Morecambe FC have replied to an email from the Dale Trust following concerns aired by Trust members regarding junior admissions to the away terrace in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat. Some juniors were charged £5, whilst others were given free entry.
Dear Dale Trust
Thank you for your email and sincere apologies to any of your members who have left the Globe Arena feeling in any way short changed.
If I may I’d like to give you a little background to the promotion we ran:
1. The promotion was advertised for home areas only – MBW and North Terraces as well as the PMG Family Block E
2. This wasn’t to disadvantage the Rochdale visiting fans but to reward our own fans for their continued support
3. We felt we had advertised it correctly and in-line with the FL guidelines regarding the allowable “local promotions”.
4. It clearly stated on our website and internal posters which areas the promotion included.
5. At approx. 2pm on Saturday I was approached by the Deputy Chief Steward to tell me that 4 Rochdale fans had complained to a member of his team that the U14 free promotion wasn’t available to the away fans.
6. I advised that we had clearly stated which areas the promotion was available but rather than having any confrontation and as a gesture of goodwill we should extend the offer to Rochdale fans entering the Bay Radio Terrace.
Having received your email it seems that in making the concession within point 6 we may have inadvertently broken the system, the potential being that because the turnstiles were already open a number of fans may have already entered the stadium, or changing the instruction mid-shift to the turnstile operators hasn’t had the requisite effect.
If nothing else this has been a lesson learned in that; as well-meaning as the decision was to include the away fans we should have stayed with plan A. As you can see from both the attached poster and OWS link we have done everything correctly in respect of the advertising but have still managed to upset a number of your fans/members.
http://www.morecambefc.com/news/article/under-14s-free-v-rochdale-684707.aspx
Whilst writing the above I have been trying to think of a solution but to do anything has us admitting an error, which in light of the evidence would be incorrect.
FYI despite the promotion there were only 33 x U14 given free entrance and that includes the Away Terrace as well as 3 of your fans that despite instruction to the contrary argued their case to have their children admitted to the seating area FOC.
In the spirit of fair play I would like to know how many Rochdale fans this truly affected, so that we may better understand whether this type of promotion is indeed appropriate for the away fans.
Regards and very best wishes
Mark Dixon – Commercial Director