2020/21 Secure Your Seat

A long weekend in Middlesborough? Check in advance that the fish and chip shop will be open when you're there - there's nothing to do if its shut

 

A saturday afternoon is a "long" weekend in Middlesbro'.

 

Easy access to the coast, Whitby etc. and along with Wycombe, the only ground in the top two divisions that I have never visited.

 

If you've been to Southampton then you've already visited Middlesbrough's stadium, you just don't know it yet.

 

In both cases I've been to the Dell and Ayresome Park but neither of their new grounds.

 

I need Wycombe and Brentford now they have moved to their new ground but been too many times to Middlesbrough!!

 

Watching on TV doesn't count so you might have to wait a few more years before you can tick those two off

 

Or Ofqal, maybe? What could go wrong.

 

Folk say that on a clear day you can see your mam.

 

Lol

it was really frustrating watching the end of last season on TV so probably a bit grateful it is going to be harder to do this season to be honest

 

What if the TV companies, improve the fake sound, and then put a background of a crowd scene. After a year someone will realise that if they can sell a few thousand corporate dinner and football seats, with three sides Of the stadium just a crowd back scene with an AI soundtrack following the live action (Booing when Zaza dives again), they might not need to worry about mass attendances ever again.

 

The almighty cod in Hartlepool is the best one round the area for those interested

 

Be kind to yourself and stay in York and get the train to Middlesbrough.

 

They've now sent an email about the 'Match Ballot' scheme:

 

I get the thing about attending in bubbles, but let's say if there will only be 25% allowed initially, I would suggest that fans should use the single transferable vote system to put in order their preference of which they would like to attend in the next group of 4 matches, this would mean everyone would get to see one match whereas the current system they are pushing means you could get 3 or 4 from 4 and others get none.

i.e. from our first 4 home matches after 1st October:

BLACKBURN 1
BOURNEMOUTH 4
STOKE 3
COVENTRY 2

Means that if I don't get my first choice I may get my second, etc.

 

That's fairer but I suppose they've gone for the easiest thing to administer. Can't say I blame them for that really.

 

I thought the question at the end re how supporters intend to travel to games was an irrelevant and pointless piece of snooping. What are Watford Borough Council going to do with this information? Knock down the hospital and build a 'socially isolated' bubble-friendly car park to accommodate the influx of motors into the town for the Boro game? The town copes perfectly well when 20,000 attend matches. It should be ok with the 2,000 that'll turn up during Covid.

Please select as appropriate the method of transport you intend to use when travelling to matches played with a limited capacity. This information is to assist the club work with Watford Borough Council in planning for likely movement of supporter numbers on matchdays. Please only make one selection.

 

I don't think people understand how complicated it is, there are so many things that need to be considered. The Gov't won't let football teams put on matches if it means 5000 people are getting the train at once.

I think Watford have actually been pretty good so far.

 

The club need to be playing ball with the council/government and gathering information like that will show they are trying to be thorough in their approach.

The approach to it so far has been good, fingers crossed we can start to get back in the ground in October.

 

I think LBH has pretty much nailed it. The council has a lot of power over whether Watford can have crowds back in or not - it's very possible the government could allow it nationally but then the council says no locally because it feels it needs more cooperation/information. Anything to play nice with them is a savvy move at the moment.

Anyway, I assume you put 'unicycle' in the other box?

 

Maybe. Still seems totally unnecessary to me.

 

I left it blank as they didn't have a box for horse and carriage

 

They should've included a "which pub do you intend visiting before and after" to manage the pubs allocations around the town!

 

Why not? Isn't the aim to get people back on to trains?

 

Whitby, I like to be beside the sea.

 

Just installed the 'essential' app and the first question asked who my favourite player is.

Just uninstalled.

 

It's an essential security question for when you turn up with your e-ticket.

"Excuse me sir but what's the third letter of the first name of your favourite player? And the fifth?"

 

You could have just skipped it.

 

Or put Sietes (other candidates are available).

 

Surely the question should be, which member of the current squad do you most despise?

 

If you are in a fan bubble will this increase your chances (the more people who can sit together, the more people they'll be able to get in)

 

The bubble thing, though not explained in the text, means a maximum of 6 people from up to two households. So it can't be just the group of mates you go with.

 

Straithes is prettier and nearer to Middleborogh

 

Staithes.

 

I did wonder about that. Potentially 6 different households sat together did seem to make the whole limited capacity thing pointless.