Stoke [A] Tickets to go on sale

bobmunro · October 27

I think I might be alright with tickets for this one!

clb74 · October 27

Wouldn't go back to Stoke if the tickets were free.

Covered End · October 27

Stoke is actually worse than Burnley, Blackburn, Preston & Hull.

CheshireAddick · October 27

Does anyone know how where to park as an away fan?. Cheers

ElfsborgAddick · October 27

Covered End said:

Stoke is actually worse than Burnley, Blackburn, Preston & Hull.

I agree that Stoke is hardly Fulham, but Burnley and Blackburn are on another level.

As a day out the geography of the ground does not make it enjoyable but when they played at the Victoria Ground it was a lot better, although a bit like @clb74, extremely moody.

ElfsborgAddick · October 27

One of our prominent posters needs not to be offended with certain comments, I gather he lives in the snooty end of the place, Burslem apparantly.

OhMyGodden · October 27

CheshireAddick said:

Does anyone know how where to park as an away fan?. Cheers

Car parking at the stadium is limited to supporters who hold a parking permit. These can be applied for via the Stoke City website. The official car parks open from 8.30am for a lunchtime game, from 11am for an afternoon game and from 4pm for an evening game.

There are plenty of unofficial car parks nearby for supporters who don’t have a permit. The vast majority of these can’t be pre-booked, so it’s a case of first-come, first-served.

AFKABartram · October 27

Any advice @bobmunro ?

CheshireAddick · October 27

OhMyGodden said:

CheshireAddick said:

Does anyone know how where to park as an away fan?. Cheers

Car parking at the stadium is limited to supporters who hold a parking permit. These can be applied for via the Stoke City website. The official car parks open from 8.30am for a lunchtime game, from 11am for an afternoon game and from 4pm for an evening game.

There are plenty of unofficial car parks nearby for supporters who don’t have a permit. The vast majority of these can’t be pre-booked, so it’s a case of first-come, first-served.

Cheers mate. I will aim for one of them then 👍

Rock Spectacle · October 27

Coach does seem a bit early but anything involving the M6 needs a bit of slippage I suppose. Proper trek to the station too, so Valley Away will have an occasional visitor for this one

bobmunro · October 27

AFKABartram said:

Any advice @bobmunro ?

Not really AFKA - you won't be surprised to know that when I go to matches there I park in the main car park at the stadium.

The Holiday Inn Express has parking that can be pre-booked but I can't vouch for it. It's literally a five minute walk to the stadium from there and the Harvester next door is away friendly.

https://www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/locations/show/4294941560

TootingRedArmy · 2:27AM

ElfsborgAddick said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

I know it'll never happen but they really should try and do more to keep the Tuesday night fixtures fairly local-ish.

On the same night we travel up to Stoke there is:
Preston away at Watford
Portsmouth away at Sheffield United
QPR away at Blackburn
Sheff Weds away at Millwall
Ipswich away at Hull

6 fixtures that all involve a long trek for the away side. Surely the midweek fixtures could be more sensibly arranged?

They should try and make the midweek games a limit of 50 miles apart from both grounds.
Also make the fixtures the reverse of each other for ease, I think there are eight midweeks before postponed games. We can play Watford home and away, likewise with Ipswich and Norwich.

Midweek long haul away trips to watch Charlton really are something else. It’s football’s own brand of madness, a pilgrimage for the devoted, the deranged, and the determined few who seem immune to both logic and sleep deprivation. Who at the EFL actually thinks these fixtures make sense? Some bright spark somewhere clearly decided that a 400-mile round trip is perfectly reasonable. Players and fans alike getting home at 2 or 3 in the morning? No problem! Just another “great night under the lights,” apparently.

I actually thought about going then I checked the train times. The last one back gets in after the Underground has closed meaning an expensive Uber or a heroic mission involving two night buses to get back to South West London. It’s a logistical puzzle only the most devoted Addick would attempt. Fair play to those who do, much respect and you will be on strong coffee & red bull the next day after sleep deprivation.

Honestly, logic says midweek fixtures and especially the festive ones should be as local as possible. Give fans half a chance of getting home before dawn and players proper time to recuperate and be at there best for the saturday fixture.That said, I am planning to go to Middlesbrough away midweek. But that’s only because I’ve got a mate up there and we’re driving and staying overnight otherwise it would be sheer madness.

Surely, the EFL’s fixture computer can do better. But then again, that would mean taking fans into consideration. Enough said.

SporadicAddick · 7:15AM

AI answer as to why we wont only ever play Millwall, Watford and QPR on Tuesday evenings.

The football fixture list in England is created by a complex process involving a computer algorithm and manual oversight. The French IT firm Atos and its long-time compiler, Glenn Thompson, schedule over 2,000 matches across the Premier League and English Football League (EFL).

The fixture compilation process

Dates are set: Early in the calendar year, all key playing dates are gathered. This includes:
- International breaks from FIFA.
- European club competition dates (UEFA Champions League, etc.).
- Domestic cup competition dates (FA Cup and League Cup).
Club requests are considered: The leagues consult with all clubs regarding any scheduling requests. This includes:
- Stadium availability: If a club's ground is hosting another event, like a concert or a rugby final, they can request to play away that weekend.
- Christmas period preferences: Clubs can state whether they prefer to be at home or away on key festive dates.
- Previous season issues: If a club experienced a difficult run of fixtures the previous season, efforts are made to avoid a repeat.
Local authorities are consulted: The police and local authorities are contacted to ensure rival clubs in the same area do not play at home on the same day. This is a vital step for managing police resources and transport infrastructure.
- For example, Liverpool and Everton, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City, are paired and cannot have home games on the same weekend.
- In London, with its higher number of clubs, this is a more complex but still enforced consideration.
Data is entered into the system: The fixture computer at Atos is fed with all the information, including club requests, blackout dates, and policing requirements.
Fixtures are generated: A "pairing grid" defines the dates when each club is scheduled to play at home or away. The system then randomly assigns opponents, generating a draft fixture list based on the criteria.
Rules are applied to the draft: The computer and human reviewers manually check the generated fixtures against a series of scheduling principles:
- Sequencing: In any block of five league matches, a club will play either three at home and two away, or vice versa.
- No consecutive matches: A club will not start or end the season with two consecutive home or away games.
- Festive balance: If a club plays at home on Boxing Day, it must play away on New Year's Day (or equivalent dates).
- FA Cup consideration: Where possible, clubs will play a home match and an away match around FA Cup weekends.
- Midweek travel: Efforts are made to minimize long-distance midweek away travel for clubs and supporters.
Final adjustments and release: The draft is reviewed by league officials and police. If any issues are found, the computer generates a new list. This continues until all requirements are met. The final fixture list is then approved and released. The process is a compromise, as it is impossible to please everyone

Chris_from_Sidcup · 7:24AM

SporadicAddick said:

AI answer as to why we wont only ever play Millwall, Watford and QPR on Tuesday evenings.

The football fixture list in England is created by a complex process involving a computer algorithm and manual oversight. The French IT firm Atos and its long-time compiler, Glenn Thompson, schedule over 2,000 matches across the Premier League and English Football League (EFL).
The fixture compilation process
Dates are set: Early in the calendar year, all key playing dates are gathered. This includes:
International breaks from FIFA.
European club competition dates (UEFA Champions League, etc.).
Domestic cup competition dates (FA Cup and League Cup).
Club requests are considered: The leagues consult with all clubs regarding any scheduling requests. This includes:
Stadium availability: If a club's ground is hosting another event, like a concert or a rugby final, they can request to play away that weekend.
Christmas period preferences: Clubs can state whether they prefer to be at home or away on key festive dates.
Previous season issues: If a club experienced a difficult run of fixtures the previous season, efforts are made to avoid a repeat.
Local authorities are consulted: The police and local authorities are contacted to ensure rival clubs in the same area do not play at home on the same day. This is a vital step for managing police resources and transport infrastructure.
For example, Liverpool and Everton, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City, are paired and cannot have home games on the same weekend.
In London, with its higher number of clubs, this is a more complex but still enforced consideration.
Data is entered into the system: The fixture computer at Atos is fed with all the information, including club requests, blackout dates, and policing requirements.
Fixtures are generated: A "pairing grid" defines the dates when each club is scheduled to play at home or away. The system then randomly assigns opponents, generating a draft fixture list based on the criteria.
Rules are applied to the draft: The computer and human reviewers manually check the generated fixtures against a series of scheduling principles:
Sequencing: In any block of five league matches, a club will play either three at home and two away, or vice versa.
No consecutive matches: A club will not start or end the season with two consecutive home or away games.
Festive balance: If a club plays at home on Boxing Day, it must play away on New Year's Day (or equivalent dates).
FA Cup consideration: Where possible, clubs will play a home match and an away match around FA Cup weekends.
Midweek travel: Efforts are made to minimize long-distance midweek away travel for clubs and supporters.
Final adjustments and release: The draft is reviewed by league officials and police. If any issues are found, the computer generates a new list. This continues until all requirements are met. The final fixture list is then approved and released. The process is a compromise, as it is impossible to please everyone

Doesn't even to be midweek London games though.

On a night when we go to Stoke, you have Portsmouth away at Sheffield United. Could easily have us v Pompey and Stoke v Sheff Utd.

You also have QPR away at Blackburn and Ipswich away at Hull, so i guess it's too easy to do QPR v Ipswich and Blackburn v Hull.

SporadicAddick · 8:24AM

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

SporadicAddick said:

AI answer as to why we wont only ever play Millwall, Watford and QPR on Tuesday evenings.

The football fixture list in England is created by a complex process involving a computer algorithm and manual oversight. The French IT firm Atos and its long-time compiler, Glenn Thompson, schedule over 2,000 matches across the Premier League and English Football League (EFL).
The fixture compilation process
Dates are set: Early in the calendar year, all key playing dates are gathered. This includes:
International breaks from FIFA.
European club competition dates (UEFA Champions League, etc.).
Domestic cup competition dates (FA Cup and League Cup).
Club requests are considered: The leagues consult with all clubs regarding any scheduling requests. This includes:
Stadium availability: If a club's ground is hosting another event, like a concert or a rugby final, they can request to play away that weekend.
Christmas period preferences: Clubs can state whether they prefer to be at home or away on key festive dates.
Previous season issues: If a club experienced a difficult run of fixtures the previous season, efforts are made to avoid a repeat.
Local authorities are consulted: The police and local authorities are contacted to ensure rival clubs in the same area do not play at home on the same day. This is a vital step for managing police resources and transport infrastructure.
For example, Liverpool and Everton, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City, are paired and cannot have home games on the same weekend.
In London, with its higher number of clubs, this is a more complex but still enforced consideration.
Data is entered into the system: The fixture computer at Atos is fed with all the information, including club requests, blackout dates, and policing requirements.
Fixtures are generated: A "pairing grid" defines the dates when each club is scheduled to play at home or away. The system then randomly assigns opponents, generating a draft fixture list based on the criteria.
Rules are applied to the draft: The computer and human reviewers manually check the generated fixtures against a series of scheduling principles:
Sequencing: In any block of five league matches, a club will play either three at home and two away, or vice versa.
No consecutive matches: A club will not start or end the season with two consecutive home or away games.
Festive balance: If a club plays at home on Boxing Day, it must play away on New Year's Day (or equivalent dates).
FA Cup consideration: Where possible, clubs will play a home match and an away match around FA Cup weekends.
Midweek travel: Efforts are made to minimize long-distance midweek away travel for clubs and supporters.
Final adjustments and release: The draft is reviewed by league officials and police. If any issues are found, the computer generates a new list. This continues until all requirements are met. The final fixture list is then approved and released. The process is a compromise, as it is impossible to please everyone

Doesn't even to be midweek London games though.

On a night when we go to Stoke, you have Portsmouth away at Sheffield United. Could easily have us v Pompey and Stoke v Sheff Utd.

You also have QPR away at Blackburn and Ipswich away at Hull, so i guess it's too easy to do QPR v Ipswich and Blackburn v Hull.

Provided of course that the reverse fixtures meet all the criteria required.

shirty5 · 8:41AM

Portsmouth is an evening weekday kick off

Ipswich already done and dusted

Norwich away on Boxing Day

Not every midweek away game is going to be close to home. Sometimes you have to suck up a midweek trip to Derby, Stoke, West Brom and Middlesbrough. Or sit indoors and watch it on Sky/Charlton Tv

Not like plenty of notice was given for the fixtures being announced

TootingRedArmy · 9:30AM

You would think EFL wheel of fortune could put in some alogrythm to get closer to home fixtures
out of 23 clubs, we have around around 9 fixtures which fans can get to on trains or drive isn't too difficult
& get back to use tube etc. Boro away in March really?

EASY: Millwall , QPR , Watford , Oxford

MID: Bristol City, Ipswich, Pompey, Saints, Norwich,
MORE TRICKY: Coventry, Birmingham, WBA
EFL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION....oop north !
EFL COMPUTER MELTDOWN - SACK THE FOOL IN CHARGE ....Boro away on a Tuesday night in March???

bobmunro · 9:33AM

TootingRedArmy said:

You would think EFL wheel of fortune could put in some alogrythm to get closer to home fixtures
out of 23 clubs, we have around around 9 fixtures which fans can get to on trains or drive isn't too difficult

EASY: Millwall , QPR , Watford , Oxford
MID: Bristol City, Ipswich, Pompey, Saints, Norwich,
MORE TRICKY: Coventry, Birmingham, WBA
EFL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION....oop north !
EFL COMPUTER MELTDOWN - SACK THE FOOL IN CHARGE ....Boro away on a Tuesday night in March???

One of the advantages of being an up t'north exile is that most of the away games are easier for me to get to than The Valley!

SporadicAddick · 9:38AM

A road near me has needed resurfacing for a while. The local council are now completing the work over half term.

Our local facebook page is full of people stating that road works should only ever be completed during school holidays, when the roads are less busy.

killerandflash · 10:21AM

The Championship does have a lot of Midlands and Northern teams, not helped by there being a lot of London teams in the PL and a number of southern sides in L1 and L2.

JoshCAFC · 11:08AM

13 tickets bought, COYR

AndyG · 12:11PM

Got ours ! nothing like a cold, dark, wet Tuesday night in Stoke !

TootingRedArmy · 1:22PM

bobmunro said:

TootingRedArmy said:

You would think EFL wheel of fortune could put in some alogrythm to get closer to home fixtures
out of 23 clubs, we have around around 9 fixtures which fans can get to on trains or drive isn't too difficult

EASY: Millwall , QPR , Watford , Oxford
MID: Bristol City, Ipswich, Pompey, Saints, Norwich,
MORE TRICKY: Coventry, Birmingham, WBA
EFL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION....oop north !
EFL COMPUTER MELTDOWN - SACK THE FOOL IN CHARGE ....Boro away on a Tuesday night in March???

One of the advantages of being an up t'north exile is that most of the away games are easier for me to get to than The Valley!

TOOTING RED ARMY Said:
That’s great, Bob...... but for those of us based in London or Kent, the EFL fixture computer must’ve been on the booze & the Bod (not Bob!) in charge of rubber stamping the fix list be must having a laugh when it scheduled midweek games up north to Stoke, Boro etc.

My Boro mate’s coming down for the Tuesday match at The Valley, and I’m repaying the favour for the reverse March fixture a Wednesday night, 7.45pm, at the Riverside. That means a day off work, a crack-of-dawn long slog home Thursday, via a night at his in York, with my son and two of his mates.

It’s madness ! Northern clubs must lose out too, far fewer Addicks can travel midweek if it means missing work or getting back after the last train - tube etc. If you do make it back to the capital, you’re rewarded with a night bus or a mortgage-sized cab fare with foxes scuttling through empty streets of london or further to Kent and beyond.

And what about Nathan and our players? A full squad, staff, and coach trip up to Teesside on a Tuesday night expensive hotel bill , then rolling back into Sparrows Lane around 3 or 4am. Then, two days later players after rest and what a warm down and one days training if that are supposed to be sharp, match fit for next game ....Oxford away. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

Maybe the EFL should try doing one of these trips themselves, might fix that fixture computer pretty quickly!

BJW · 1:31PM

bobmunro said:

One of the advantages of being an up t'north exile is that most of the away games are easier for me to get to than The Valley!

This for me too...
Not an exile though - I was born here.
Ticket booked. Early finish from work/late start the next day.
2 hours down the motorway.
Looking forward to it.

bobmunro · 2:28PM

TootingRedArmy said:

bobmunro said:

TootingRedArmy said:

You would think EFL wheel of fortune could put in some alogrythm to get closer to home fixtures
out of 23 clubs, we have around around 9 fixtures which fans can get to on trains or drive isn't too difficult

EASY: Millwall , QPR , Watford , Oxford
MID: Bristol City, Ipswich, Pompey, Saints, Norwich,
MORE TRICKY: Coventry, Birmingham, WBA
EFL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION....oop north !
EFL COMPUTER MELTDOWN - SACK THE FOOL IN CHARGE ....Boro away on a Tuesday night in March???

One of the advantages of being an up t'north exile is that most of the away games are easier for me to get to than The Valley!

TOOTING RED ARMY Said:
That’s great, Bob...... but for those of us based in London or Kent, the EFL fixture computer must’ve been on the booze & the Bod (not Bob!) in charge of rubber stamping the fix list be must having a laugh when it scheduled midweek games up north to Stoke, Boro etc.

My Boro mate’s coming down for the Tuesday match at The Valley, and I’m repaying the favour for the reverse March fixture a Wednesday night, 7.45pm, at the Riverside. That means a day off work, a crack-of-dawn long slog home Thursday, via a night at his in York, with my son and two of his mates.

It’s madness ! Northern clubs must lose out too, far fewer Addicks can travel midweek if it means missing work or getting back after the last train - tube etc. If you do make it back to the capital, you’re rewarded with a night bus or a mortgage-sized cab fare with foxes scuttling through empty streets of london or further to Kent and beyond.

And what about Nathan and our players? A full squad, staff, and coach trip up to Teesside on a Tuesday night expensive hotel bill , then rolling back into Sparrows Lane around 3 or 4am. Then, two days later players after rest and what a warm down and one days training if that are supposed to be sharp, match fit for next game ....Oxford away. Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

Maybe the EFL should try doing one of these trips themselves, might fix that fixture computer pretty quickly!

Yes, I'm being selfish when it comes to away games. Mid-week games in the northern half of the country are a real balls ache for fans based in the south, but I'm not sure there's much the EFL can do to avoid at least some long trips. In a 46 game season there are a lot of mid-week games and, as @killerandflash pointed out above, 13 of the other 23 teams are Birmingham or further north, and if you add Bristol and Swansea to that list there are only five teams within reasonable distance.

We are a victim of geography more than the EFL!

ElfsborgAddick · 2:47PM

TootingRedArmy said:

You would think EFL wheel of fortune could put in some alogrythm to get closer to home fixtures
out of 23 clubs, we have around around 9 fixtures which fans can get to on trains or drive isn't too difficult
& get back to use tube etc. Boro away in March really?

EASY: Millwall , QPR , Watford , Oxford
MID: Bristol City, Ipswich, Pompey, Saints, Norwich,
MORE TRICKY: Coventry, Birmingham, WBA
EFL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION....oop north !
EFL COMPUTER MELTDOWN - SACK THE FOOL IN CHARGE ....Boro away on a Tuesday night in March???

I agree, you would think that most clubs would prefer midweek games to be more local and they'd request this, coupled with I would have thought that the fixture computer can be a lot more kinder.

TootingRedArmy · 4:43PM

ElfsborgAddick said:

TootingRedArmy said:

You would think EFL wheel of fortune could put in some alogrythm to get closer to home fixtures
out of 23 clubs, we have around around 9 fixtures which fans can get to on trains or drive isn't too difficult
& get back to use tube etc. Boro away in March really?

EASY: Millwall , QPR , Watford , Oxford
MID: Bristol City, Ipswich, Pompey, Saints, Norwich,
MORE TRICKY: Coventry, Birmingham, WBA
EFL COMPUTER MALFUNCTION....oop north !
EFL COMPUTER MELTDOWN - SACK THE FOOL IN CHARGE ....Boro away on a Tuesday night in March???

I agree, you would think that most clubs would prefer midweek games to be more local and they'd request this, coupled with I would have thought that the fixture computer can be a lot more kinder.

EFL Bod who signs of the fixtures....must have been on the piss as he's taking the piss scheduling both the Boro fixtures as a midweek, 440 mile round trip for two sets of fans. Neither will be able to get a train back or its a 5hr + hr drive back so 3-4am? at least if it was a Saturday 3pm fans and club are back by midnight.
Do either Boro or us get a chance to question this? as it knackers not only the fans financially as alot will overnight but the players will arrive back in March exhausted very early Thursday morning and playing again v Oxford Saturday at 3pm?

Stoke [A] Tickets to go on sale

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