Just the ticket (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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SWINDON TOWN: Just the ticket
6:00am Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport Exclusive By Sam Morshead
Town boss Paolo Di Canio
PAOLO Di Canio will ask the powers-that-be at Swindon Town to offer half-price entry to the Capital One Cup clash with Burnley to those die-hard fans who missed much of the Robins’ 2-2 draw at Carlisle on Saturday.
Around 200 members of the travelling Red Army were left stranded following a major traffic accident on the M6 in Lancashire at the weekend, with the supporters’ coaches not arriving at Brunton Park until just before half-time.
It is understood that the Town hierarchy asked for a delayed kick-off to enable those affected to be given the longest possible time to make the most of their mammoth trek north, but the eventual decision was made to proceed with a 3pm start.
Di Canio was not made aware of the situation until he took his place in the dug-out in the moments before kick-off, and afterwards he told the Advertiser that he will do his best to see that the fans who missed all four goals of an entertaining game will be compensated in some way.
“I didn’t know before to be honest because today you didn’t see me during the warm-up, I wasn’t outside,” he said.
“I remained in the dressing room during the warm-up and once I went to the tunnel for the kick-off I saw the corner where our fans were and I thought ‘why only one coach today?’
“Then Paul Godfrey (Town’s physio) said to me that there was a bad accident and they may be late. I didn’t know otherwise maybe we should have asked in some way (for a delayed kick-off), although it doesn’t depend on us - for this kind of situation the Football Association has to decide.
“But maybe we would have had more idea and helped them to come at the right time, but I discovered only when I went to the bench before kick-off.
“I’m very sorry and I presume they are all season ticket holders. Maybe the people that missed part of this game I will try to help and ask if the club can help them in the cup game with Burnley.
“If they can have maybe half-price – I don’t know what the club will do.
“I hope we can give them the chance to save some money and come and enjoy and watch the Burnley game.”
Di Canio once again lauded the Robins’ travelling support, despite their diminished numbers, saying: “They were amazing for only 45 minutes and now they have to go back for five-and-a-half hours. That is amazing.
“For this today, more than ever, I wanted to go over to them and say thanks because we didn’t win and they supported us as much as they could with a not very comfortable trip and then they were once again amazing.”
Comments(20)
umpcah
says...
7:27am Mon 17 Sep 12
Swindon1984 wrote:Hear,hear ! Nice one Paolo.
Always recognises the fans support, top man.
avo
says...
7:30am Mon 17 Sep 12
STFC MARLOW
says...
8:21am Mon 17 Sep 12
TOP bloke!!
Since 1950
says...
8:57am Mon 17 Sep 12
However, who ever was responsible for not delaying that k/o should really hang their heads in shame.
In a week where we all revisited those terrible events at Hillsborough more than two decades ago, and which actually led amongst other things to putting back k/o's where fans were delayed, that was the most callous decision for so many reasons.
Did they learn nothing? Just a shocking decision!
stfcknowitall
says...
9:00am Mon 17 Sep 12
avo wrote:no, looks like he's just dropped one already and had regrets that he did so!
Is it me or is he trying to gently squeeze one out in that photo?
John Young's Grumpy
says...
11:41am Mon 17 Sep 12
Paolo hits the nail on the head in that decisions regarding delays are not in the hands of the Managers but the FA who, once again, show gross ineptitude! A quick google search shows that other clubs (league and non-league) in the area who were equally affected by the tragic incident on the M6 (and agree, condolences and sympathy to all involved) were allowed to delay. Their fans were not disadvantaged. So why were we?? As always, fans and clubs jsut want parity in all aspects
Hopefully a big turn out tomorrow. 700 tickets sold and my understanding more available on the gate at Fratton Park. I will be there and screaming for goals, 3 points and Williams to break his duck. COYR!!
raytrainshair
says...
12:16pm Mon 17 Sep 12
umpcah
says...
1:24pm Mon 17 Sep 12
raytrainshair wrote:Macaroni !
Mussolini!
John Young's Grumpy
says...
1:46pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Swindon1984
says...
1:58pm Mon 17 Sep 12
John Young's Grumpy wrote:Would've thought we might be taking more as it's not the biggest journey but not a bad turn out at all for a Tuesday night - can't wait.
Once again PDC shows his footballing pedigree in his recognition of the value of the fans - and more importantly the travelling pack! Paolo hits the nail on the head in that decisions regarding delays are not in the hands of the Managers but the FA who, once again, show gross ineptitude! A quick google search shows that other clubs (league and non-league) in the area who were equally affected by the tragic incident on the M6 (and agree, condolences and sympathy to all involved) were allowed to delay. Their fans were not disadvantaged. So why were we?? As always, fans and clubs jsut want parity in all aspects Hopefully a big turn out tomorrow. 700 tickets sold and my understanding more available on the gate at Fratton Park. I will be there and screaming for goals, 3 points and Williams to break his duck. COYR!!
smirg kcab
says...
2:43pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Perhaps the fa thInks barrow play in a higher division to us?.
cretins the lot of them.
Onwards and upwards and well done who went.
EastleazeRed
says...
3:00pm Mon 17 Sep 12
smirg kcab wrote:The newport players were stuck in the traffic jam , so i dont think they had a lot of choice :-D
They should also ask why barrow v Newport county was delayed for 45 mins due to the same accident.
Perhaps the fa thInks barrow play in a higher division to us?.
cretins the lot of them.
Onwards and upwards and well done who went.
Since 1950
says...
3:29pm Mon 17 Sep 12
EastleazeRed wrote:Yeah, just b******s to the Fans!
smirg kcab wrote: They should also ask why barrow v Newport county was delayed for 45 mins due to the same accident. Perhaps the fa thInks barrow play in a higher division to us?. cretins the lot of them. Onwards and upwards and well done who went.The newport players were stuck in the traffic jam , so i dont think they had a lot of choice :-D
I'd like to see the FL/FA refund ticket money and travel costs for the family groups who had a day out and good money waisted because those idiots couldn't put the fans first!
mrclick
says...
3:37pm Mon 17 Sep 12
smirg kcab
says...
5:38pm Mon 17 Sep 12
EastleazeRed wrote:Yea I guess that but if our players was stuck in traffic they would have fined us heavy for not leaving early enough.
smirg kcab wrote:The newport players were stuck in the traffic jam , so i dont think they had a lot of choice :-D
They should also ask why barrow v Newport county was delayed for 45 mins due to the same accident.
Perhaps the fa thInks barrow play in a higher division to us?.
cretins the lot of them.
Onwards and upwards and well done who went.
Onwards and upwards
Cretins the lot of em.
We are PANTS
says...
6:45pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Swindon1984 wrote:I would imagine closer to 1500 away fans!!! I know loads of bods going that don't yet have Tickets!!! COYR'sssssss
John Young's Grumpy wrote:Would've thought we might be taking more as it's not the biggest journey but not a bad turn out at all for a Tuesday night - can't wait.
Once again PDC shows his footballing pedigree in his recognition of the value of the fans - and more importantly the travelling pack! Paolo hits the nail on the head in that decisions regarding delays are not in the hands of the Managers but the FA who, once again, show gross ineptitude! A quick google search shows that other clubs (league and non-league) in the area who were equally affected by the tragic incident on the M6 (and agree, condolences and sympathy to all involved) were allowed to delay. Their fans were not disadvantaged. So why were we?? As always, fans and clubs jsut want parity in all aspects Hopefully a big turn out tomorrow. 700 tickets sold and my understanding more available on the gate at Fratton Park. I will be there and screaming for goals, 3 points and Williams to break his duck. COYR!!
Swindon1984
says...
7:47pm Mon 17 Sep 12
We are PANTS wrote:Glad to hear it, should be a top night
Swindon1984 wrote:I would imagine closer to 1500 away fans!!! I know loads of bods going that don't yet have Tickets!!! COYR'sssssss
John Young's Grumpy wrote:Would've thought we might be taking more as it's not the biggest journey but not a bad turn out at all for a Tuesday night - can't wait.
Once again PDC shows his footballing pedigree in his recognition of the value of the fans - and more importantly the travelling pack! Paolo hits the nail on the head in that decisions regarding delays are not in the hands of the Managers but the FA who, once again, show gross ineptitude! A quick google search shows that other clubs (league and non-league) in the area who were equally affected by the tragic incident on the M6 (and agree, condolences and sympathy to all involved) were allowed to delay. Their fans were not disadvantaged. So why were we?? As always, fans and clubs jsut want parity in all aspects Hopefully a big turn out tomorrow. 700 tickets sold and my understanding more available on the gate at Fratton Park. I will be there and screaming for goals, 3 points and Williams to break his duck. COYR!!
LeGod
says...
10:49pm Mon 17 Sep 12
Swindon1984
says...
10:34am Tue 18 Sep 12
LeGod wrote:Any thoughts on where people are congregating? Most pubs around the ground will be home fans only but there're a couple that are away friendly.
there will be more than700 i havent got a ticket but will be there and there are alot of Town fans around Southampton and winchester who will all be there plus i know quite a few from Newbury going and i reckon the 1500 figure will be near the mark.
Swindon1984 says...
6:31am Mon 17 Sep 12