Cod Almighty | Diary

The season ticket dilemma

3 September 2020

Trentside Diary starts with an apology for covering the same ground as Casual and BOTB diarists but the most exciting thing in the life of many Town fans at the moment is renewal of season tickets, or to be all 21st century, season passes. My renewal pack arrived yesterday. Having followed the discussion of various fans on- line, it was good to have a proper look at how they are being offered.

The Mariners have had ups and downs over the years and there have been a few where I've thought, "I don't think I'll be renewing it next season" but once the pack arrives, we inevitably do. It's a real battle between heart and head this year isn't it? How do you weigh up the complexities of the changes needed for safety against your own match day experience? As an exile with a couple of hours' drive to the match we have to factor that in. How will it work with staggered arrival times? Fluctuating traffic means we can set off at the same time and be parked up in time for chips before the match or taking our seats just as the teams are about to kick off. I envy those of you who live a short distance from Blundell Park, so it's a straight no-brainer to renew.

After a long journey I'm alarmed that the FAQs have an unanswered question about accessing the toilets. Surely, they can't keep them locked? There will be a hell of a queue at MaccyDs and the Blundell Park Hotel if they have to. I can't see that happening but then if you read the Sports Grounds Safety Authority Planning for Social Distancing document and look at what the club has to consider, we definitely are hampered by our old stands, with narrow doorways and nowhere to wait that doesn't impede others moving around. That's going to be really tough to manage but part of the car park fenced off with portaloos would help. If not, it looks like a ballot to use the loo.

Another paragraph in the SGSA Planning document states that the club must require applicants for a season to carry out a personal risk assessment for themselves and anyone else they are renewing for, taking into consideration their age, health status and clinical vulnerability. Nothing about any of that in the pack or the FAQs. I'm sure it's common sense but it should be in there before we apply.

On the issue of not being able to pass your ticket on to someone else if you are unable to attend: that was a straight "no" from the club. It's hard for them to manage but the regulations actually say that they should "inform applicants that they must not pass on or sell tickets to any other individual outside their social bubble or support bubble". I can see how it's difficult to police but in the past when we've not been able to get to the match, the tickets have been passed on to close family members. You can go for a meal with them but cannot give them your season ticket, which is a shame.

Enough of all that agonising. We signed Sean Scannell on a two-year contract yesterday. He was at Blackpool last season but for me he really shone when he was at Palace 10 or so years ago. Unfortunately he hasn't really seemed to fulfil the potential he had as a youngster. I've seen suggestions that he can be a bit lazy but have no idea if it's true. I'm hoping that's one of the areas where Ollie's experience will come to the fore. I cannot imagine that he would suffer lazy players and I think Sean could be an excellent prospect for Town.

Let's just see if we can confirm the Forest loanee, Danny Preston, and we’ll be set. Mart the Forest fan says he has a "strong combative style and loves to overlap. He needs first team football after four years in the U23s and he should be keen to impress." Mart knows what he's talking about. Sounds good.

UTM!