This is a letter I received from Charlton today:
"As you may have already noticed at the last few home matches,your block at The Valley has become increasingly busy. This is due to a new initiative between the Club and the Charlton Community Trust.
As a Club, it is our intention to attract the next generation of Charlton Supporters with the help of our extremely successful Community Trust. For the remainder of this season and going forward into next Season, East Stand block H is going to become our brand new Community Trust block. This means at each home league fixture we will be allocating 500 tickets for the Community Trust to distribute to children in the local area via all the great programmes they put on.
With this in mind, the number of available seats within East Block H is going to be significantly reduced. We have no intention of moving your Season Ticket seat, however, we felt out of courtesy we should make you aware of this new initiative.
Next Season, all Supporters who already have Season tickets in this block will be able to renew them, however, no new Season tickets will be allowed to be purchased within this block.
Should you decide that, because of this initiative, you no longer wish to stay in Easr Stand block H, we will allow you to choose an alternative seat anywhere in the Stadium at no extra cost for the 2018/ 2019 campaign.
We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you. Should you have any further queries do not hesitate to get in touch with us either by email tickets@cafc.co.uk or via telephone on 03330 144444.
The Club values your support and any feedback you have around this initiative."
Am I right to be seriously pissed off by this letter? I have had a Season ticket and sat with my mate and his Family since the East Stand was built? With the exception of one Season when I boycotted. I don't want to be sat with a bunch of kids who largely have no interest in the Football. I have spoken to my mate and he wants to stay as he has a couple of kids. I want to move.
It seems that the Club don't give a shit about the long standing Season Ticket holders. The way I feel at the moment I will not be getting a new season ticket, with or without a new owner.
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Comments
Ask for a seat on the player’s bench.
The people may have changed but the decision making is still the same, you don't have to be a wanker to work at Charlton but it certainly helps.
Seems like a bit of an overreaction to me mate if I’m honest.
I suppose the club have to do that because over the last few years they've royally fcuked off the existing supporters of 20, 30, 40, 50 years+ standing, who would, normally, have brought along the next generation of fans i.e. their own children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately the club seems to be going the way of all kinds of businesses - doing anything possible to get new customers but treating existing customers with contempt by taking them for granted.
I think the idea of doing everything you can, including giving tickets away to kids, to get more youth supporters is a good idea, I don't think that's too hot of a take. The implementation feels odd. Again this is one of those things where it will depend how big the impact is. Just because tickets go to schools doesn't necessarily mean it will be children using the tickets, or that they'll be used at all.
Hopefully it isn't too bad.
Also, I always sit in the East Stand cuz my mate has a season ticket there so hopefully next season I'll get to see what it's like (assuming they're still going to be selling individual match tickets).
Why not put the five hundred in there as that would inconvenience no one.
Hope i'm wrong.
As Uboat says. Treat yourself to the best seat.
Some well run clubs would consult via the Supporters' Trust on such issues. Kind of thing we can certainly raise.
It’s not really the end of the world is it?