-renewers. Neither is a better fan than the other and neither wants to support Venkys - even if it's impossible to renew without being put in that position.

This is the dilemma and you and others will simply scream "but you ARE supporting them" and we will answer "no we aren't, we are supporting Rovers". (I'd include a metaphor here to stress the difference but some people don't like that).

You've made your point very well, and I don't think you've had (nor will get) the response you are looking for, but I think it's time to be a little less vociferous about it, and maybe show a bit more understanding.

[Ralfinho]

I wonder how many out of those who have renewed will still stay away until the clown is gone? I come under that category as I cannot let my 10 year old son down on not taking him but he is old enough to understand about the protests and is happy enough to protest outside Ewood Park if the season is underway and, like me, he will not step foot in there till he's gone

[Roversider]

So season ticket holders did get a cup final ticket?

As far as I know that was the case, much lower levels of ST holders in 1960 when most people paid on the turnstile. The queue story was probably an apocryphal one but fans not getting tickets was true as was being able to get tickets from other sources.

[Stuart]

As far as I know that was the case, much lower levels of ST holders in 1960 when most people paid on the turnstile. The queue story was probably an apocryphal one but fans not getting tickets was true as was being able to get tickets from other sources.

It sounds as though the club didn't give all fans a fair deal (e.g. your old boss who attended every cup round prior) but even during the Cup Final situation they didn't ###### on loyal fans the way this lot have.

[jim mk2]

The decision of those to stay away will lead only to the further long-term decline of the club. Attendances slowly sank in the 1970s and 1980s after the 1966 relegation and it was only Jack Walker's arrival that provided the excitement and impetus for a new generation of fans to come and support the club. Will there be another Jack Walker to revive the club after Venky's have gone ?

The risk of fans staying away for a long period is a whole generation of fans will turn their back on the club, forget about football or find something else to do, and even if Venky's and Kean were to depart tomorrow, many of them will not come back.

Continuing to support the team does not mean you are supporting the present regime and I will continue to attend matches when I can. I honestly doubt whether the owners will be bothered if crowds drop to fewer than 10,000 and will not be a factor if and when they do decide to sell the club.

[Ossydave]

The decision of those to stay away will lead only to the further long-term decline of the club. Attendances slowly sank in the 1970s and 1980s after the 1966 relegation and it was only Jack Walker's arrival that provided the excitement and impetus for a new generation of fans to come and support the club. Will there be another Jack Walker to revive the club after Venky's have gone ?

The risk of fans staying away for a long period is a whole generation of fans will turn their back on the club, forget about football or find something else to do, and even if Venky's and Kean were to depart tomorrow, many of them will not come back.

Continuing to support the team does not mean you are supporting the present regime and I will continue to attend matches when I can. I honestly doubt whether the owners will be bothered if crowds drop to fewer than 10,000 and will not be a factor if and when they do decide to sell the club.

Agreed. Staying away is not going to do us any good.

It will probably inspire them to sell the ground and propose we ground-share with Burnley or play our home games on Pleasington.

[RibbleValleyRover]

That doesn't mean I support the owners, the manager, Agnew or any of the others involved in the complete mismanagement of the club. Anyone who knows me knows full well what my view of the owners has been from the moment they sacked Sam and John Williams walked out.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what your personal stance is towards the owners, manager etc. The fact that any fans will turn up next season will be spun by Kean and the club as support for what they are doing. If fans don't attend then they can't do that, I would like to see club spin the ‘minority element’ and ‘1%’ arguments if hardly anyone is at the ground.

This will be my last post on this topic, I feel comfortable that not a single penny from me will go into the club until these people have gone. And whilst I find it hard to believe that anyone would want to do so, I respect their decision and different viewpoint.

[Stuart]

Agreed. Staying away is not going to do us any good.

It will probably inspire them to sell the ground and propose we ground-share with Burnley or play our home games on Pleasington.

!! Alarm bells ringing !!

[onlyonejackwalker]

Those moaning about people renewing are at least 12 months too late. It was blatantly obvious in Kean's first season that we were in major trouble and this discussion should have been held long before last season even started.

Unfortunately many of those moaning now are the same ones fooled by the Liverpool and West Brom wins and a plucky away draw at Arsenal into thinking things were actually improving and would be far better this time round. More fool them.

Anyone not renewing last season can criticise my decision to renew this time and I would respect that view. All those that attended last season supporting this regime with their finances haven't a leg to stand on moaning this time round.

In moaning all they are doing is demonstrating how slow they have been in understanding the abilities of the VenKean alliance. Their learning curve has been steep.

It is a personal choice to renew or not to renew. But don't be affected by the sheep like mentality of others now stating it is wrong to support the owners with your monies, after they have happily just done exactly the same thing for the last 12 months without issue or complaint from others at anytime.

[den]

Which ever way you look at it, by attending and spending cash you are supporting the club, you're putting your name to it - and the club is owned lock stock and barrel by the Raos.

Try going shopping in Tesco's and shouting to everyone that while you're shopping there, you don't support them or agree with anything they do.

Having said that, everyone to their own. That's the way I see it and apparently it's the way the majority of fans see it. I hold no grudge whatsoever with people who do renew though.

[jim mk2]

At the end of the day it doesn't matter what your personal stance is towards the owners, manager etc. The fact that any fans will turn up next season will be spun by Kean and the club as support for what they are doing. If fans don't attend then they can't do that, I would like to see club spin the 'minority element' and '1%' arguments if hardly anyone is at the ground.

This will be my last post on this topic, I feel comfortable that not a single penny from me will go into the club until these people have gone. And whilst I find it hard to believe that anyone would want to do so, I respect their decision and different viewpoint.

I understand your viewpoint but you have to remember these people have brushed off 20,000 plus fans screaming at them to leave so "spinning" a half-empty ground would be child's play for them.

I agree a totally empty Ewood would be a massive statement but it is not going to happen because there will be always be about 5,000 or so diehards in the ground.

I cannot emphasise enough how supporting a football team is a habit and once that habit is broken it does not come back. It happened to me for a period of 10 years when I was playing a good standard of semi-pro football and working away from home and it took me a long time to get back into it again.

I maintain that encouraging fans to stay away with a smallish fanbase such as ours will only lead to further decline in the long term.

[Stuart]

Which ever way you look at it, by attending and spending cash you are supporting the club, you're putting your name to it - and the club is owned lock stock and barrel by the Raos.

Try going shopping in Tesco's and shouting to everyone that while you're shopping there, you don't support them or agree with anything they do.

Having said that, everyone to their own. That's the way I see it and apparently it's the way the majority of fans see it. I hold no grudge whatsoever with people who do renew though.

But there is no emotional attachment to Tesco's. Well not for me, anyway.

[den]

But there is no emotional attachment to Tesco's. Well not for me, anyway.

The point still stands though Stuart.

[AggyBlue]

It is a personal choice to renew or not to renew. But don't be affected by the sheep like mentality of others now stating it is wrong to support the owners with your monies, after they have happily just done exactly the same thing for the last 12 months without issue or complaint from others at anytime.

There's far more shyte happened in the last 12 months than ever before. Much more reason to not buy this summer than last summer.

[Roversider]

Every decision to buy or not to buy is based on very personal reasons. To infer that logic overcomes emotion is inaccurate. Hence a lot of the argument becomes emotive.

So long as we respect each other's decisions and don't descend to accusations of you don't love the club suggesting you love it more then that's fine.

However history tells us that when people stop going a large chunk of them find alternatives and return at best only occasionally. That is a big issue in the long-term.

[den]

However history tells us that when people stop going a large chunk of them find alternatives and return at best only occasionally. That is a big issue in the long-term.

It is, and unfortunately no-one at the club - and I mean no-one - seems to give a damn.

[onlyonejackwalker]

There's far more shyte happened in the last 12 months than ever before. Much more reason to not buy this summer than last summer.

Maybe for some. Those horrified by what they saw against West Ham at home, Blackpool at home, Newcastle at home, Stoke at home, Wigan away, Fulham away, Birmingham at home, Everton away in Keans first season, knew the dance straight away.

I thought long and hard about renewing last season. Same again this season. Yeah the Raos have got my cash again. Does it make me happy? Nope it was jeffing awful paying the ST bill, in exactly the same way as it was last season.

I would go as far to say that in over 35 years supporting I have never taken so little enjoyment out of watching Rovers as I did last season. More of the same ahead for 2012 / 13, guaranteed.

Nothings changed, other than some fans now understanding a little more.

[47er]

Those moaning about people renewing are at least 12 months too late. It was blatantly obvious in Kean's first season that we were in major trouble and this discussion should have been held long before last season even started.

Unfortunately many of those moaning now are the same ones fooled by the Liverpool and West Brom wins and a plucky away draw at Arsenal into thinking things were actually improving and would be far better this time round. More fool them.

Anyone not renewing last season can criticise my decision to renew this time and I would respect that view. All those that attended last season supporting this regime with their finances haven't a leg to stand on moaning this time round.

In moaning all they are doing is demonstrating how slow they have been in understanding the abilities of the VenKean alliance. Their learning curve has been steep.

It is a personal choice to renew or not to renew. But don't be affected by the sheep like mentality of others now stating it is wrong to support the owners with your monies, after they have happily just done exactly the same thing for the last 12 months without issue or complaint from others at anytime.

+1

[den]

Keeley's take on the ST situation.